Welcome to ChordBuddy version 1.6.1

New to Version 1.6.1
==================
1) Fixed Sony Clie PalmOS 5.x Hi-Res drawing.

New to Version 1.6
==================
1) Added better support for PalmOS 5.x Hi-Res
2) Added a simple tuner that uses the MIDI voices to tune.  Really only sounds
   good on the Sony Clies.
3) Made more notes optional in a few of the chords.

Older release notes are at the end of this document.


Overview
========
ChordBuddy is a large guitar chord dictionary for the PalmOS.  It 
features large, easy to read, chord diagrams with four different 
fingerings for most of the 45 different chord types.  Optionally, all 
four fingerings can be viewed at once to see which will be easier for you 
to play.  Additionally, the chords can be played through the Palm's speaker.  
Several options are available to customize the chord display and are described below.


Shareware Registration
======================
ChordBuddy is $10 (US) shareware.  That means you can try the software
to see if you like it before you purchase.  Once you have evaluated
ChordBuddy for a few days, please register it.

There are three ways that you can register your copy of ChordBuddy:

1.) You can use PayPal (www.paypal.com).  It allows you to send
money to anyone with an email address.  The email address you 
should send the money to is ChordBuddy@yahoo.com.  It's a pretty 
neat service and they can accept various credit cards.  They will 
inform me via email when you have registered, and I will email your 
personal registration code to you.  This process could take a day or two 
(hopefully shorter, but possibly longer if I am out of town, etc.)

2.) Register on-line at www.handango.com using your credit card.
Search for ChordBuddy to find the registration page.

3.) Register on-line at www.palmgear.com using your credit card.  
The URL is http://store.yahoo.com/pilotgearsw/randywade1.html .
You can also order from them over the phone at 800 741-9070 or 
fax at 817 640-6614, however they charge $2 extra for phone orders.


When your registration code is emailed to you, enter the code on the 
register screen.  This screen appears each time you launch
ChordBuddy, until you enter your registration code.


System Requirements
===================
ChordBuddy only requires PalmOS 3.0 or later, so it should
run on most of the PalmOS based PDAs out there (version 1.3, that runs on 
PalmOS 2.0, is also included).  It requires about 45K of RAM.


Selecting Chords
=========
To see how to play a chord, first you select the root from the 
left menu at the top of the screen (e.g. C) and then the chord 
type from the menu to its right (e.g. maj).  There will be one, 
two or three sets of buttons at the bottom of the screen.  
These are as follows:

Number of Chords:
The left most set of buttons allows you to select displaying either 
one large chord diagram or four smaller chord diagrams.  Selecting 
the button with the 4 in it selects displaying all four at once.  
Selecting the button with the 1 in it selects displaying the one large 
chord diagram.  This also causes up to four buttons to appear to the right of 
the current buttons.  These are the chord positions.  As a shortcut, you can
tap one of the chords in the four-chord display and have that chord 
position come up in the one-chord display.  Also, tapping the chord in the 
one-chord display takes you to the four-chord display.

Chord Position:
These four buttons are labeled I, II, III and IV.  These select the four ways 
to play the currently selected chord.

#/b Preference:
If you selected a root that has an enharmonic name (e.g. C#/Db) these 
buttons will appear.  This controls whether you are calling the current 
chord a sharp or a flat.  This changes the root name displayed above the 
chord diagram and the note names and spelling notes if they are displayed.


Playing Chords
===========
The chord can be played by pressing the button in the lower right hand corner 
of the screen.  This button is a right facing triangle in PalmOS 3.3 and earlier,
and an icon of a speaker in PalmOS 3.5 and later.  In the single chord view, the
single chord is played.  In the multi-chord view, each chord is played in succession.  
On the Sony Clie each chord is played as a chord polyphonically.  Other PalmOS devices 
don't support playing more than one tone at a time, so the chord is arpeggiated (each 
string played for a moment, then the next string is played, etc.)


Preferences
===========
The preferences can be changed by tapping the silk screened menu button on 
your Palm (bottom left silk screen button).  Select Preferences from the 
Options menu that appears.  This brings up the preferences dialog box, which 
gives you the following options:

Show Chord Spelling:
Checking this box enables an area to the right of the chord diagram to list 
the notes that makes up the chord (i.e. chord spelling).  It lists both the 
intervals and the actual note names.  For example, a C major chord would have 
the interval of 1 (root) 3 (3rd) and 5 (5th) which are C E and G, respectively.

Show String Note Names:
Checking this box enables displaying the corresponding note below each string
in the chord diagram.

Reverse Strings
Checking this box causes the strings on the diagram to reverse where the low
E string will be on the right instead of left.  This is useful for left-handed
guitarists.

Low Strings Drawn Fatter
Checking this box causes the low E and the A strings to be drawn thicker.  This
is meant to give a visual clue as to which side has the low E string.  This also
gives a visual clue to see if the strings are being displayed reversed (left-
handed).

Show Finger Numbers
Checking this box causes suggested finger numbers to be displayed on each 
fretted note of the chord.  Finger 1 is the index finger, 2 is the middle
finger, 3 is the ring finger, 4 is the pinky, and T is the Thumb.  If the same 
finger is used multiple times, the finger will barre across the strings in between 
them.  If an X'ed out string is between two played strings, use a finger to gently 
press on the string to deaden it.

Show Optional Notes
Checking this box will display extra notes in some of the chords.  These are
optional notes that can be added to the chord to make it sound fuller.  They are
displayed as white circles (without finger numbers, if that option is selected).

Draw Barres
Checking this box enables drawing a solid line (bar) between strings that are
fretted using the same finger.

Style:
I have seen different styles of displaying chord diagrams on different pieces of 
sheet music, so I included this option to allow the chords to be display the 
way you like best.  The three styles that are available from this pop-up menu 
are:

X's for not Played:
This style displays an X above each string that is not played in the chord, 
and each string that is to be played open has nothing above it.

O's for Open:
This style displays an O above each string that is to be played open in the 
chord, and each string that is not played has nothing above it.

X's and O's:
This style displays an X above each string that is not played in the chord, 
and displays an O above each string that is to be played open.


About ChordBuddy
================
The about box can be display by tapping the silk screened menu button on 
your Palm (bottom left silk screen button).  Select About ChordBuddy from the 
Options menu that appears.  This brings up the about box that has the version 
number and copyright info.


Contacting the Author
=====================
If you have any bug reports or suggestions for ChordBuddy, you can email me at 
ChordBuddy@yahoo.com.



Well, that's about it.  I hope you find ChordBuddy useful and happy pickin'.

-Randy Wade






Release History
++++++++++++++++++++

New to Version 1.5.1
==================
1) Fixed a crashing bug on 160x160 pixel Sony Clies (e.g. S320 and S360).

New to Version 1.5
==================
1) Added high resolution support for the Sony Clie.
2) Added option to draw barres.
3) Added button to play the chords.  This is played as a chord (polyphonic)
   on the Sony Clie and arpeggiated on other devices (monophonic).
4) Fixed a wrong chord.
5) Added a slight color to chord diagram background.
6) Smoothed out display drawing (i.e. fewer screen redraws)

New to Version 1.4
==================
1) Now has a maximum of four fingerings per chord.
2) Fixed a few obscure display bugs.
3) Updated/changed many of the chord fingerings.
4) Added an option to show additional optional notes in a chord.

New to Version 1.3
==================
1) Added 21 new chord types!
2) Fixed a few obscure bugs for the IIIc.
3) Added color icon to the about box.

New to Version 1.2
==================
1) Added suggested finger numbers for each fretted note.
2) Corrections to few chords. 
3) Fixed an obscure display bug.
4) Added help to the preferences dialog.

New to Version 1.1.1
====================
1) Corrected application creator ID to the one registered to ChordBuddy.
2) Updated registration address for Palmgear.com.

New to Version 1.1
==================
1) Ten new chord types
2) Option to reverse the strings for left-handed players
3) Option to draw the lower strings fatter to aid in visualizing the 
   guitar neck.
4) Tapping on one of the chords in the three-chord display brings up
   that chord in the one-chord display.  Tapping the chord in the one-chord
   display takes you to the three-chord display.

