Happy National Dictionary Day!*

Head to our Other Windows Software page to find programs like PowerTracks, GuitarStar: Brent Mason Country, Video Guitar Lessons, and more!

Scroll down and you'll find our Guitar Chord Dictionary & Piano Chord Dictionary programs. Each Chord Dictionary allows you to choose a root note to select the chord you want to learn, and it will be displayed on-screen with either the piano keyboard or the guitar fretboard!

In the Guitar Chord Dictionary & Piano Chord Dictionary you can change the sounds within the Settings window, whether it be the Root note or the Chord, and it doesn't even have to be a guitar or piano! Looking through the options, there's various piano choices, guitar choices, organ, etc. - but you can also choose more unique sounds like the tuba, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, and more!

*October 16th

I purchased both the guitar and piano chord dictionaries and use at least one or the other almost every day.

My favorite feature of both programs is what I call reverse chord look-up. By that I mean I tell a program the fingering of a chord and the program displays the name, or names, of the chord.

One benefit is once I know the name one of these dictionaries labels a chord then I know that name will be accepted by Band-in-a-Box.

Another benefit is that I can use the programs even while the computer is offline from the internet.

Honestly, sometimes it's like the PG Marketing posters are just edging me on to poke more "Not on Mac!" grumbles at them

If it's not on a Mac then by all means complain and put a wish in the wishlist forum.

I have found that many people (not saying you, Jim) do not know about the existing tool in the Windows version of BIAB. Windows menu, MIDI Chord Detection is one of my favorite things about BIAB. Not only does it give you up to four alternatives for the chord you finger on a MIDI keyboard, but with a keystroke it enters that chord into your song.

It occurs to me I should check to see if the Mac version, with 2021 just released today, has this yet, before Icelander mentions it.

The Mac 2021 does have MIDI chord recognition. But it does not have the dialog that pops up like in the Windows version. It's explained on page 65 of the 2021 Mac manual, under "Chord Entry". To use this feature, select the Options | MIDI Patch Maps | Insert current MIDI chord menu command. command+return is the keystroke combination for this function.

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/support/misc/manual/bandinabox_mac_2021_manual.pdf

I bought the guitar chord dictionary and use it on a regular basis.

...Deb

Yeah, I love these programs, the guitar and the piano dictionary (I just got the piano one I liked the guitar version so much.)

The piano one is great for songwriting, just idly clicking on chords until you find one that fits your mood.

Dm9!

I knew I was in a Dm9 mood!

Off to the races!!!!!!



Such a bargain too.

If these questions have been asked and answered somewhere else in the forums or in some other part of the site in the past, I apologize for dredging up a bunch of zombies.

• What file format are the Chord Dictionaries?
• Are the dictionaries stand alone programs or BiaB add-ons?
• Can sample pages be viewed anywhere and, if so, where?
• Do the chord charts/pages include fingering chart for each chord?
• Is there a video tutorial about how to use the dictionaries with and without BiaB?

Inquiring minds (at least this one) want to know.

Hello Mullanphy,

I'll try to answer each of your questions. Here goes:Both files are executable files. The file for the Guitar Chord Dictionary is "GuitarChordDictionary.exe" and the file for the Piano Chord Dictionary is "ChordDictionary.exe". Each is a standalone program. See the screen shots below. Yes for both programs. Not that I'm aware of however both programs have Help buttons that open a help file. +++ HERE +++ is a link to a webpage that provides more details of the Guitar Chord Dictionary while +++ HERE +++ is a link to a webpage with more details about the Piano Chord Dictionary.

Thanks so much!

I have said it before but I will say it again.

I love these little programs.

They are great and so accessible and fast for the songwriting process. I have shortcuts for each in my main songwriting tools folder.

Insofar as instructions, they are fairly straightforward.

Are these demo'ed anywhere? Not that it is needed, but I may like to pick both of these up as a resouce and viewing a youtube demo is common these day.

MusicStudent Dan, No as far as I can tell after performing a YouTube search.