Yearly Archives: 2022

⭐ Songbook:
▫ New option to transpose a song using the capo and keep the fingerings

▫ New option to enable swipe gesture left and right to switch to the next or previous song

▫ Directives to repeat blocks:
▫ ‘Block’ directives can be used to select a special block by naming it (e.g. {verse:Verse 1})
▫ Please see https://smartchord.de/s-mart-songbook/#Repeating_blocks
▫ Song editor menu with new items to repeat blocks

▫ Dependent on the ‘Songbook ‘mode’, relevant options are disabled (e.g. ‘Show chords’ in mode ‘Just chords’)
? Updated categories were not visible in the table of contents
? Open ‘Song analyzer’ didn’t select the current song of the songbook
? To change the metronome setting it was necessary to open the songbook again

✔ 22 new light and dark themes with the following colors:
◾ Alien
◾ Coral
◾ Cornflower
◾ Gold
◾ Grey
◾ Laurel
◾ Lavender
◾ Meteorite
◾ Mushroom
◾ Mustard
◾ Royal

▫ Dedicated screen for switching between the 36 themes – including a preview

? Some buttons did not show that they were disabled

✔ Other minor improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Gerrit Horeis, Luiz Fernando Laux, Luiz Marcos, Pete Koschnick and Scott Noroozi for their contribution to this version

✔ Scale fretboard screen: The fretboard range can be changed if none of the ‘Pattern’ modes is selected

? Songbook: The ‘Printout’ color scheme is used again for printing

? Missing E in C Dominant 7th scale

? With some themes, the text of slide switches was hardly or not at all readable

✔ Other minor fixes

❀ Special thanks to Christ Deva, Harry V. Boggan, Henk Oostrom, Paji Can, Paul Schoonderwoerd and Scott Noroozi for their contribution to this version

⭐ Songbook:
▫ Predefined color variants for the blocks (‘Verse’, ‘Chorus’,…)
▫ Preview screen for the color variants
▫ 21 predefined color variants for the dark mode
▫ 20 predefined color variants for the light mode
▫ 2 predefined color variants for the printout
▶ Our video shows how to make your songs more beautiful and clearer: https://youtu.be/okp1BFHFs0w

✔ Scale Name and Key Identifier:
▫ Option to show also the scales/keys which are not complete

✔ Song analyzer:
▫ Ability to enter a song text or edit it in the text editor
▫ Option to paste the song text from the clipboard
▫ New plugin app released: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.smartchord.droid.plus.songanalyzer

✔ Chord: Now you can also enter “add” and “dim” chords in the text field

? Create or edit an existing note in the notepad with a link to your item from each ‘Folder’ menu. Use it for instance to document your ideas about certain items.
▫ Chord progression
▫ Fretboard Trainer
▫ Metronome
▫ Pattern
▫ Playground
▫ Practice
▫ Set list
▫ Songbook
▫ Tone generator
? Chord progression: Adding a special fingering was not possible under certain conditions
? Songbook: Marking text did not work on some Android versions

✔ A lot of other improvements and fixes

▶ You can reach us on YouTube via the new YouTube alias @smartChord: https://www.youtube.com/@smartChord

❀ Special thanks to Charles Boehnlein, John Glass, Jod R. Leio, Lena Schütten, Roan Vandermeer and Tiemo Norman for their contribution to this version

✔ Circle Of Fifths and Scale Circle:
▫ Option to show the piano to visualize the chords
▫ Optimized sound: the chords are played as long as you tap the chord
▫ Option to enable playing chords
▫ Chord gallery, piano, staff and the circle are synchronized and the selection is visible

✔ New sound options for all instruments
▫ Acoustic Grand Piano
▫ Bright Acoustic Piano
▫ Electric Grand Piano
▫ Church Organ
▫ Reed Organ
▫ Rock Organ

✔ A further set of chord notations mainly used in South America

✔ Table of contents: Possibility to add categories

✔ Possibility to add single chords or chords from chord progressions and songs:
▫ Chord Progression
▫ Fretboard Trainer
▫ Key Identifier
▫ Scale Name

✔ Home screen: Instruments icon shows the currently selected instrument

? Drum Machine: Workaround for an Android bug on older devices

✔ A lot of other improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Gerd Altmann, Joachim Grams, Louis Poels, Luiz Fernando Laux, Manuel Almonacid and Stefan Heinze for their contribution to this version

⭐⭐⭐ World first: Song analyzer is released ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ New ‘Song analyzer’ detects the chord progressions and keys of every song
⭐ Write your songs based on the chord progressions of successful songs
▫ It analyzes the songs in your songbook or any other song found by the internet search
▫ It shows the set of chords and the key of a song
▫ It shows the chord progressions and also their keys
▫ It lets you create your chord progressions based on the ones detected
▶ Our video shows the use of the ‘Song analyzer’

⭐ A further set of chord notations mainly used in South America
▫ (#4), (11/b5), (11/b9), (13/#11), (13/b9), (4/7), (b13/b5), (b9/#5)
▫ 7(#11), 7(#9/#5), 7(11), 7(4), 7(9/#11), 7(9/#11/13), 7(9/#5), 7(9/11), 7(9/b5)
▫ 7(b5/#9), 7(b5/b13), 7(b5/b9), 7(b9/#5), 7(b9/13), 7+(#11), 7+(#11/13)
▫ 7+(#5), 7+(#9), 7+(11), 7+(13), 7+(13/#11), 7+(2), 7+(2/4), 7+(4), 7+(6), 7+(6/9)
▫ 7+(9/#11), 7+(9/#11/13), 7+(9/13), 7+(9/4), 7+(b5), 7+(b5), 7+(b9), 7+(b9), 7+(sus), 9(#11), 9(4)
▫ m(#11), m(#13), m(#4), m(#6), m(#9), m(11), m(13), m(2), m(2/4), m(4), m(6), m(6/11), m(6/9)
▫ m(7), m(7+), m(9), m(9/11), m(9/b5), m(b11), m(b11/b9), m(b13), m(b4), m(b5), m(b6), m(b7), m(b9)
▫ m(sus), m7(11), m7(4), m7(6), m7(9/#5), m7(9/11), m7(9/b5), m7(add4)
▫ m7(b5/b9), m7(b9/b5), m7+(#9), m7+(9), m7+(b9)
▫ They improve, among other things, the chord recognition in the songbook

✔ Songbook: Improved parsing of chord lines with brackets

✔ Synchronisation screens with uniform operation in terms of the cloud:
▫ Click on the ‘Folder’ button or the folder name to switch the folder
▫ Click on the cloud provider logo to switch between the cloud providers

? Cloud: Handling of invalid folder names

? Edit screen: Use of the floating action button crashed the app

✔ Other improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Alexey Molchanov, Emil Sinclair, Jonathan Olson, Luiz Fernando Laux, Martin P. Daniels, Nuno Moura and Steve Battig for their contribution to this version

⭐ A new set of chord notations mainly used in South America
▫ (#11), (#13), (#5), (#9), (b11), (b13), (b5), (b7), (b9)
▫ 11(b5), 11(b9), 4(7), 6(11), 6(9), 6(add9)
▫ 7(#5), 7(#9), 7(6), 7(9), 7(b13), 7(b5), 7(b9), 7+(9), 7/#9, 7/b9, 7M, 7sus(13), 7sus(9), 7sus(b9)
▫ 9(#5), 9(b5)
▫ augmented, b9(#5), dimb9, diminished
▫ j#9, j7, j7b5, j7sus, j7sus2, j7sus24, j7sus4, j9, jb9
▫ m#7#9, m#7b9, m(maj11), m(maj13), m(maj7), m(maj9), m6(9), m7(#9), m7(9), m7(b5), m7(b9), m7/b9/b5, m7M, mM7
▫ maj6, major, min, min11, min7, minor, sus24, sus42
▫ M, M(9), M11, M13, M6, M7, M7#5, M7#9, M7b5, M7b9, M7sus, M7sus2, M7sus24, M7sus4, M9, Mb9
▫ °#7, °11, °13, °9, Ø7
▫ They improve, among other things, the chord recognition in the songbook

✔ Improved synchronization:
▫ Synchronization can now be done in one step
▫ Comparison is done automatically
▫ The upload can be defined by an option
▫ The comparison result is shown as an overview view
▫ The detailed list with the items to be synchronized can be shown optionally
▫ The cloud provider can be selected in the general settings and in the settings of the synchronization
▫ The login and logout are also possible in these settings

✔ Songbook:
▫ Open ‘Song analyzer’ for the current song
▫ Menu restructured

▶ Our video shows the use of the Song Analyzer

✔ Table of contents: Timestamps are now hidden by default, but can be displayed using the new option

? Song synchronization: We accidentally changed the extension of the song file in the last update. It is now ‘sccrd’ again

? Chords: Link ‘Change filter’ was broken

✔ Minor improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Andrew Mitterholzer, Bruce Reirden, Luiz Fernando Laux and Henk Oostrom for their contribution to this version

⭐⭐⭐ World first: Song analyzer ⭐⭐⭐

The Song Analyzer detects the chord progressions and keys of any song.

It inspires songwriters and composers to write their own songs based on the chord progressions of successful songs.

▫ It analyzes the songs in the s.mart Songbook or any other song found in the internet search

▫ It shows the set of chords and the key of a song

▫ It shows the chord progressions and also their keys

▫ It let you create your chord progressions based on the ones detected

⭐⭐⭐ World first: Song analyzer ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ New ‘Song analyzer’ detects the chord progressions and keys of any song
⭐ Write your songs based on the chord progressions of successful songs
❗❗ It is a pre-release version that is limited to subscribers and UNLIMITED customers for the time being
▫ It analyzes the songs in your songbook or any other song found by the internet search
▫ It shows the set of chords and the key of a song
▫ It shows the chord progressions and also their keys
▫ It lets you create your chord progressions based on the ones detected

✔ Backup: Option to additionally store the backup in the cloud

✔ Choose chord: Allows to enter the complete chord name including slash chords

✔ General settings ‘Names’: New option to hide or show the octaves for the notes in the tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E or E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4)

✔ Table of contents: Pre assignment of the category dialog with the values of the selected items

✔ Set list: A changed duration of a break is deposited in the set list

✔ Songbook: internet search optimized

? Workaround for an Android bug: Popup menus do not appear for the first items in some lists e.g. in the Key Identifier

✔ A lot of other minor improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Chris Drexler, David Carv, Luiz Marcos, Martin P. Daniels and Scott Noroozi for their contribution to this version

? Workaround for incompatibilities on devices with Android 4.x
✔ Circle of fifths: Alignment to the traditional one
✔ Other minor improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Brigitte Laskowski, Cristian Navarrete, Glenn Weaver, Juan Tafur and Luiz Marcos for their contribution to this version

? Chord diagrams without chord names

❀ Special thanks to Christ Deva, David Morales and Harry V. Boggan for their contribution to this version

✔ Scale Name with context menu to:
▫ investigate a scale in the scale screen
▫ show the diatonic chords for the scale
▫ show the scale in the Fretboard Explorer
▫ add a scale to the scale favorites
▫ add a scale to the scale blacklist

✔ Key Identifier with context menu to:
▫ investigate a key in the scale screen
▫ show the diatonic chords for the key
▫ show the key in the Fretboard Explorer

✔ Circle of fifths:
▫ Menu item to show the fingerings for the chords on a dedicated screen
▫ Menu item to add the chords to the current chord progression

✔ Optimized chord diagram size

✔ Songbook: Optimized TAB detection

✔ Corrected scale D Dorian b9: Contains A instead of Ab

✔ Other improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Christ Deva, Luiz Marcos, Michael Fischer, Scott Noroozi, Tobi Gelz and Uwe Fischbach for their contribution to this version

✔ Technical release with minor improvements and fixes like:
✔ Scale: Predefined filter for the ‘church modes’ and the most common scales
✔ Scale Name and Key Identifier: Fretboard range can be changed in the mode ‘Notes’ and on large screens
✔ Optimized chord diagram size
? Fretboard trainer: Missing signs in staff
? Chord name: Shortened 5th string can be muted again

❀ Special thanks to Emilio Polog, Hans-Peter Wegner, Leonid Shokarev, Manolo Ramirez Padilla, Robert Price, Scott Noroozi, Tobi Gelz, Uwe Fischbach and Uwe Tantz for their contribution to this version

⭐ Scale name:
▫ Determines the scale for a song or a chord progression
▫ Determines the scale also for an arbitrary set of chords or notes
▫ The set of chords can be entered as text or picked from the chord dictionary
▫ The notes can be entered either on the fretboard or on the piano
▫ If the scale cannot be determined unambiguously, the resulting list shows you:
◾ which scales are possible
◾ which notes are missing
◾ which notes do not belong to the scale
▶ Our video explains the Key Identifier, but the ‘Scale name’ works the same way: https://youtu.be/McveJtbFV2E

⭐ Songbook
▫ The musical key is automatically determined by the Key Identifier:
◾ For every new song on the internet
◾ If you click on the musical key in the info section
◾ On ‘Edit information’

▫ New directives to repeat blocks:
◾ New directive {bridge} shows the previous bridge block defined by {start_of_bridge} and {end_of_bridge}
◾ New directive {interlude} shows the previous interlude block defined by {start_of_interlude} and {end_of_interlude}
◾ New directive {pre_chorus} shows the previous pre_chorus block defined by {start_of_pre_chorus} and {end_of_pre_chorus}
◾ New directive {verse} shows the previous verse block defined by {start_of_verse} and {end_of_verse}
◾ New directive {tab} shows the previous tab block either defined by {start_of_tab} and {end_of_tab} or automatically detected
◾ Editor and online editor are supporting the new directive
◾ https://smartchord.de/s-mart-songbook/#Repeating_blocks

{start_of_verse:Verse 1}
A                   C
This is verse 1
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_bridge:Bridge}
A    C      E    F  Fm
This is the bridge
{end_of_bridge}

{start_of_pre_chorus:Pre chorus}
A    C      E    F  Fm
This is the pre chorus
{end_of_pre_chorus}

{start_of_chorus:Chorus}
A    C      E    F  Fm
This is the chorus
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_interlude:Interlude}
A                       C
This is the interlude
{end_of_interlude}

{start_of_verse:Verse 2}
A                   C
This is verse 2
{end_of_verse}

{bridge:Bridge repeated}

{pre_chorus:Pre chorus repeated}

{chorus:Chorus repeated once}

{interlude:Interlude repeated}

{verse:Verse 2 repeated}

{chorus:Chorus repeated twice}

✔ Chord progression: Button to replace chord or fingering

✔ New Tuning: Russian Open G

? Add/replace a chord did work just the first time

✔ Other improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Frank Müller, Haisam Ido, Isidro Zúñiga, James Thomas, Paul Schoonderwoerd and Simone Sapienza for their contribution to this version

⭐ New tool: Key Identifier
▫ Determines the key for a song or a chord progression
▫ Determines the key also for an arbitrary set of chords or notes
▫ The set of chords can be entered as text or picked from the chord dictionary
▫ The notes can be entered either on the fretboard or on the piano
▫ If the key cannot be determined unambiguously, the Key Identifier shows you:
◾ which keys are possible
◾ which notes are missing
◾ which notes do not belong to the key
▶ Our video explains the Key Identifier: https://youtu.be/McveJtbFV2E

✔ Songbook: Menu item to open the Key Identifier with the chords of the song

✔ Chord progression: Menu item to open the Key Identifier with the chords of the chord progression

✔ Fretboard trainer: Plays notes in quizzes of the mode ‘Note’ (if the ‘Play sound’ option is active)

? Sharing: The share link didn’t open smartChord on some devices
? Scale name: Fixed sound
✔ Other improvements and fixes

❀ Special thanks to Hakkie de Groot, Hans Kaiser and Philip Fagét for their contribution to this version

⭐Determines the key for a song or a chord progression
⭐Determines the key also for an arbitrary set of chords or notes
▫ The set of chords can be entered as text or picked from the chord dictionary
▫ The notes can be entered either on the fretboard or on the piano
▫ If the key cannot be determined unambiguously, the Key Identifier shows you
◾ which keys are possible
◾ which notes are missing
◾ which notes do not belong to the key