The term "chord chart" can mean a lot of different things, but one thing it pretty much always means is the presence of chord symbols. Ctrl+K is the shortcut to add those; see the online Handbooks section on the topic for more. Also see the section on Tools for info on creating slash notation. Also if you describe the specific type of "chord chart" you have in mind (does it involve notes also? a staff or not? lyrics?) we can understand and assist better.
@22sigh22 : Are you thinking about this kind of display? - image below.
In this case, it is not possible currently, at least not automatically. Nevertheless, you can get close more or less to it with various tricks.
And I guess by creating an image through another dedicated software?
Ah yes!
Now that's the type of chord chart used by many performers at the 'open mic' venues I've attended.
(Some guitarists even taping their chart to the side of the guitar body.)
1.) Start with a new score from the Jazz Lead Sheet Template.
2.) Open Staff/Part properties and change the following: 2A./ In the Staff Properties section:
Number of Lines: 2
Line Distance: 5sp
Uncheck: Show clef, Show time signature
2B./ In the "Advanced Style Properties":
Uncheck: Show key signature, Show ledger lines
3.) Enter chord symbols
4.) Right-click (Ctrl-click on Mac) a full measure rest and choose Select → All Similar Elements
Make them invisible (either using the default shortcut V or using the Inspector(F8) )
5.) Select a Chord Symbol in the score and use the Inspector to change the following style options. Make sure to press their "Set as Style" button to have them applied throughout the score.
Font-Size: 16pt (slight increase of the default, entirely optional and adjustable to taste :) )
Offset-Y: 3,50sp which should pretty much move the chord symbol within the staff
Minimum distance: -999sp (this should be the value after applying the Y-offset already; just make sure to set it as style) or the other chord symbols will not move within the staff
6.) Format → Style 6A./ Page
Disable vertical justification of staves
Min and Max System distance = 0sp 6B./ Measure
Spacing = 1 (tight) 6C./ Barlines
Check "Barline at start of single staff"
7.) Add your system breaks every X measures (Format→ Add/Remove System Breaks…)
8.) Format → Style → Measure
Increase Minimum measure width to make the barlines better line up and/or ensure your chord symbols fit; I've increased this to 6sp in my example file
9.) [optional]
Uncheck View → Show Invisible
Uncheck View → Show Unprintable
Great! I tested it and it works perfectly. To complete: we can, of course, save the file as a template in the appropriate folder in order to reuse it without having to redo all the settings; all that remains is to enter the chords and make the pauses invisible.
I had given a formula on the French forum to answer a question, but it was not so refined!
Bravo and thanks, thanks, thanks!
PS: if you allow me, I will publish a translation (maybe a HowTo) in French, on the French forum.
My advice and tricks provided are as free to do with as you please as the MuseScore software is :-)
So yes, turning it into a howto and/or translating it is all ok.
Clever merging of various MuseScore capabilities!
This looks so good, I even tried changing the dots in a fretboard diagram and half expected the chord playback to reflect the change.
I envision that someday MuseScore may have 'live' fretboard diagrams within a score, where the (string/fret) 'chord voicing' of a diagram is translated into the actual 'chord' which gets sounded in the chord symbol playback feature.
(Sort of like how today MuseScore can take a TAB staff's string/fret data and translate it into 'notes')
Thanks. It's sometimes surprising to see what can be done in MuseScore.
Live fretboard diagrams would be neat and probably not that difficult as they are essentially already TAB - but with an analogue fret number instead of digital.
Top of my wishlist is still bold digits for fret numbers. In their absence I use grey elements for the stave so that the fret numbers stand out a bit better.
For fret numbers...
In Staff/Part Properties -> Advanced Style Properties have you tried the font 'MuseScore Tab Sans' instead of 'MuseScore Tab Serif'?
Or try 'MuseScore Bonneuil-de Visee' at 11.0pt size?
I use Tab Sans all the time. I have tried all the other fonts and those offering a bolder typeface have quite stylised characters which are not so legible, particular the number 3.
It can be achieved by hiding the fret numbers and replacing them with text numbers in Free Sans Bold but this is not a practical solution. Maybe MS4 will allows any OS installed font.
Comments
The term "chord chart" can mean a lot of different things, but one thing it pretty much always means is the presence of chord symbols. Ctrl+K is the shortcut to add those; see the online Handbooks section on the topic for more. Also see the section on Tools for info on creating slash notation. Also if you describe the specific type of "chord chart" you have in mind (does it involve notes also? a staff or not? lyrics?) we can understand and assist better.
...And for fretted string instruments like guitar, ukulele, etc. fretboard diagrams may be included as part of a "chord chart".
See:
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/fretboard-diagrams
In reply to ...And for fretted string… by Jm6stringer
@22sigh22 : Are you thinking about this kind of display? - image below.
In this case, it is not possible currently, at least not automatically. Nevertheless, you can get close more or less to it with various tricks.
And I guess by creating an image through another dedicated software?
In reply to @22sigh22 : Are you thinking… by cadiz1
Ah yes!
Now that's the type of chord chart used by many performers at the 'open mic' venues I've attended.
(Some guitarists even taping their chart to the side of the guitar body.)
In reply to Ah yes! Now that's the type… by Jm6stringer
And if you like the super cool MuseScore Jazz font. It is here:
https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/blob/master/fonts/musejazz
In reply to @22sigh22 : Are you thinking… by cadiz1
A fairly quick almost matching example:
![326377-chord_chart_example.png]( "326377-chord_chart_example.png")
In reply to A fairly quick almost… by jeetee
Nice one !
In reply to Nice one ! by parkingb
Indeed, very well done Jeetee.
I think it would even deserve a "How to", it could interest many guitarists.
In reply to . by cadiz1
+1
Yes, well done !
But I'm still hungry and would like to know how to do it. The examination of the downloaded file did not give me any clue.
In reply to +1 Yes, well done ! But I'm… by mikosax
1.) Start with a new score from the Jazz Lead Sheet Template.
2.) Open Staff/Part properties and change the following:
2A./ In the Staff Properties section:
2B./ In the "Advanced Style Properties":
Uncheck: Show key signature, Show ledger lines
3.) Enter chord symbols
4.) Right-click (Ctrl-click on Mac) a full measure rest and choose
Select → All Similar ElementsMake them invisible (either using the default shortcut V or using the Inspector(F8) )
5.) Select a Chord Symbol in the score and use the Inspector to change the following style options. Make sure to press their "Set as Style" button to have them applied throughout the score.
6.) Format → Style
6A./ Page
Disable vertical justification of staves
Min and Max System distance = 0sp
6B./ Measure
Spacing = 1 (tight)
6C./ Barlines
Check "
Barline at start of single staff"7.) Add your system breaks every X measures (
Format→ Add/Remove System Breaks…)8.) Format → Style → Measure
Increase
Minimum measure widthto make the barlines better line up and/or ensure your chord symbols fit; I've increased this to 6sp in my example file9.) [optional]
Uncheck View → Show Invisible
Uncheck View → Show Unprintable
In reply to 1.) Start with a new score… by jeetee
Great! I tested it and it works perfectly. To complete: we can, of course, save the file as a template in the appropriate folder in order to reuse it without having to redo all the settings; all that remains is to enter the chords and make the pauses invisible.
I had given a formula on the French forum to answer a question, but it was not so refined!
Bravo and thanks, thanks, thanks!
PS: if you allow me, I will publish a translation (maybe a HowTo) in French, on the French forum.
In reply to Great! I tested it and it… by mikosax
My advice and tricks provided are as free to do with as you please as the MuseScore software is :-)
So yes, turning it into a howto and/or translating it is all ok.
In reply to My advice and tricks… by jeetee
Thanks. French HowTo created here : https://musescore.org/fr/node/326580
In reply to Nice one ! by parkingb
+1 Neat!
In reply to A fairly quick almost… by jeetee
I know it's years later, but I just wanted to say thanks!!! This is so useful for me.
An interactive one like this?
https://musescore.com/user/28842914/scores/6623215
Each chord plays 8 times, or you can tap a new chord to change.
In reply to Like this? https://musescore… by yonah_ag
Clever merging of various MuseScore capabilities!
This looks so good, I even tried changing the dots in a fretboard diagram and half expected the chord playback to reflect the change.
I envision that someday MuseScore may have 'live' fretboard diagrams within a score, where the (string/fret) 'chord voicing' of a diagram is translated into the actual 'chord' which gets sounded in the chord symbol playback feature.
(Sort of like how today MuseScore can take a TAB staff's string/fret data and translate it into 'notes')
In reply to Clever merging of various… by Jm6stringer
Thanks. It's sometimes surprising to see what can be done in MuseScore.
Live fretboard diagrams would be neat and probably not that difficult as they are essentially already TAB - but with an analogue fret number instead of digital.
Top of my wishlist is still bold digits for fret numbers. In their absence I use grey elements for the stave so that the fret numbers stand out a bit better.
In reply to Thanks. It's sometimes… by yonah_ag
For fret numbers...
In Staff/Part Properties -> Advanced Style Properties have you tried the font 'MuseScore Tab Sans' instead of 'MuseScore Tab Serif'?
Or try 'MuseScore Bonneuil-de Visee' at 11.0pt size?
In reply to In Staff/Part Properties ->… by Jm6stringer
I use Tab Sans all the time. I have tried all the other fonts and those offering a bolder typeface have quite stylised characters which are not so legible, particular the number 3.
It can be achieved by hiding the fret numbers and replacing them with text numbers in Free Sans Bold but this is not a practical solution. Maybe MS4 will allows any OS installed font.