| REVIEW: SimpleChord 1.7 |
Posted by CaptKevMan on Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:21 pm
SimpleChord 1.7 Review
by Kevin Copeland
"CaptKevMan"
March 20, 2004
(Note: Please keep in mind this review is coming from someone with limited musical education, and is geared toward the musical neophyte. If you see certain musical explanations or descriptions which might seem obvious to those more musically experienced, please keep that in mind.)
Back in high school, when I was doing most of my musical experimentation, I had one reference book in particular that I cherished more than any other. It was a comprehensive book of piano chords, and it included the notation and finger charts for every conceivable western chord possible on the standard piano keyboard.
Being someone who didn't really have the patience to learn to fluently read music, this reference was particularly helpful when trying to figure out certain chord progressions and transitions in a few of the songs I was writing at the time. I've forgotten the name of the book (along with most of my musical keyboarding skills), but since the introduction of GarageBand, I've been thinking about that book more and more lately.
Thankfully, I no longer have to scour the dusty recesses of my memory for the name of that book, because Wonder Warp Software Group has released SimpleChord 1.7, which is the digital equivalent of that long-lost book of chords.
I downloaded SimpleChord with few expectations; I was thinking it would be a simple utility that merely charted chord fingerings. However, I was immediately delighted as I heard my selections played through my speakers for reference.
The interface is indeed simple: a 2 octave keyboard, with the corresponding keys from the selected chord's notes highlighted for reference. Under preferences, the user can opt for the "extended" 3-octave keyboard, and can also choose the color of the highlighted keys from a palette of five colors: red, blue, green, graphite, and purple. The accidentals (or "black keys", for the uninitiated) can be designated sharps or flats.
From an audible standpoint, the options are great: if the "arpeggiate" option is checked, the notes of the selected chord are played in sequence from lowest to highest. Also, the user has the option of selecting from 128 different instruments to play back the chord selection.
There are only a couple of shortcomings in SimpleChord, and they're minor ones: the keyboard window isn't resizeable (other than selecting "extended" vs. regular configuration). This could be an option for a future release, but again, it's a minor quibble. The other thing that's only slightly inconvenient is that, in order to change instruments or select "arpeggiate", the Preferences window needs to be open. Again, this is a minor inconvenience, since the size of the keyboard leaves plenty of room on the monitor for the Preferences window to be open, as well.
SimpleChord 1.7 is one of those applications that belongs in every Mac music maker's toolbox. This simple application will find plenty of use by anyone wanting to explore their musical space by breaking out of the cliched I-IV-V chord progression. This is one freeware application that I'll certainly be paying for...I mean, heck -- I was gonna buy that chord book again anyhow, right?
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