Filter
ChordMate lets you create custom filters which specify exactly what kind of chord voicings you need. ChordMate comes with four default filters, and you can add more at any time. Click on a filter name at the left of the main window to activate it. The Filter button at the top of the screen lets you show/hide the filter settings. If you notice that ChordMate is showing too few results, you may want to check your filter settings!
Some filter settings are specific to particular chords. If you select a filter, then search for a chord to which some of the rules do not apply, ChordMate will modify the filter. It will remove the rule settings that do not apply, and use the modified filter on the search results. This will not affect saved filter settings.
Default Filters
- Open Chords. Only shows chords that are played in the first four frets. They are in root position, no barre, and with silent strings between forefinger and thumb.
- No Barre. Only shows chords played without a barre. They are in root position, with silent strings between forefinger and thumb.
- Root Position. Only shows chords in root position, with silent strings between forefinger and thumb.
- First Inversion. Only shows chords in first inversion, with silent strings between forefinger and thumb.
Custom Filters
To create your own filter, click on the Filter button at the top of the screen to show the filter settings. Use the +/- buttons to add and delete filter rules. To save the filter, type its name in the textbox and click "Save". To remove a filter, right click on its name on the left of the main window and select "Delete."
Filter Options
- Inversion. ChordMate will only show the inversions that are available for the type of chord you chose (in the Search Box). The default is root position.
- Top Note. This specifies the pitch class of the top note -- this is a very convenient filter for when you want to pick chords that follow the melody of a song. For example, you can find all the C chords (which consist of the notes C, E, G) where the top note is G. This rule is chord specific, so it resets whenever you search for a different chord.
- Bass Note. This rule works the same as the top note, except it specifies the bass note. It is great when you want a smooth bass transition betwen chords or want to follow the melody with the bass note.
- Complete Chord. This rule selects chords that have all the notes that are part of the chord shape, even the ones that are optional. For some chord types, there may be no chords on a guitar that satisfy this rule, but it may be especially useful for chord shapes constructed from four notes. For example, when looking for Adim7, ChordMate will show voicings that contain A, C, E♭, and G♭.
- Silent Strings. This rule may be useful for choosing chords that are suitable for a particular right hand technique.
- Number of Notes. Like the rule about silent strings, this rule may be useful for choosing chords that are suitable for a particular right hand technique.
- No Barre. ChordMate will not show any chord voicings that require a barre (placing the index finger across more than one string).
- Top Note Degree. This rule is a generic form of Top Note. For example, in Top Note, you might specify that the top note for the C (C, E, G) chord is E. This is equivalent to setting the Top Note Degree to 3. However, the Top Note Degree translates to other chords. So ChordMate will also show all versions of Em (E, G, B) where the top note is G and all versions of B (B, D♯, F♯) where the top note is D♯.
- Top Note Pitch. This rule allows you to put the top chord note in a certain range. It may be very useful for good voice leading. It may also be used to specify exactly what pitch you want to be on the top. To use this rule, you need to specify both the note and the octave. For example, when the Top Note Pitch is Not Lower Than A4, the top note will always be A in the fourth octave, or higher.
- Bass Note Pitch. This rule is very much like Top Note Pitch, but is about the bass note.
- Start Fret. This rule helps you define where the chord may start on the fretboard. It may be very useful for finding chords on a specific part of the fretboard.
- End Fret. This rule is very much like Start Fret, but is about end fret.
