ChordLab3.6.9 - App Store

ChordLab is a specialist tool and calculator of sorts for modern four-part voice leading. Everyone has heard these colors in the arrangements of Big Bands - the horn riffs in the Jetsons carton song for example. With ChordLab we can in a way flip through all possible permutations of these chords. More theoretical background is available in the documentation. This is not a general chord app for beginning instrumentalists. To the intermediate player, however, ChordLab can be a source of great inspiration and introduction to many new color choices.

Four-part harmony may feel restrictive on instruments capable of more than 4 voices, but for a small choir for example it is a basic fact of life. It has become a staple in modern music as well as it allows the accompanist to declutter the spectrum in a sense by playing fewer notes. Root and fifth substitutions are applied automatically when dialing up a chord in ChordLab. Simply like that. Once the quality of a chord has been set it can then be viewed and listened to in all standard and not so standard drop voicings and moved through its inversions. This is of particular importance to guitar players as quite a few voicings are impossible to play and one may be left with rather few options. Chord spelling is also the main feature of ChordLab's Apple Watch app.

ChordLab has an interactive Circle of Fifths. With it we can look up key signatures for major and minor scales as well as all other modes derived of the major scale. So it is possible for example to display key signatures for all mixolydian scales and simultaneously highlight the other degrees for that mode. Additionally ChordLab displays degree structures for a key in standard Roman numerals. This is extremely useful when putting together chord progressions. Roots of the current harmonic domain are highlighted in white and can be tapped to audit the associated chords.

The chord finder feature in ChordLab allows you to search its database for 3 or 4 note structures to determine their harmonic quality. To find a chord in its database ChordLab uses the enharmonically simplest solution and does not require you do know whether a note is called G# or an Ab. This is especially useful for guitarists that seldomly encounter chords in root position due to the tuning of the instrument.

Features include:
. Chord spelling for all common chords
. Notation and textual representation of chord tones
. Chord finder for triads and seventh chords
. Alto, bass, tenor, treble clefs, TAB and grand staff
. All inversions and standard voicings
. Virtual piano and guitar instruments
. Chord tone labeling in instrument views
. All common open and alternate tunings presets (guitar)
. Automatic root and fifth substitution
. Apple Watch app

There is a lot of functionality built into ChordLab, but as with any tool it is what we make of it. If chord spelling is a term in your vocabulary ChordLab should be of interest. Or maybe you want to grow your chord reportoire. Putting music theory into words often makes it sound overly complex yet nobody would say that orange or purple are complicated. ChordLab lets you play and work with colors in a sense and shows you how to play them on your instrument. It is very a unique tool for musicians, song-writers, professionals and music students and one that you will find yourself coming back to again and again.

Version History Version 3.6.9 includes some graphic updates and improves overall performance. 3.6.9 10/16/2021 This version updates appearance on iOS 13 and some view animations. 3.6.8 06/28/2020 This version includes bugfixes, ui updates and improved support for iOS 12. 3.6.7 07/30/2019 This version includes several general updates and improves support for iOS 11. 3.6.6 08/06/2018 This version improves support for iOS 10 and fixes a minor graphic issue. 3.6.5 11/08/2016 This version improves on default handling and fixes a minor issues with tone syllable display. 3.6.4 06/10/2016 This version updates generated audio synchronicity and includes general optimizations. 3.6.3 05/31/2016 • ChordLab is now a universal app that runs on all iOS devices. Some updates were also made for iPad Pro compatibility. 3.6.2 12/17/2015 This version improves support for iOS 9 and fixes a minor localization issue. An inconsistency in chord tone generation was also addressed. 3.6.1 12/09/2015 This version adds triple resolution graphics for iPhone 6 Plus and improved iOS 8 support. 3.6.0 02/26/2015 • This version addresses some memory issues that could occur on older devices und iOS 7. 3.5.6 12/07/2013 • Adds new feature to allow running ChordLab in English on devices not natively set to English.
• Several minor graphic issues have been addressed.
• Application support links have been supplemented and updated. 3.5.5 09/18/2013 • New support links were added in the About Window.
• International language support has been improved. 3.5.4 09/03/2013 - fixed several voicing issues 3.5.3 07/15/2013 - several minor fixes 3.5.2 06/28/2013 - fixes issue with Sound Library settings 3.5.1 06/12/2013 - updated instrument graphics
- MIDI play through and Chord Finder input
- support for 4" iPhone 5 screen 3.5.0 06/12/2013 - global support for tone syllables
- improved layout
- added Danish, Norwegian and Russian localizations 3.1.0 02/28/2013 - fixes an issue with Settings on some configurations 3.0.2 02/20/2013 - added guide tones display
- some layout and graphic adjustments 3.0.1 02/09/2013 - common open and alternate tunings presets (guitar)
- new touch 'n drag rating control
- fret number display (guitar)
- chord tone labelling in instrument views
- less intrusive fingering alerts 3.0.0 01/27/2013 - compatibility with iOS 5.1
- some graphic fixes 2.0.7 03/29/2012 - updated string resources
- several small fixes and optimizations 2.0.6 02/01/2012 - updated for iOS 5
- improved support for sound libraries 2.0.5 10/18/2011 - fixed some cosmetic issues
- re-prioritzed root positions in chord finder 2.0.2 08/18/2011