Copedent Analysis Spreadsheet

[Brad Harper]

Hello peddlers... I've just wandered into pedal land and I wanted a way to begin to get my head around all these strings and moves. I designed this spreadsheet to be able to visually detect where relevant chords are for a particular key. There may be something out there that is similar, possibly much better... but I couldn't find it.

I know there are so many more chords and string groupings than what I've covered here, but it's a decent start. Eventually, I'd like to include as many common positions as I can.

I'm going to continue to revise as needed. I thought other people might find this useful, so I decided to post it. Lemme know of any bugs or glitches. I've been using it for a few days and it seems to be somewhat stable.

If there are any very useful string groupings that really need to be included, let me know and I'll add them.

It's pretty easy to use, enter your tuning and setup in the setup area by changing the notes as needed and adding '+'s and or "-"'s where appropriate. Each + or - is a half step. Currently, only 3 half steps are supported and double moves on a pedal or lever are not supported. Additionally, because of the way my guitar is setup (courtesy of Jeff Surratt in Nashville) my lever titles (D,E,F,G) may not correspond with what other people call them. I've specified LNR, LNL etc. below them in the attempt to add clarity. After you enter your setup, you can simply change the key in the 'Key' dropdown and the I, IV, and V frets will be highlighted. The radio buttons simulate the pedals/levers and will change their respective notes accordingly.

If the note triad that corresponds to the sting grouping matches a defined chord, the degree of the chord (I, IV, V etc.) will be displayed as well as the notes making up that chord. Currently only three-note major, minor and diminished chords are detected. I know this is probably a major handicap, but plan on adding 6th and 7th chords in shortly. Additional chords were omitted partially because of the work involved to get them programmed (btw, according to my brain, there are 1320 unique, non-repeating, three-note permutations of the 12 notes in our chromatic scale... adding the forth note jacks up the dataset quite a bit) and also because I'm new to the instrument and don't yet know which are the main chords I'd like to see. I'm still trying to learn all the locations of the root triad and all it's inversions!!

I welcome and encourage any feedback. Enjoy.

http://www.harper-resophonics.com/downl ... alysis.xls

-bh

ps-I wasn't sure which section of the forum was the appropriate one to post this... my apologies if I breached any protocol.

[ed packard]

Brad...everyone should have one; particularly the Jazz oriented players!

I have done some work in this area...if interested, contact me and I can send you some of the results.

Edpackard@citlink.net

[Scott Swartz]

This spreadsheet is a great tool! Wow...

I have already printed out the fretboard data section for all my common pedal/lever combinations to search out new grips.

Although half stops are not covered (as you said), it seems to work fine with splits (ie B-C# plus B-A# for a C note on 5 and 10)

I work on extended chords by figuring out the actual notes first and then finding the fret/pedal/lever to get them, so this will be a great help.

Did you have type all 1320 or was there a way to produce the list automatically?

I think I see how the macros work, but my compliments on your Excel programming.

The only glitch I can find is when you enter a ++ or -- for a setup change, you get a popup window asking if you want to accept '++ or '-- in the cell. When I enter a single + or - for a half step change it accepts it with no popup. Not a bug, only a slight annoyance.

I did a simple modification after I downloaded it. The text name for pedals and lever on line 2 can be copied down to where the check boxes are without screwing anything up I think.

I made cell C30 contain the formula =C2 and copied that across, so when I enter my setup with my pedal and lever names up top the checkbox designator reads correctly.

Any chance of extending it for 4 pedals and 5 knee levers?

[Marc Jenkins]

Great tool, Brad!

[Brad Harper]

Scott, glad you like it...

Did you have type all 1320 or was there a way to produce the list automatically?

I generated the chord dataset with java and imported it.

The only glitch I can find is when you enter a ++ or -- for a setup change, you get a popup window asking if you want to accept '++ or '-- in the cell. When I enter a single + or - for a half step change it accepts it with no popup. Not a bug, only a slight annoyance.

I changed the formatting of the cells in the setup section to text so that it wouldn't fuss when you enter +-.

I did a simple modification after I downloaded it. The text name for pedals and lever on line 2 can be copied down to where the check boxes are without screwing anything up I think.

I made cell C30 contain the formula =C2 and copied that across, so when I enter my setup with my pedal and lever names up top the checkbox designator reads correctly.

Good idea. The new version includes this change.

Any chance of extending it for 4 pedals and 5 knee levers?

Done. Now supports 12 controls.


Thanks for checking it out... get the latest version (1.1) here which includes the above changes.

-bh

[Dan Burnham]

Brad,
Excellent. As a programmer I can tell you have spent some time on this project and you are to be recognized for this. Continue the good work.

Dan

[Jim Bates]

A good background of all of this is "Chord Construction on the Pedal steel Guitar" by Tom Bradshaw in 1968. Tom may still have some copies available.

This book allowed me to plan my chopedant in detail BEFORE I ever bought my first pedal steel in 1969.

Thanx,
Jim

[Brad Harper]

Brad,
Excellent. As a programmer I can tell you have spent some time on this project and you are to be recognized for this. Continue the good work.

Dan

Thanks Dan, glad you find value in it.

I've reworked most of the tool and added a few new features that make it much more flexible and useful.

-Replaced all lookup references with named ranges. Mainly this helps with performance and maintainability.

-Replaced static grips with dynamic ones. You can pick any triad of strings you'd like to examine.

Thanks for checking it out... get the latest version (1.2) here which includes the above changes.

-bh

[Jim Sliff]

I entered by 8-string B6 tuning - that was no problem and it seemed to tolerate deleting strings 9 and 10.

I can delete existing chages - but each time I add one I get a popup that says "Can't find project or library"...then a second popup titled "References - VBA Project" with a list of stuff, and a checkbox marked next to "MISSING".

I think I need to solve this first - because nothing else is making much sense except open strings (and I had to change the "names" above the frets, starting with B instead of E).

[Brad Harper]

I entered by 8-string B6 tuning - that was no problem and it seemed to tolerate deleting strings 9 and 10.

I can delete existing chages - but each time I add one I get a popup that says "Can't find project or library"...then a second popup titled "References - VBA Project" with a list of stuff, and a checkbox marked next to "MISSING".

Hmm... that sounds like you may have either an older version of Excel or could possibly be missing some of the VBA addons (which I *think* should be on your excel/office install disc). Apparently, the checkboxes and dropdowns are VBA form elements and require an addon. FWIW, this was written in Excel 2003.

I think I need to solve this first - because nothing else is making much sense except open strings (and I had to change the "names" above the frets, starting with B instead of E).

I've now updated these fret titles to automagically be calculated... well, let's just say they make an educated guess as to what the tuning should be called and what the first fret should be labeled. As long as the tuning contains some recognizable triads, it does pretty well.

Again, thanks for checking it out... get the latest version (1.4) here which includes the above changes.

-bh

[Bo Legg]

Looks great
I have used the one below for years way back when I had to use Quatro and since then I've put it on works and excel. This has been the best for me. This one is for my E9 neck and the chord I just typed in is a A13b5b9. It only takes about 10 min to program (even if you just use a simple (= formula) and then just a few seconds to use.
You just enter your chord formula or scale or phrase in numbers and it appears instantly in the neck view. I then copy and paste to new worksheet and then drag and drop what you need to adjust for knees and levers and then enter it into notation or tab. Of course you would have to know how to use scale numbers and have a good understanding of chord structure but I think if your interested in something like this you would want to know or already know this.

[Jim Sliff]

I'm using Excel X Mac Release 1 - the one that's part of Microsoft Office for the Mac.

I have no idea what a VBA add-on is or how to get it...I'm not a programmer and only use spreadsheets for simple financial reports or commercial Excel-based programs (like a Gantt chart builder). Hardware I'm good with - software, I'm just a "user", and I AM fairly new to the Mac, so if there are differences I might need another Mac user to toss out a hint about whatever the issue is.

But I'd REALLY like to get this working - I have examined other spreadsheet-based or online programs, and none of them even got close. At least this one could get the open strings and major chord forms right - after it let me enter MY info! It's just that the changes are inoperable, apparently. Or if they work, it's not apparent to me what they are doing.

Add -

Just downloaded the new version and changed the tuning (from low to high: F# G# B D# F# G# B D#

I'm not good on theory...but why is it saying I have a G#7 tuning instead of B6, all the other frets are "#N/A" - how do I correct that (and I still get the "can't find project or library", wiuth a following box just highlighting "MISSING" - no idea WHAT'S missing, though).

I also don't understand what the "frets/grips" section is all about. The up/down arrows (8 sets of 3) give choices - of what? And what is the matrix next to it? A fretboard, or???? It shows some chords in sporadic places, but I don't know what those places are or what they represent...I'm guessing when I make a choice at the arrows I'm choosing a 3-string grip? That seems likely, since chords pop up...but only at a few points. Why?

Sorry for so many questions. I think the lack of theory kind of handicaps me,but this may be a good tool to LEARN it if I can comprehend what it is (and I am) trying to do.

Thanks for doing this!

Jim

[Aaron Harms]

I'm not sure I can help, but I'll make the attempt...

I'm on a Mac as well, running OS X 10.4.10. I've also got the Excel X that came with Office. I figured this was pertinent, in that I too am an 8 stringer. So far, I've deleted 9 and 10, in both the first (Pedals/Levers) and second (Chords) sections. I don't get the error that you do, though, Jim. I've also changed the tuning and copedent to suit my Fender-y needs.

Jim said:" why is it saying I have a G#7 tuning instead of B6, all the other frets are "#N/A" - how do I correct that (and I still get the "can't find project or library", with a following box just highlighting "MISSING" - no idea WHAT'S missing, though). "

I can't find where it tells you what tuning you're in, but if you're getting "MISSING" and/or "#N/A", then (I think) you've deleted a cell that contained data connected to the cell where the error is coming up. This happened to me until I deleted BOTH strings 9 and 10 in both areas.

God, I hope this makes sense. I'm no Excel expert either:)

My "grips" section is also a little odd, but it seems to be connected to the check boxes (in line 25 on my file) that correspond to the pedals. I'm staring at it now, and thinking that the sporadic chords are connected to the grips needed for I, IV, and V chords at the given frets. So, since I screwed with the grips before realizing what they do, I've selected sets of strings that don't make I, IV, and V chords. Right?

My only issue is that when I select a grip, it doesn't SHOW me that number, but stays on the arrow instead.

Jim, I hope I've helped even a little, Brad, this is really cool, actually, I can't wait until you add more chord voicings, which, I think, should open up more chords in the bottom section, yeah?

Later on....

A

[Jim Sliff]

Aaron - thanks for the notes. I'm still getting the same stuff, though. DIID delete the 9 & 10 references in both areas, so the "NA" stuff is a mystery...as is the popup with something about "VBA" and then the abundantly (not( clear "MISSING" (in all caps).

I'm bumping this so maybe someone can explain what the VBA stuff, library, etc in my previous posts mean, along with the "MISSING". It's hard for me (impossible, actually) to look for a solution when I have no idea at all what the terms mean or WHAT I need to look for and how to install it.

Also still clueless on the up/down arrows and sporadic shod names in the matrix next to it. What is it all saying, and what AM I choosing with the arrows?

[ed packard]

RE G7 vs. B6...the program is ignoring the # signs for some reason. When you start "changing" the program by deleting/renaming etc., you can get strange results if you don't trace through and modify the formulae = understand Excel...in particular, look up the rules for the Vlookup & Hlookup, and the IF functions. Realize that blanks are not zeros, and '2 is not 2...a common source of #NA messages.

VBA is short for visual basic = a programming language that ties in with Excel.

#NA, and MISSING are "error" terms indicating that things are not what they should be in that, or a cell(s) on which that cell is dependent= needs info from.

This is why I have not published my "stringed instrument solver" program. I would spend all my time answering questions about it.

[Brad Harper]

Aaron - thanks for the notes. I'm still getting the same stuff, though. DIID delete the 9 & 10 references in both areas, so the "NA" stuff is a mystery...as is the popup with something about "VBA" and then the abundantly (not( clear "MISSING" (in all caps).

If you delete strings from the 'TUNING/SETUP' section, any blocks in the 'FRETBOARD DATA' that refer to those strings are going to give you an 'N/A'.

I'm bumping this so maybe someone can explain what the VBA stuff, library, etc in my previous posts mean, along with the "MISSING". It's hard for me (impossible, actually) to look for a solution when I have no idea at all what the terms mean or WHAT I need to look for and how to install it.

VBA stands for 'Visual Basic for Applications' which is a way to do advanced progamming in Excel or other programs in the MS Office suite. I didn't intentionally use any VBA programming, but I'm guessing the form controls (checkboxes, dropdowns etc.) that you are missing are typically standard on the windows version of excel and may be add-ons in the Mac version. I'm not familiar with Office on Mac, so I'm afraid I really can't help you much

Also still clueless on the up/down arrows and sporadic shod names in the matrix next to it. What is it all saying, and what AM I choosing with the arrows?

I'm assuming the up/down arrows you are referring to are the dropdowns that let you choose a string. The 'Grips' section is intended to allow you to choose different string combinations in order to show what chords those strings might form at the corresponding fret to the right. For example, if you choose strings 3, 4 and 5... you should see a I chord at the 3rd fret in the Key of G.

I'll try to look into Excel on Mac to see if I can help you get it running correctly.

-bh

[Brad Harper]

RE G7 vs. B6...the program is ignoring the # signs for some reason.

Actually, it shouldn't be ignoring any # or b signs... the problem is that I don't have 6th chords programed in yet, so it it sees the B#, D# and D as a partial G#7 chord. Once I get the 6th chords in (now done), the tuning name should usually show up correctly. BTW, the algorithm for determining the tuning name is not very scientific.. it basically looks for instances of defined chords and chooses the instance that occurs most frequently. So, if you had a tuning that had 2 G chords and 2 D chords, its going to call that a D tuning because there's a tie and D comes before G chromatically.

This is why I have not published my "stringed instrument solver" program. I would spend all my time answering questions about it.

Understood.

-bh

[Kristen Bruno]

It took a little while for a noobee like myself to figure out how to use your program, but I am glad I took the time to figure out how to use it. Like when I changed the tuning and didn't see many major chords that I knew should be there ... THEN I discovered that changing the gripping controls of the strings made a big difference in seeing where the chords were. SUPER WOW. All the fingering possiblities!

Very well thought out!

Thanks
Country Kristen