Better chord notation for guitar players

Bacs

I would like to propose a new system of chord notation that has more detailed information for the guitar player without being too technical. Many times I have seen chords for songs, that when you play them as folk chords, they just don’t sound right at all. In those cases, I would spend hours trying to figure out what would make it sound right and/or the easiest way to play it.  Over the years, I have developed a specialized notation for this. Read this over, and if you feel it has merit, let’s start a discussion. If you feel it is worthless or something similar already exits, let me know.  There are snippets of two songs at the end of the document for examples. They probably aren't in the key of the artists.

I call this specialized notation Bacs for Bronson Annotated Chord System
Here is the explanation of Bacs.  There are six areas of information in the notation that can be used. Not all areas need to be used every time.

This message board doesn't support subscript and superscript notation. The proper look is noted at each areas description. 1-4A1A64++ is full notation, each section describes it's part of the full notation. When it is properly subscripted and superscripted, it becomes very clear what is going on. I suggest coping this entire message to Word and make the proper adjustments. Note that not all parts of the notataion are always neccessary.

String Range  1-4A1A64++           (superscript the 1-4)     
If this is left blank, the players play the chord as they wish. If a range is given then those strings are strummed only.  (1-4  means strum string 1, 2 ,3, and 4 only)

Bar Chord Type 1-4A1A64++      (subscript the 1st A)
If this is left blank, the players will use folk chords, otherwise bar chords will be used. Allowable types are: E, A, D, G, and C7. (A  means use an A bar chord)  The D bar chord may be only the top 3 strings using the traditional D chord finger position. In the folk position the other strings may be open. You may want to use the top 3 strings with the traditional D chord position or you may want to add the 4th and/or 5th strings for a different sound. In this latter case you would bar the top 3 strings with your index finger and use your other fingers to complete the chord.
The G bar chord is made from part of the folk G chord. Use only strings 1 thru 4 or 3 thru 6.
The C7 pattern uses string 2 thru 5 only.

Beat Count  1-4A1A64++      (subscript the 1 after the 1st A)
If the time signature is 4/4 and there is only one chord in the measure getting 4 counts, or two chords in the measure and each chord gets two counts, then you don’t really need to show the beat count. However, any other arrangement of chords may not be obvious. That’s when you would want to use this area. With that said, for clarity, why not just always show the timing? It doesn’t take up much space.

Chord Root  1-4A1A64++     (The 2nd A is normal text)
This shows the root of the chord to be played, and would normally be the same as in normal chord notation. The exceptions are noted in the chord modifier area.

Chord Type  1-4A1A64++    (The 6 would be normal type)
This shows the type of chord to be played. If left blank, the chord is a major chord. Allowable types are:
E, E7, E/7, E6, Em, Em7, Em/7 for E bars
A, A7, A/7, A6, Am, Am7, Am/7 for A bars
D, D7, Dm  for D bars
G,  for G bars
C7 for C7 bars
This is the same notation that is used in normal chord notation.

Special note on the 7’s chords for the E and A bar chord types: the 7th note can be made with a higher 7th or a lower 7th. Normal chord notation uses the “/† to indicate a bass note added to a chord. I use this notation to indicate the lower 7th . The E higher 7th is the D note on string 2, the lower 7th is the D note on the 4th string. The A higher 7th note is the G on string 1, and the lower 7th is the G on string 3.

If a chord needs to be other than what is listed here, then you go to the chord modifier area.

Chord Modifier 1-4A1A64++   (superscript the 4+ +)
In Chord Type, there are 19 chord positions allowed, not counting plain old folk chords. What if an augmented chord is needed, or what if you have a moving bass progression. How do we handle that situation? The chord modifier allows you to modifier the chord. The notation is the string number followed by plus signs or minus signs. For example, 4++ means on string 4, with the chord you are using, slide your finger up 2 frets. Of course, the actual finger may be different, this is meant to show you what notes you are changing. I suggest limiting the chord modifiers to a max of two modifications. If more are needed, perhaps another chord should be used to modify.

The modified chord may be the same root chord, such as an A chord becoming an A augmented chord. In some cases it is easier to keep the same root chord to show that you are doing a moving bass. Here’s an example:
1-3D1E  1-3D1E3-  1-3D2E3- -   This shows an E chord with the 3rd string moving down 1 fret in the second chord, and another fret in the 3rd chord.  Normal chord notation may have shown this as: E B6 E7 Playing these folk chords will never have the right sound.

Now, here is a sample example song, Hotel California by the Eagles

A4Em   E4B   A4D   E4A   A4C   E4G   E4Am   E4B   E4C   E4G   E4Am   E4B 

This is a little harder, but really worth the effort.  Something by George Harrison.

2-4E8A   2-4A8A4-   2-4E8A4- -   2-5A8D   2-5A4B   1-4A4B/7   1-5E8E   

2-4A4A64+ +   2-4A4A64+   2-4A4A6   1-4A4A64-   

1-4D4D   4-5E2A4- -   4-5E2A4-   1-5E4A 

Here is what you need to know to use Bacs.  Folk chords, the Bar chord patterns, and what chords they make at each fret.  We also need a way to share the files where it will show the subscript and superscript notation.