• Registered: 2007-01-10
  • Posts: 5

Topic: Feature Suggestion - Search by chords

When I was first starting to learn guitar (just a few months ago), I very quickly learned G, D, and C.  I found out that there were a lot of songs that I could play using just those chords, but it was kind if frustrating flipping through dozens of songs trying to find some, even with educated guesses.


I don't know exactly how Chordie's database is set up, but since the chords used in a song are often listed in the search results, I was wondering if it would be possible to set up a search based on those instead of just the song title or artist.  This would allow budding guitarists to find a wide selection of songs that they can "already" play.


Like I said I don't know how the database is set up so it may not be technically possible, but I think it would be a really cool feature for an already really cool site.


-OrionsByte

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Feature Suggestion - Search by chords

Hello OrionsByte - Good suggestion, I like your idea . . . However, there are already some chordie features that might help you locate exactly the type songs you are seeking.


There is a pull-down menu at the upper of right of the search pages - using this button you can specify 'easy songs only'.  This will narrow the field somewhat and limit your search results.


Also, the 'transpose' tool on each song's viewing page can be used to adjust the song to what ever key you would like.  This feature makes chordie incredibly flexible.  So even if a song is not in your preferred key, you can probably move it into your playing comfort zone.


There are some songs that are not formatted properly, so they won't transpose, but most selections will work.  Now that the admin is allowing registered users to 'correct' songs, the database will steadily gain more properly-formatted songs.


So, even if your 'search by chords' idea is not technically possible (I must confess my ignorance regarding databases), the existing tools may serve your purposes almost as well.

Hope this helps . . .

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

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  • Registered: 2006-02-26
  • Posts: 913

Re: Feature Suggestion - Search by chords

James got most of the points there. I have been thinking about adding such a feature for a long time, but ended up adding the "filter"-feature instead.


The "easy public songbooks" are another nice place to look.


The main problem with adding a "search by chord" would be to find a good user interface for it. And you will always miss songs that can be transposed to G,D,C. I might however add a "easy chords only" to the advanced search box.