GuitarTools

environment

At first, check your server have installed GD library and Perl-GD module.

install

upload (uncompressed)GuitarTools/plugins/GuitarTools directory to your Movable Type's plugins directory.

you need to install GD::Tab::Guitar and Music::Chord::Namer, too.

the way to install is;
1) if you are the server admin, use CPAN shell.
2) or, download their packages, and upload their .pm files that included in their packages' lib directory, to (installed)GuitarTools/extlib directory. please keep the original directory tree through uploading.

one more thing, paste this on the tail of your blog's Stylrsheet template.

.guitarlines {
    line-height: 50px;
    background-color: #F4F8Fc;
    font-size: 16px;
}

.guitarlines .guitarchord {
    position: relative;
    width: 52px;
    top: -7px;
    margin: 0 -52px 0 0;
    border: 0;
}

.guitarlines .chordname {
    position: relative;
    display: inline-block;
    width: 0;
    top: -1.2em;
    font-weight: bold;
}

How to use

GuitarTools Plugin will install 'guitar_tools' GlobalModifier and the TextFormat that works same as.

Syntax

basic

[chord:C]
write your chord name continuously after the 'chord:' declaration, between the square brackets.
[chord:C] will be published as the image

flet positions

if you want to specify the flet positions, write the position after chord name, with @ mark.
[chord:C6@032030]

  • from sixth string to first string.
  • small x means mute.

multi chords

you can write multiple chords with space.
[chord:C6@032030 GM7 Bm7 Em]

auto naming

write 'auto' as chordname, plugin will guess the chord name.
[chord:auto@320003 auto@xx0232 auto@x7678x auto@576755 auto@123456]

other syntax

if flet positions are specified, you can use free string as chordname
[chord:Jimi@x7678x]

split all flets with camma, if your flet positions are multi-digit high.
[chord:Ab_oct@x,11,x,13,x,x]

chords

major, minor
[chord:C Cm]

major seventh will be written in large M. 7th, major 7th, minor 7th, minor-major 7th.
[chord:C7 CM7 Cm7 CmM7]

dim, aug, sus4, add9
[chord:Edim Eaug Esus4 Eadd9]

tensions
[chord:C7(9) C7(9,13)]

#, b(small b means flat.)
[chord:C# C7(#9) C7(b5)]

lines syntax

if you want to embed the chord diagrams into your lyrics, you can use 'lines' syntax.
write your lyrics inside of square brackets, and write your chordnames with curly bracket.
if you just embed a chord name text, add a dash on your chord name.
[lines:
{F#m(11)@x44200}two jumps in a week a bet you {Asus2@x02200}think that's pretty clever {E}don't you boy?
{F#m(11)@x44200}Flying on your motorcycle, {Asus2@x02200}watching all the ground {Eb@688666}beneath you drop
{-F#m(11)}You'd kill yourself for recognition, {-Asus2}kill yourself to never {-E}ever stop
{-F#m(11)}You broke another mirror, you're {-Asus2}turning into something {-E}you are not

So don't leave me {F#m(11)@x44200}high____{Asus2@x02200}don't leave me {E}dry____
Don't leave me {-F#m(11)}high____{-Asus2}don't leave me {-E}dry____
]

two jumps in a week a bet you think that's pretty clever don't you boy?
Flying on your motorcycle, watching all the ground beneath you drop
F#m(11)You'd kill yourself for recognition, Asus2kill yourself to never Eever stop
F#m(11)You broke another mirror, you're Asus2turning into something Eyou are not

So don't leave me high____don't leave me dry____
Don't leave me F#m(11)high____Asus2don't leave me Edry____

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4 Comments

Hi i just downloaded this plugin for testing, and found a little detail.
I used a tab like this.

D A C D C D
Xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx XXxxxxxx

but the last 3 letters was overlapped.

Like the plugin is GPL, i just fixed and used it in my blog in this page http://mixelandia.com/2008/12/guitartools-plugin-para-mtos-y-mt.php.

Kind Regards

Is there a php version of this? I am trying to get this working but i receive the following error:

Smarty error: [plugin] modifier 'guitar_tools' is not implemented (core.load_plugins.php, line 118)

it only happens when i'm searching via "Fast Search" plugin for movable type....i would be grateful if someone can assist me on what to do here.

aklaswad Author Profile Page said:

Hi jwayne.
I'm sorry but this plugin is strongly depending on a few external perl module, so basically it can't work with php.

but, hm, if you just want to get the error off, I can help something. please wait for a few days...

i fixed it...i forgot to add the variable convert_breaks="1" in the EntryExcerpt field in the "fast search" template....putting that in fixes it 100%....

i was also wondering though, would there be an option to create javascript popup chord diagrams when hovering the mouse over the chord name? that way, only the chord diagram appears when you choose it to...go to the ultimate-guitar dot com site to see an example of what i mean....any possibility for that in a future version? thanks!

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