How chord notation works
When you add a chord to FlowChord you can type its shape instead of drawing it on the fretboard. A shape is six values, one per string, written from the thickest string to the thinnest.
One value per string, low to high
Read the values left to right as the strings from the low E (the 6th, the thickest) to the high E (the 1st, the thinnest). The open C chord is written x 3 2 0 1 0:
| String | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 6th · low E | x | Not played |
| 5th · A | 3 | Pressed at fret 3 |
| 4th · D | 2 | Pressed at fret 2 |
| 3rd · G | 0 | Rings open |
| 2nd · B | 1 | Pressed at fret 1 |
| 1st · high E | 0 | Rings open |
What each value means
xthe string is not played: muted, or simply skipped. A capital X or × works too.0the string rings open, with no finger on it. The letter o works too.1–24the fret the string is pressed at, from 1 up to 24.
Spaces are optional
Separate the values with spaces, commas, dashes, dots, slashes or bars, or write them together when every fret is a single digit. These all mean the same open C:
x 3 2 0 1 0 x-3-2-0-1-0 x,3,2,0,1,0 x32010
Frets 10 and above need a separator, or the digits would run together:
x 10 12 12 11 x
More examples
x 3 2 0 1 0- C, open
x 0 2 2 2 0- A, open
2 x 0 2 3 2- D/F♯, thumb or first finger on the low E
1 3 3 2 1 1- F, barre at fret 1
7 9 7 7 7 7- Bm7, barre at fret 7
x 10 12 12 11 x- Gm at fret 10, the outer strings skipped
FlowChord names the chord
The field and the fretboard under it show the same shape: type and the board redraws, tap the board and the text follows. Either way FlowChord works out what the shape sounds like and suggests the chord name, with the other readings one tap away. If you know the chord by another name, type it: Dmaj7 and D7M are the same chord.