\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{gchords}
\usepackage{geometry}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
{\Large GCHORDS, a \LaTeXe\ package to draw guitar chord diagrams}\\
\vskip 0.2cm
{\large by Kasper Peeters, k.peeters@damtp.cam.ac.uk}
\end{center}
\vskip 4cm GCHORDS is a \LaTeXe\ package to draw those familiar guitar
chord diagrams. Options are available to draw them in any size, using
any number of strings, produce black dotes or numbered circles to
denote fingers, add chordnames, show the number of the top fret,
specify fonts for almost any symbol occuring in the diagram and many
more. There is also a macro to typeset chords above lyrics. A small
TCL script for graphical construction of chord symbols is also
included.  This is a short guide to show how the commands work, with a
few examples included. Feel free to contact me if you want other
features included.
\medskip

Note that, in order for this to work, you need the \LaTeX\ `lcircle' font
in various sizes.
\medskip

The homepage for this macro package is
{\tt http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/kp229/gchords/}.

%-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Quick guide}

The main macro is called {\tt$\backslash$chord}, and should be used as follows:

{$\backslash${\tt chord}\{{\it modifiers}\/\}\{$x_1,x_2,\ldots$\}\{{\it
name}\/\}}, where
\begin{itemize}
\item {\it modifiers}\/: Currently, there are two uses of this part.
Putting a `t' in it draws a thick top fret. Putting in an arbitrary number
(large numbers must be put in curly braces) resuls in this number being
printed at the top left corner of the diagram (denoting a fret position).
\item $x_1,x_2,\ldots$: Each $x_i$ contains the information for a single
string. Recognized commands are
\begin{itemize}
\item {\tt b}: This note is a base note and will be printed a bit larger
than the others,
\item {\tt n}: This string does not contain any dots.
\item {\tt x}: This string should be muted (a $\times$ appears above the
string).
\item {\tt f{\it num}\/}: This note should be played with finger number
{\it num}\/. The number will be put inside the (open) dot.
\item {\tt p{\it num}\/}: Fret number. If you need numbers larger than $9$,
they must be enclosed in curly braces.
\item {\tt s{\it num}\/}: Use a different string to put this note on.
\end{itemize}
\item {\it name}\/: The name of the chord. Appears underneath the diagram.
\end{itemize}
If you want to put more notes on one string, just add the $f$ and $p$
sequences. They {\em must}\/ appear in top-down order in order for the
strings to be drawn correctly.

The chord macro can be used in tables if you need a lot of diagrams neatly
aligned. For a row of diagrams, the shortcut {$\backslash$\texttt{chords}$\{$
\textit{chords}$\}$} may be used (where {\it chords}\/ is a sequence of chord
macros).

\smallchords\def\xoff{0}\def\yoff{0}
A few examples will illustrate the possibilities. First, lets put a diagram
in the text itself, like \chord{t}{n,n,p2,p2,p1,n}{}, which is just A
minor. The numbers of the fingers can be put in, resulting in 
\chord{t}{n,n,f2p2,f3p2,f1p1,n}{}. Now let's make the diagrams a bit
larger, and put them in a separate line, like
\def\numfrets{6}\mediumchords\def\xoff{2}\def\yoff{2}
\chords{\chord{t}{n,n,f2p2,f3p2,f1p1,n}{Am}\chord{t}{x,f3p3,f2p2,n,f1p1,n}{C}}
It's also possible to display a larger part of the neck, like in 
\def\numfrets{10}
\chords{\chord{t}{p5,p7,p7,p6,p5,p5}{A}}
which can also be displayed as
\def\numfrets{5}
\chords{\chord{5}{p1,p3,p3,p2,p1,p1}{A}}
Nice patterns to play are the following:
\chords{\chord{}{p1p4,p1p3,p1p3,p1p3,p1p4,p1p4}{}
\def\numfrets{20}
\chord{}{p{10}p{13},p{10}p{12},p{10}p{12},p{10}p{12},p{10}p{13},p{10}p{13}}{}}

%-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Gchords and lyrics}

You can also typeset chords above lyrics by using the {\tt
$\backslash$upchord} command, provided by Yotam Medini. You use it as
follows
\begin{verbatim}
\begin{verse}
\smallchords
\newcommand{\AsevenMaj}{\chord{t}{x,n,p2,p1,p2,n}{A7+}}
Getting to \upchord{\AsevenMaj}know you
\end{verse}
\end{verbatim}
which produces the output
\begin{verse}
\smallchords
\newcommand{\AsevenMaj}{\chord{t}{x,n,p2,p1,p2,n}{A7+}}
Getting to \upchord{\AsevenMaj}know you
\end{verse}
See the file {\tt get2knowu.tex} for a more complicated example.

%-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Chordbox graphical chord editor}

Included in the distribution is a small TCL script which provides a 
graphical editor for chords. This script was written by David R.~Lovell.
To start it, for instance with 8 frets, type
\begin{quote}
\verb|wish chordbox.tcl 8|
\end{quote}
After constructing the chord and entering the name, press the `print' button 
to see the \LaTeX{} command printed on stdout. 

It is possible to use the `b' and `\#' symbols in the `name' field to 
denote `flat' and `sharp' chords.

%-------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Sizes and defaults}

It's possible to change the dimensions, fonts, number of strings etc.\ by
using one of the following settings.
\begin{itemize}
\item {$\backslash${\tt strings}\{{\it num}\/\}}: number of strings on your guitar.
\item {$\backslash${\tt numfrets}\{{\it num}\/\}}: length (number of frets) of
a diagram.
\item {$\backslash${\tt chordsize}\{{\it dim}\/\}}: distance between two frets in some
dimension known to \TeX.
\item {$\backslash${\tt fingerfont}\{{\it font}\/\}}: font used for numbering of
fingers. This can be any font, but if it is too large, the number will not
fit into the circle, so beware.
\item {$\backslash${\tt namefont}\{{\it font}\/\}}: font used when typesetting the name
of the chord.
\item {$\backslash${\tt fretposfont}\{{\it font}\/\}}: font used when typesetting the
position of on the neck of the top fret in the diagram.
\item {$\backslash${\tt dampsymbol}\{{\it symbol}\/\}}: a single symbol in any font you
like, used to denote damped strings (usually a $\times$).
\item {$\backslash${\tt fatsiz}\{{\it dec}\/\}}: size of a fat note (the physical size
will be {$\backslash${\tt fatsiz*}$\backslash${\tt chordsize/2}}).
\item {$\backslash${\tt normalsiz}\{{\it dec}\/\}}: size of a normal note.
\item {$\backslash${\tt fingsiz}\{{\it dec}\/\}}: size of the circle used to produce
`numbered fingers'.
\item {$\backslash${\tt fatfingsiz}\{{\it dec}\/\}}: size of the circle used to produce
`numbered fingers', used for the fatter notes.
\item {$\backslash${\tt xoff}\{{\it dec}\/\}},{$\backslash${\tt yoff}\{{\it dec}\/\}}: the left lower
corner of the diagram in units of {$\backslash${\tt chordsize}}.
\end{itemize}

There are two sizes predefined, which can be activated by
{$\backslash${\tt smallchords}} and {$\backslash${\tt mediumchords}}.


\end{document}