montgomeryi
May-24-2006, 1:41pm
If you're at all interested in music theory as it pertains to the mandolin you have to get Mandolin ModeExplorer (http://www.grovelandsoftwarelabs.com/modeexplorerweb/home/MandoModeExplorer.aspx). #If you already have it, get the latest release, it's a must have.
I've been using this product on and off for the last year or so, so I thought I'd check to see if there were any updates available. #As timing would have it, version 2.0 was just released by Groveland Software Labs. Yes, you probably recognize the Groveland name from many contributions to this list.
Anyhow, the enhancements made to the 2.0 release vastly improve the usefulness of this as a learning tool. #Don't get me wrong, the 1.0 release was great, the 2.0 release is just that much better. #
One of the coolest new features is the ability to hover over the dots (the dots show you the chord shape or the scale over an image of the mandolin fretboard) of a chord shape and it tells you the chord-degree (3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.) of the note as it relates to that chord shape! #I don't know the number of times I've tried learning a new moveable chord shape and not known exactly what notes were what to help me remember the chord name. #"Which note is the root (if the root exists at all in the shape)?", "which is the third?", and so on. #Very time consuming . . . for me anyhow. #Mandolin ModeExplorer tells you by simply hovering over the dot on the fretboard.
They've also added open voicings, an "open" dot shows at the nut so you can hover over that also. #
This on top of other improvements made to the other parts of the product like the chord calculator and chart builder with its built-in play back facilities.
Anyhow, if you don't own this yet, I highly recommend it. #Too many good things to pass up.
Disclaimer: #I'm in no way associated with Groveland Software Labs. #Just a very happy customer.
I've been using this product on and off for the last year or so, so I thought I'd check to see if there were any updates available. #As timing would have it, version 2.0 was just released by Groveland Software Labs. Yes, you probably recognize the Groveland name from many contributions to this list.
Anyhow, the enhancements made to the 2.0 release vastly improve the usefulness of this as a learning tool. #Don't get me wrong, the 1.0 release was great, the 2.0 release is just that much better. #
One of the coolest new features is the ability to hover over the dots (the dots show you the chord shape or the scale over an image of the mandolin fretboard) of a chord shape and it tells you the chord-degree (3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.) of the note as it relates to that chord shape! #I don't know the number of times I've tried learning a new moveable chord shape and not known exactly what notes were what to help me remember the chord name. #"Which note is the root (if the root exists at all in the shape)?", "which is the third?", and so on. #Very time consuming . . . for me anyhow. #Mandolin ModeExplorer tells you by simply hovering over the dot on the fretboard.
They've also added open voicings, an "open" dot shows at the nut so you can hover over that also. #
This on top of other improvements made to the other parts of the product like the chord calculator and chart builder with its built-in play back facilities.
Anyhow, if you don't own this yet, I highly recommend it. #Too many good things to pass up.
Disclaimer: #I'm in no way associated with Groveland Software Labs. #Just a very happy customer.