Guitar chord charts vary widely in form from simple paper based 8.5 by 11 inch quick reference sheets to complete software applications to extensive wall charts.

Although any of these forms are generally useful there are pros and cons associated with each relative to their usefulness in their ability to serve not only as guitar chord reference tools but also as learning tools as well.

Homebody, Road Warrior Or Both?

The first issue one might well consider is whether or not you'd typically be referring to a guitar chord chart in your home or studio setting or while traveling or both.

If you're usually at home and or in your studio and have sufficient and close at hand wall space then a wall chord chart can be a much handier reference than a booklet or software program

This is usually because you can look up the chords much quicker looking at a wall chart than flipping through a book or having to start your computer or waiting for a program to load if your computer is already on.

If you're often away from you're home or studio when you find yourself playing and or practicing and you travel with a laptop computer then guitar chord software may work best for you. Of course you might make good use of both.

Is The Layout Sensible And Informative?

Better chord charts are laid out in very logical patterns such that you may not only find the chord and fingering that you're looking for but you'll also have other versions of the chord depicted and often you'll see where the chord lies relative to it's place in a key and chord progression.

Other issues to consider when looking into the purchase of guitar chord charts include the following (consider what your playing level is and what it is that you want learn or at least be aware of):

• how complete is the guitar chord chart? there are 36 different chord types in each key, are all these chord types included?
• is the chart, book or software program full of chord spam? (Quite often chord books or computer programs show 20 to 30 fingering positions for a single chord, such as C Major. But only four are actually unique fingering positions. All the others are partials of the four unique fingering positions— chord spam. This is how chord books and computer programs often boast of having "10,000 guitar chords." The great majority—80 to 90 percent—is chord spam. Chord spam is very confusing when you're trying to learn new chords.)
• is the guitar chord chart arranged in a logical manner? in other words are the chords shown from the simplest to the most elaborate?
• are the chords depicted in such a way that you see where they fall in a particular key and are the guitar chords laid out in such a way as to make it easy to transpose the chords to another key?
• are other relevant factors shown like scales and chord inversions (that often make playing a chord easier when transitioning from another chord)?

Some guitar chord chart types that you might consider particularly geared for songwriting are the following:

Regarding software based guitar chord systems:

Software based guitar chord chart systems are a good choice if you're reasonably familiar with chords and their various voicings and how they relate to different keys.

Also good software programs for songwriters are geared for writing lead sheets for songs you're working on or preparing to play.

Guitar chord software is really handy if you travel with a laptop and don't have the extra room for a chart or booklet.

Click here for a software based guitar chord program.

Regarding paper based (wall chart) guitar chord charts:

A well thought out wall chart is an excellent learning tool and can help you write songs as well that are musically adept. And typically a good guitar wall chart will be laid out with positioning of the each chord as it would appear in a satisfying chord progression relative to its key. Also good charts make chord inversions clear and transposing keys a simple task.

Additionally, if you place a chart in a convenient position, directly in front of the place you usually practice or even record, relatively at easy eye level, then you can have your hands positioned and playing on your guitar as you're visually reading the chord finger positions on the chart.

This is not only useful in terms of saving time but can more strongly reinforce your brain's memorization and learning process as you're seeing the correct chord fingering on the chart and immediately and even simultaneously fingering and playing the chord on your guitar.

Also, if the chart is laid out with typical chord relationships and or with the chords of each scale you can observe and play the chords that are relative to each key and begin to ingrain essential chord characteristics and or scales into your brain. The more visual your playing experience is the more readily you'll be mastering "chord guitar" playing.

Click here for a paper based (wall chart) guitar chord chart.

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