Quick Start
Installation
Download Fretboard Lab from the product download page for your platform. Install the desktop package and launch it from the system application menu. If your system blocks an unsigned direct-download build, approve the app only if it came from the official Hannes Software download flow.
First launch
Open the settings panel and confirm the license state. The community workflow supports chord lookup, voicing preview, named tunings, and basic export. The professional workflow unlocks larger bulk export workflows and app activation with the checkout email and license key.
Core operations
- Enter a chord symbol such as Cmaj7, Am7, Dm7b5, G13, or a roman numeral progression.
- Choose the tuning you want to use.
- Review the generated fretboard diagrams.
- Sort or filter by position, span, open strings, and difficulty.
- Compare voicings by sound, hand position, and relationship to the next chord.
- Export diagrams as PNG, PDF, Markdown, or JSON when you need lesson or arrangement material.
Common questions
Is this a note-name drill app?
No. Fretboard Lab is focused on practical chord voicing discovery and export. It can help fretboard learning, but it is not a gamified note memorization tool.
Why are some chord symbols interpreted differently than I expected?
Chord symbols can be ambiguous. Check the chord tones, intervals, omitted notes, and tuning before choosing a voicing for a lesson or chart.
What is the best first workflow?
Type a chord you already know, compare three generated shapes, then switch tuning or sort order. This makes the app's value visible quickly.