Recent Updates

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What's new in GuitarTheory — notable additions and improvements, most recent first.

Guitar Sound Selection

v0.13.0April 2, 2026

›You can now choose which guitar sound is used for all audio playback across the app. Four options are available: Acoustic Steel, Electric Jazz, Distortion, and Overdriven.
›The setting lives in your profile under "Guitar Sound". It saves to your account and applies on every visit — no page reload needed when switching.
›If you're not signed in, the app defaults to Acoustic Steel.
›This is the foundation for expanding the sound library over time — more guitar types can be added without any changes to the rest of the app.

Chord Visualizer — Export to PNG & PDF

v0.12.5March 31, 2026

›The Chord Visualizer now has an Export button next to the Play button. Hit it to download a complete chord reference sheet as a PNG or PDF.
›Each export includes the chord name and type, a Notes section showing all chord tones as color-coded pills (root in purple, others in blue), a Degrees & Formula section with interval boxes and the chord formula, and a Staff Notation section with the notes written on a treble clef staff.
›All chord voicings are shown as fretboard diagrams — the same diagrams you see on the page, including open strings, muted strings, barre chords, and finger numbers.
›A "Works With" section at the bottom lists compatible scales for the chord.
›Several chord diagram data fixes were made: an impossible m7♭5 "Barre-A Shape" fingering (the same finger assigned to three different positions simultaneously) was corrected, and two other voicings with notes outside their displayed fret window were fixed.

Scale Visualizer — Export to PNG & PDF

v0.12.4March 30, 2026

›The Scale Visualizer now has an Export button (↓ icon) next to the scale name. Hit it to download a clean reference sheet as a PNG image or PDF.
›Each export includes: the scale title and mood description, notes in scale, scale degrees with interval labels, the step pattern (W/H), a full fretboard diagram, and standard notation + TAB when you have a fingering pattern selected.
›The fretboard diagram shows every scale note across the neck — root notes in purple, scale tones in blue, open strings as unfilled circles. If you have the 24-fret view active, the diagram splits into two rows (frets 0–12 and 13–24) so notes stay large and easy to read.
›The diagram reflects your current tuning — string labels show the actual open string notes, inlay dots mark standard fret positions (3, 5, 7, 9, 12), and fret numbers below each row keep you oriented on the neck.
›Non-standard tunings are called out in the export header so reference sheets are self-explanatory.

Alternate Tuning Chord Voicings

v0.12.3March 30, 2026

›The Chord Visualizer now has a Tuning selector alongside the root note and chord type controls. Choose from 14 tunings across five groups: standard (6 and 7-string), drop tunings (Drop D, Double Drop D, Drop C), transposed (half-step and full-step down), modal/Celtic (DADGAD, FACGCE), and open tunings (Open G, Open D, Open E, Open A).
›For standard 6-string tuning, the existing hand-crafted voicing library is used exactly as before — same named positions, same CAGED shapes.
›For any other tuning, chord voicings are computed automatically. The algorithm finds playable shapes by mapping each string's chord tones across fret windows, preferring open strings (which are especially resonant in alternate tunings) and root-in-bass voicings.
›String labels on each chord diagram update to show the actual open string notes for the selected tuning. Audio playback uses the correct pitches too — not standard tuning defaults.

41-Scale Library & Enharmonic Spelling

v0.12.2March 29, 2026

›The scale library has grown to 41 scales. New additions include Phrygian Dominant (Hijaz), Persian, Raga Todi, Raga Marwa, Raga Purvi, Lydian Dominant, Super Locrian (Altered), Dorian b2, Lydian Augmented, Locrian Natural 2, Bebop Major, Romanian Minor, Neapolitan Major, Enigmatic, Augmented, and Prometheus.
›All 7-note scales now use degree-based enharmonic spelling — each degree is assigned the correct letter name so note names never repeat within a scale. For example, G Phrygian Dominant now correctly shows G Ab B C D Eb F# instead of G G# B C D D# F.
›Scales that require double accidentals (## or bb) to maintain correct spelling are highlighted in amber, with a note explaining the unusual notation.

Alternate Tuning Support

v0.12.0March 28, 2026

›The Scale Visualizer now supports 14 tunings across five groups: standard (6, 7, 8 string), drop tunings (Drop D, Double Drop D, Drop C), transposed (half-step down, full-step down), modal/Celtic (DADGAD, FACGCE), and open tunings (Open G, Open D, Open E, Open A).
›Selecting a tuning updates the fretboard, fingering patterns, notation, and TAB all at once.
›For alternate tunings, scale patterns are automatically generated per neck position rather than relying on CAGED shapes designed for standard tuning.
›The Notation & TAB section now shows a context header — scale name, pattern, fret range, and tuning — so you always know what you're looking at without scrolling up.

GT Game — Music Theory Quiz

v0.11.0March 27, 2026

›A 20-level progressive music theory quiz, organized into Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Master tiers.
›Questions cover scales, intervals, chords, modes, and key relationships — with timed answers and plain-English explanations for every question.
›Earn tier badges as you advance. Your progress and best scores are saved to your profile.
›A game badge can optionally appear on your avatar throughout the app.

Chord Progression Builder Enhancements

v0.10.3March 2026

›Edit and duplicate saved progressions directly from the library — changes save back without creating a new entry.
›Export any progression as a PNG image or PDF, complete with chord diagrams.
›Bulk-delete multiple progressions at once from the library.
›Upload a custom profile photo from the profile page.
›Each chord card in the builder now has a dropdown to change its chord type mid-progression (major, minor, 7ths, suspended, and more).
›Added 12 new progression templates across R&B, Country, Funk, Modal, and Neo-Soul genres — 28 templates total.

Chord Library, Voicings & Polish

v0.9.0 – v0.10.2March 2026

›Full chord diagram library with 14 chord types, multiple voicing positions, and interval/degree display modes.
›Mini chord diagrams in the progression builder show the exact voicing and position for each chord — saved and restored with the progression.
›Fret position cycling (← →) on each chord card so you can pick the voicing that fits your hand.
›Progression share links — make a progression public and share it with anyone, no account required.
›Colorblind mode added to Preferences — replaces color-only cues in the Circle of Fifths.

Scale Visualizer & Enharmonic Keys

v0.8.2 – v0.8.13February 2026

›Scale Visualizer launched — explore 20+ scales on an interactive fretboard with fingering patterns (CAGED, 3NPS, Box), staff notation, and guitar TAB.
›Scale playback with accurate guitar transposing convention (written 8va above concert pitch).
›Save favorite scales to your profile for quick one-click access.
›Enharmonic key support on the Circle of Fifths — toggle between B/Cb, F#/Gb, and Db/C# spellings; all panels (scale notes, chord names, fretboard) update together.
›8-string guitar support added to the fretboard and Scale Visualizer.

REST API, Chord Progressions & More

v0.6.0 – v0.8.1January – February 2026

›Public music theory REST API launched at /api/v1 — scales, chords, keys, intervals, and fretboard data. No account needed.
›Chord Progression Builder added to the Circle of Fifths — build progressions from diatonic chords, set BPM, and play them back.
›Progression template library with curated chord progressions across Pop, Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz, and more.
›Drag-to-reorder chords; save progressions to your account.
›User accounts, profiles, and preferences (default key, guitar type, theme).

GuitarTheory is actively developed — more to come.