This is a matter of “Finale-speak”.

A chord symbol consists of two components: root and suffix

In the chord symbol Dm7b5 the root is ‘D’ - and the suffix is ‘m7b5’.

When you add a chord symbol in the score, you choose a root, and “attach” a suffix to the root.

When the chord symbol is transposed, Finale will transpose the root, and not change the suffix.

Chord suffixes are document specific (not program specific).

You can save your custom suffixes as a Library.

You can load your Library into the template you use for new documents.

In that way all new documents will contain your custom suffixes.

This is really good news;   I was hoping I could build a complete library so that when I use the chord tool, all I have to do is use the select widget and every version that I know of will show up as a choice, and I just select the one I want and all is "kewl".   I don't know how to load a chord template, but I will look into this, as this is exactly what I want.   horray...  thanks

peter;

I have read the sections on chords and still I am confused.  Here is what I would like, but do not know how or whether it is even possible:

guitar chords are two dimensional

you have maybe 40 versions of a dominant 7th.   This five pentatonic version, and 8 four note combinations like bottom four strings, next four string, then high four strings, then the six string, skip 5th, and three high strings.  etc etc..

THen you have the other dimension which is 12 roots.   A,Bb,B,C,,,,etc

this is just for the single chord.. start with F 

How do you tell the tool that chord fingerings in one key, can be used in 12 different keys by just moving the root up by half steps?       If this isn't possible, then you have to individually enter an F chord formation with a different fret board number for every key.

Not only that, but using other barchords, like a Bb, you would then have to enter 12 versions of all the keys of that formation..

But, note then the version of F on the 7th fret would show up in the Bb set, but not when you type in the F chord.

I need to see if it is possible that when I add this F to my score, and show the fret board, all of the versions of F, can be selected from the fretboard selection window, without my having to enter everything and in addition make sure I don't have to do this every time a call up and new score.

This is step one.   Saving the library is another step but I need to solve this one first.

Tom Oconnell,

If I understand you correctly, you are no longer talking about chord symbols (= Root and Suffix), but rather about fretboard diagrams - right?

A suffix can have 12 associated fretboards:

one for each transposition of the Root.

You can see the 12 fretboards displayed in the Fretboard Editor.

This is called (in Finale-speak!) a Fretboard Group.

If you need two different fretboards for the very same chord symbol (e. g. Dm7b5), then you need an extra Fretboard Group.

Make sure that you name your Fretboard Groups wisely so that you yourself (!) understand the names.

PS

You do know how to get to the Fretboard Editor, and what it does - right?