CHORD COACH
ROLE
Student Designer
DESCRIPTION
Learning to play the guitar is a dream for millions, yet an overwhelming 90% of beginners quit within the first year, leaving nearly 22 million potential guitarists behind. Many struggle with proper posture, finger dexterity, and learning techniques, leading to frustration and abandonment. Chord Coach is a guitar learning attachment designed to change that. By integrating with existing guitars, it guides beginners of all ages toward better playing posture, improved finger strength, and a more intuitive learning experience. Whether you’re picking up the guitar for the f irst time or rekindling an old passion, Chord Coach makes learning guitar technique smoother more engaging.
YEAR
2025
GENRE
Product Design
SOFTWARE
Solidworks, Keyshot, Adobe Suite
Design 7 & 8 Capstone Project
AN INTRODUCTION TO CHORD COACH
Learning to play the guitar is a dream for millions, yet an overwhelming 90% of beginners quit within the first year, leaving nearly 22 million potential guitarists behind. Many struggle with proper posture, finger dexterity, and learning techniques, leading to frustration and abandonment. Chord Coach is a guitar learning attachment designed to change that. By integrating with existing guitars, it guides beginners of all ages toward better playing posture, improved finger strength, and a more intuitive learning experience. Whether you’re picking up the guitar for the first time or rekindling an old passion, Chord Coach makes learning guitar technique smoother more engaging.
HOW IT WORKS
LED Matrix
Chord Coach features a 6X24 LED matrix oriented at an optimal angle for visualization. LEDs display in a cascading sequence, similar to Guitar Hero, allowing a variety of different game modes such as chord progressions, strumming patterns, scales, guitar tab sequences, as well as interactive touch and audio responsive songs. Users can tailor the device to their individual learning style.
Under String Touch Sensors
With four PCB touch sensors wrapped under the strings of a guitar, beginner guitarists can play along to interactive lessons and game modes. Touch sensors are sectioned out to each corresponding LED, Giving users the ability to adjust finger positioning without looking.
![AdobeStock_179136200 [Converted].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6d99b9_6a51d9215d594b72b0498706591d7ae5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_248,h_297,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/AdobeStock_179136200%20%5BConverted%5D.png)
Color Assignments
Each finger and function corresponds to a color.
• Blue - Index Finger
• Yellow - Middle Finger
• Red - Ring Finger
• Pink - Pinky Finger
• Green - Open String
Ergonomics
The form of the product effectively restricts the thumb from extending above the neck during play, ensuring proper hand positioning. Additionally, the increased volume at the lower end of the neck serves as a physical barrier against palm contact, discouraging improper playing habits.
Easy Installation
The attachment easily clips onto the neck of most standard guitars without the need for tools or permanent modifications. Align the device with the frets, secure it in place, slide under the touch sensor strip, and power it on. It's designed to be lightweight, non-damaging, and removable.
Variable Inserts
In its current state, chord coach comes with a variety of inserts meant for different sized guitar neck widths. Just slide in the insert sized for your guitar.
DEVELOPMENT
Early Iterations
This development explores the intersection of design, music education, and ergonomics through the evolution of a beginner-friendly guitar learning tool. Rounds of development supporting proper posture and hand positioning, attachment methods, and learning tools, all to help users understand the fretboard, proper posture, and build foundational muscle memory.
Early Ergonomic Studies
Developments began to shape the product in regards to supporting proper guitar playing posture and learning. It felt important early on to design a product that improved posture and didn’t handicap the rest of the fretboard.
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Identifying Components
As the project was advancing further towards a device, it was important to start considering my internal components. What I wanted out of the product and what could actually fit into the product. Considering the feasible tech that my volumes could support.
Function Testing
With minimal instruction and limited pre-existing knowledge of the guitar, individuals were asked to follow along to the LED sequence on this rig. The LEDs illuminated and remained illuminated for the duration of every note in the musical sequence of Seven Nation Army. Afterwards users were asked to take a 5 minute survey to discuss their results.
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Game Function Testing
With minimal instruction and limited pre-existing knowledge of the guitar, beginner guitarists were asked to follow along to the LED shapes. The components of this rig were taken from a common kids pop up game. Originally intended for horizontal use, the game could now be played in the form of a guitar.
Touch Sensor Testing
This rig had six LED lights corresponding to all six strings using gridded touch sensors. The intension, to gain feedback from professionals and beginner guitarists as a proof of concept.
Early Iterations
Rig Study 4 was the first attempt at testing the LED Sequence. Again the song was Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, as this was a great beginner song. The LEDs would travel down the string and as it reached the fret the user would play that note. This way users had a better understanding of a song or lesson’s timing. Testers where asked to follow along to the sequence with minimal instruction, most successfully learned the song in a couple minutes.
Feel free to contact me for more information on this project!
