Chord names

This posting is about transcribing the names of chords. From this point on, I will always put a reminder at the beginning of each post to check the sidebar for other topics that might interest you. The dates of the posts don’t mean a thing – comments and questions can be added at anytime. The BRF file of this post is at the end of the text.

Chord names are transcribed using a combination of literary and music braille signs. All chord names begin with a cap sign (dot 6). No letter signs are used -- an A-chord would be shown as a capital A, a D-chord as a capital D, etc.

The BANA rules state that chord names are transcribed in “facsimile” but they are assuming that all publishers follow some standard of naming the chords, and as you probably already know -- they don’t.

There is no reason to follow print when chord names are cumbersome and goofy. Transcribed music is nonfacsimile unless specifically requested. We don’t include clef signs, or long words like “crescendo” (we use “cr.”) or “diminuendo” (we use “dim.”). Saving space is important in braille transcriptions and chord names are no exception. As a guitar teacher, you should translate odd chord names into simple, standard symbols for your students. As a transcriber, I would also recommend using standard chord names. If the print shows “Aminor7” or “Amin7” – use “Am7.” The letters “maj” should be used for “maj7” or “maj9.” The abbreviations “dim,” “aug,” and “sus” are also standard fare.


Chord names include a combination of letters, numbers, flat and sharp signs, pluses, minuses, and parentheses. The signs following the capitalized chord name are brailled in order of appearance, horizontally, and un-spaced -- without caps or periods or contractions. Music signs are used for accidentals, the number sign precedes all numbers, and literary signs are used for all letters and parentheses.


Advanced guitarists should refer to Table 24 (BANA 1997) for methods of transcribing more complex chord names. The placement of these chord names in the music -- is a topic for another time. <BRF file for 051809>