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Song Surgeon vs. Riff Station
Chord Detection

The following information was provided to us by a guitar player with 40+ years of experience. He used Song Surgeon Version 5 and Riffstation and did a side-by-side of 8 songs. His comments can be seen below. The summary results are, Song Surgeon 5, Riffstation 2 and they tied on 1 song.

The original handwritten document from the guitarist that is transcribed below, can be seen my clicking this link.

Mac OSx 11.X – 15.X
Win 10 – Win 11
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Song Surgeon
1. China Grove
  1. Same
  2. Same
  3. Uses C#Maj us C#Min
  4. Correctly uses F#Maj vs F#Min
  5. Does bridge C-D-E chords (once out of 2 times needed)
Riff Station
1. China Grove
  1. Opening - no chords at all (Just E chord)
  2. Then missing passing chord b turn D & A.
  3. Uses F#min vs F#Maj on bridge
  4. C to D to E out of Bridge totally wrong
Evaluation:
Both have similar problems. Would rate equally inadequate
Song Surgeon
2. Dust in the Wind
  1. Does have DMin7 chord
  2. Uses GMaj7 vs GMaj (wrong)
  3. Does use choros with bass notes (good)
Riff Station
2. Dust in the Wind
  1. No Dmin chord
  2. No passing notes in intro at all. Some wrong chords.
Evaluation:
SS wins due to Dmin chord & bass notes in chords
Song Surgeon
3. Hotel California
  1. Uses Bmin chord where not needed
  2. Uses Gmaj7 vs G (good)
Riff Station
3. Hotel California
  1. Uses EMaj vs Emin in opening (wrong)
  2. Uses EMaj vs Emin in 1st verse (wrong)
  3. Uses EMaj chord inadventently (wrong)
Evaluation:
SS wins for more accurately Depicting proper chords
Song Surgeon
4. Wonderful World
  1. Puts B where F# should be (bad)
  2. Uses Bb too long & leaves out Abmin (Bad)
  3. Uses BMaj7
Riff Station
4. Wonderful World
  1. Perfect xcription
Evaluation:
SS wins for more accurately Depicting proper chords
Song Surgeon
5. Black Magic Woman
  1. Uses Amin7 vs A7
  2. Puts in D Maj chord sometimes - not needed
Riff Station
5. Black Magic Woman
  1. Puts C in for GM
  2. Uses Amin in chorus vs A7
  3. Puts C & Bb chords in, not needed (bad)
  4. Uses F chords where not needed (bad)
  5. Lots of extra, wrong passing chords
Evaluation:
Song Surgeon wins. Less Problems
Song Surgeon
6. Bodhistava
  1. Lots of wrong chords but does G7 & colored chords & bridge better (Rate at B)
Riff Station
6. Bodhistava
  1. No intro G to F toggle
  2. All bad chords. (D - grade)
Evaluation:
SS wins - Less wrong chords & some good stuff (Accurate)
Song Surgeon
7. Blowing in the Wind
  1. Using Bb Maj 7 + FMaj7 chords vs Bb + F, (wrong)
  2. Missing F chord occasionally
Riff Station
7. Blowing in the Wind
  1. Perfectly transcribed
Evaluation:
Riff Station wins - Perfect!
Song Surgeon
8. Make it with You
  1. Uses E6 chord (no good)
  2. Uses C#min (wrong) (B+ Grade)
Riff Station
8. Make it with You
  1. Terrible. wrong chords in wrong places. (F grade)
Evaluation:
Song Surgeon Wins - useable good!