A new service called Chords for iTunes, by iPlayMusic, provides an easier way to learn to play your favorite artist’s music. An open beta phase, which begins today and runs through September, makes available 26 chord videos for free on Mac computers for popular songs including two Jimmy Buffett songs: “Come Monday” and “Pencil Thin Mustache”. An expanded selection of videos will be introduced this Fall.

“For most music hobbyists and musicians, the only thing that beats listening to their favorite music on iTunes is being able to play along with it,” said Quincy Carroll, chief executive officer at iPlayMusic. “Whether you are learning to play an instrument for the first time, trying to advance your musical skills, or just looking for new songs to enjoy with family and friends, our chord videos can be both fun and instructional.”

Powered by patent-pending technology, the iPlayMusic software perfectly synchronizes each video with a select song that can be slowed down or sped up while maintaining pitch for learning at any pace. To ensure the legal use of all music featured in Chords for iTunes videos, consumers must already have purchased and stored one of the 26 songs in their iTunes library or on their computer.

Through proprietary production techniques, videos can be added quickly to the iPlayMusic Download Store as users request more songs. In addition, all chord videos are optimized for mobile devices and are extremely portable in their visual display of animated chords and lyrics. Easy export features within the software allow for viewing on Apple TV and mobile devices such as the iPhone or iPod for use anywhere, anytime.

To access Chords for iTunes, simply install the Mac version of iPlayMusic’s software (at www.iplaymusic.com/download), click on the Shop button and start browsing. If a selected song is not already present in your iTunes library, the iPlayMusic software will prompt you to purchase it from the iTunes Music Store. Once the song is in place, simply click the playback button and let the jamming begin.

The beta program is only available on Mac computers.

From Margaritaville.com:

In February of 2009, Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally played an inpromptu show at the Margaritaville Cafe in Key West, Florida. The theme of the evening was Key West songs, and also included a performance of a brand new song – A Lot To Drink About. Watch the video on the Coconut Television now!

This digital download is now available at Mailboat Records! Tracks included are audio mp3s of three songs from that performance (I Heard I Was In Town, Migration and A Lot To Drink About and a Quicktime .mov movie of A Lot To Drink About).

Buy it now!

TRACK LIST:

1. I Heard I Was In Town – live from Key West (audio mp3)
2. Migration – live from Key West (audio mp3)
3. A Lot To Drink About – live from Key West (audio mp3)
4. A Lot To Drink About – live from Key West (video mov)

(hat tip to HD18JBGuy for passing this along)

A Salty Piece Of Land is now available for download at iTunes Music Store. The abridged version of the book costs $20.95 and clocks in at over 8 hours.

Get it at iTunes now!