Adding and Editing Chord Names

The procedures for adding and editing chord names are generally the same as for all types of text supported by Composer. See preceding General Procedures for Editing Text:

     Adding Text

     Editing Text

     Deleting Text

     Selecting Font Type, Size, and Properties

     Showing and Hiding Types of Text

Here are some special details about adding and editing chord names that differ from other types of text:

     The keyboard shortcut for the Chord Name Palette is SHIFT+C. If the Clef Palette is displayed, type SHIFT+C a second time for the Chord Name Palette.

     When you type certain special characters, such as "#" and "b", Composer will redisplay them as music symbols, such as the sharp and flat accidentals.

     After you have entered a chord name, hit the TAB key to advance to the next major beat, in the measure, or the first beat of the next measure, where you can enter the next chord name.

     If a chord name is not lined up with the desired chord, you can shift it to the next or previous chord.

For assistance with entering special music symbols for chord names, such as accidentals:

1.      With the mouse, navigate to the Chord Name Palette.

-- OR --

 Type SHIFT+C. If the Clef Palette is displayed, type SHIFT+C a second time for the Chord Name Palette.

Composer will change the mouse cursor to indicate Add Mode with this shape:

When you type certain special characters, such as "#" and "b", Composer will redisplay them as music symbols, such as the sharp and flat accidentals. For assistance with entering these special music symbol characters, click the Chord Names Properties button in the Chord Name Palette, or type SHIFT+ENTER. Composer will display the Chord Name dialog:

The "Enter chord name text" field in the dialog box will display any text you have already entered.

2.      In the "Enter chord name text" field in the dialog box, type the chord name letter, "A" to "G", any scale degree numbers such as 7 or 9, and other optional characters such as parentheses "(" and ")", or slash "/".

3.      To insert a special music symbol, click one of the buttons in the Special Chord Symbols portion of the dialog box.

The labels on the buttons show you what characters you can type for the same music symbols. These characters are obvious, except perhaps "o/" for the half diminished chord. Once you learn what these characters are, you probably will not need the Chord Name dialog to enter chord names.

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