teaching NC about chords

[Ian Douglas Graham (iandgraham)]

Is it possible to edit whatever database NC uses for its chords analysis ?

Generally it is good but it seems to me that it has e.g. 'a thing' about E minor - in the piece I'm currently on, a chord of (from the bass ) G/E/Bb/E) which in context is fairly clearly a second inversion of C7 is tagged as Em or Em7b5, depending on how much 'choice' I allow it. Which reminds me that I had examples of the same thing in another piece a week or so ago !


Ian G.

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Ian,

The short answer is "no" http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

However, if you have an example file, or example snippet file, we can take a look at it and use it as an example for fine-tweaking the chord analysis logic in the program.

ttfn,
Sherry

[Ian Douglas Graham (iandgraham)]

How much do you need - more than the specific chord ? Ian

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Ian,

It would be good to have at least part of the file, so that the surrounding musical context is present. Composer doesn't just analyze a chord in exclusion to it's surroundings. As you mentioned above, context can affect whether one reads a given chord as one thing or another. Since there are an infinite variety of "contexts" we could test (in my spare time, mind you ;) ), it would be helpful if you've got a case that is clearly in need of tweaking that we could use to do the tweaking http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

So I guess the answer is "enough context to help us see where the chord analysis can pick up enough clues to make a better chord name guess." If the piece is one you don't want to post publicly, please feel free to send it to me at the helpdesk (support@notation.com) or directly to me my email (just click on my post name to the left here.)

ttfn,
Sherry

[Ian Douglas Graham (iandgraham)]

Morning Sherry

I'd hate to keep you from your knitting too long :-) !

Here's the actual file in question. The chord at issue is the opening one.

This probably looks an odd fragment - I'll post you something else by way of context / explanation later in the day - for now, just off to take Herself to Ikea. (I don't suppose Ikea has reached the West Coast yet ?)

Sincerely

Ian <center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifE min I don't think
schafe2C.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/30406/schafe2C-37190.not) (9.2 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Ian Douglas Graham (iandgraham)]

Hallo again, Sherry.

schafe2C.not was a transitional file in something I'm trying out. I'm trying to make a style file for Biab which will run some sort of approximation of a JSB-type keyboard obbligato line. To do this, you have to prepare model passages (fragments - 1,2, 4 or 8 beats)in C - schafe2C.not was part of that preparation.

I've now put up a quick file of the original. (I'm sorry it doesn't sound too nice - it's a mix of direct input and post hoc editing.) The chord which was the point of my first comment is now measure 3 beat 3, and at its original pitch, and looking for simply maj/minor chords, NC has called it A minor. Which knocks my original speculation on the head - it's obviously not specifically to do with E - the recurrence on E must just have been coincidence. But equally, no chord with an Eb in it can be A minor, any more than one with a Bb in it can be E minor.
Given a wider choice, NC plumps for A dim - for which there is a case, I can see.

Maybe I'm making too much of this - go back to your knitting if you like :-} !!

Ian G. <center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifmore-schafe-context
schafe-obbligato.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/30406/schafe-obbligato-37193.not) (11.0 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Ian,

Ikea has reached over here (from what I read), but I have yet to personally see a store. But I live in the middle of a beanfield http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

I'm not knitting at the moment ;) but I will let this one go at your suggestion. We do have some better chord name transcription in the works, and hopefully it will make things a bit better.

So how is the style file generation thing coming? I've got BIAB 2006, and I've only half-heartedly tried "rolling my own" style. I wasn't very successful, but I wasn't trying very hard either. I'd be interested to know how it goes for you.

ttfn,
Sherry