Chord Builder to score

[TerryL]

Good morning. I recently purchased Notation Composer, and am quite impressed with it. However, I have what may be a somewhat unique problem... I play the accordion, which of course has "pre-defined" base chords. My question is: When I view, for example, C or Gm in Chord Builder, is there a way to automatically transfer that chord to the score? I've tried cut and paste with no success, and there doesn't appear to be an automatic function. What I would REALLY like is to be able to enter the chord name in the score in such a way that it would play when I am playing the score from the top. Many thanks for any help. TerryL

[dj]

Hi, Terry:

The chord transcription options in Composer are intended to work the other way -- to go from notation to chord names, rather than from chord names to notation.

So, no, the Chord Builder won't put the chord into the score.

I can't think of any possible work-around, either.

Sorry.

David

[Sherry C]

Hi guys,

There's a technique that I use sometimes, where I use a "library" file of chord notes that I can quickly copy into a different file. The library file is in key of C. If I need the notes to be in a different key or chord (eg. G), it's easy enough to (1) click-drag to select the notes and (2) use "P + up/down arrow key" to shift the pitches to the proper chord.

BasicChords-treblenotes.not

Please feel free to use it, or expand on it. These are only basic chords, and don't have any extensions or slash bass notes.

ttfn,
Sherry

[susanne]

Sherryl,
while your workaround (creating another score containing the chord notes) generates the desired result, the basic question was: Why can Notation Composer play one chord when you pick it, but why can't it play all the chords along with the melody when playing back a song.
So I second Terry's request: Let us listen to the chords during playback.
Susanne

[Sherry C]

Hi Susanne,

Originally Posted by susanne

Sherryl,
while your workaround (creating another score containing the chord notes) generates the desired result, the basic question was: Why can Notation Composer play one chord when you pick it, but why can't it play all the chords along with the melody when playing back a song.

The short answer (as David said) is that this is not the way that Notation Software products work at present They are intended to take a .mid file (or a recording that you make) and analyze the chords.

So I second Terry's request: Let us listen to the chords during playback.
Susanne

That is a feature request that we do have on our "to do" list for a future release (and I would certainly use, too!).

There are actually a lot of questions that need answers for such a feature - how many notes for the chord? Which notes from a chord? Is it the "straight" chord or an inversion? Which inversion? Perhaps we could discuss what such a feature might look like, and how those options would be offered. It's always helpful to software designers to understand what users are looking for, and how best to present it. Please do let us know your thoughts!

For now, perhaps, we could share any "chord libraries" that we might have?

I'm attaching mine here.
ChordNotesAndNames.not

You can use it to copy/paste the "foundational notes" of a chord into your score. Just select all the notes and shift them up or down so that the root note ("C" in my file) is the correct root note for the chord you want to enter.

ttfn,
Sherry

[susanne]

Originally Posted by Sherry C

That is a feature request that we do have on our "to do" list for a future release (and I would certainly use, too!).

There are actually a lot of questions that need answers for such a feature - how many notes for the chord? Which notes from a chord? Is it the "straight" chord or an inversion? Which inversion?

Sherry,
in my opinion there's not much to discuss as Notation Composer already has all the functionality needed:
Look at the 'Chord Builder' dialog (Text -> Add chord names -> Enter chord name using dialog box). Here every selection (e.g. C minor7) results in exactly one chord name and one combination of notes. And the dialog even plays the correct chord.
Also when selecting a chord name in the score, Composer plays the correct chord.
All it needs is that during playback of a tune, these chords are played as well. And maybe an option somewhere whether to include the chords during playback or not.
Convering chord names to notes (as a separate score) would be an option, but for those instruments you use chord names for such as guitar or accordeon you usually don't need that. You do need to be able to listen to the chord, though.

Susanne

[TerryL]

Many thanks to both of you. Your reply, David, reoriented my thinking, so back to more playing. And thanks Sherry for your help on the forum as well as off.