Enter Chord Mode

Enter Chord Mode

To step enter Chords make a selection in the Graphic Editor (to denote start time) and select Enter Chord Mode from the Special menu. This moves the cursor to the Marker Entry area of the Graphic Editor window. At this point you can type in chord names. For example, try typing 'Cm', press the Tab key and type 'Fm', press Tab again and type 'Cm', press Tab again and type 'G+9', finally press the Return key to exit from Chord Entry mode. Notice that the duration of the notes and where the cursor moves to after pressing Tab depends on the Step Entry Duration values. Use Shift-Tab to reverse directions in Chord Entry mode. Press Enter or click outside of the selected area to cancel Chord Entry mode.

Metro recognizes all chord types defined within in the Chords pop-up of the Scales/Chords dialog. Be careful not to use the character # in chord names as this will conflict with note names. Metro also recognizes chords with different bass notes, as in the chord C7/G (which is a C7 chord with a G in the bass).

Try the following example to work with Chord Entry mode:

Select the start time in the Graphic Editor
Select Enter Chord Mode from the Special menu. This activates Chord Entry mode and moves the cursor to the Marker Entry area of the Graphic Editor window.
Now you can type in chords. For example, try typing 'Cm', then press the Tab key and type 'Fm'. Notice how Metro advances by the Step Entry values at the top of the Graphic Editor window.
Press Tab again and type 'Cm'.
Press Tab again and type 'G+9'.
Press the Return key to exit from Chord Entry mode.

Notice that the duration and rhythmic spacing of the notes after pressing Tab depends on the Step Entry Duration values. In the figure below, Metro will step enter notes of exactly (100%) the duration of 16th notes, which in the timebase of 384 pulses per quarter note equals 96 ticks.

Now that you've experimented with Chord Entry mode, take a look at the Rhythm Explorer window. Using Chord Entry and the Rhythm Explorer in combination is a great way to experiment and quickly build a song's structure - try entering chord changes and then use the arpeggiation algorithms in the Rhythm Explorer to play with chordal variations.