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MIDI Chords V1.3     WINDOWS VERSION

Hints and tips for the MidiChords.exe program operation.

Document Revision 1.2
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Many thanks to Max Reason for the XBasic development !!

Application program created by Alberto L. Fornasari using XBasic
E-mail: AlbertoFornasari@hotmail.com

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Introduction

This program is intended for people having some musical instruction and
requires some knowledge of the American Notation for notes and chords.

It includes a chord creator, chord player, simple arpeggio maker, a chord
solver and a primitive chord sequencer.

The program also serves as an example of using my Kbd.dll library for 
the Midi Keyboard window interface.

For the Midi Keyboard operation, see te file Keyboard.txt file included
in the distribution.

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Some brief hints for the operation

Placing the mouse over any component of the Chords window, you will get
a hint for the component for a few seconds.

Pointing to a generic panel or canvas you will get a generic hint for the 
module, and pointing to the background you will get program version and 
author information.

For a chord creation and specification is advisable to follow the suggested
order (also stated on panel hints) :

1- Root (mandatory)
2- Class (mandatory)
3- Extensions (optional)
4- Suspensions and Additions (optional)
5- Alterations (optional)
6- Bass Note - defining inversions (optional)

While defining some options, others options may appear and others may 
disappear in order to force a consistent chord specification.

After the specification you may show and play the chord once or repeatedly 
(as a simultaneous chord or arpeggio) using "SHOW & PLAY ONCE" or 
"REP. PLAY" buttons.

There are two unlabeled bars or sliders and two unlabeled digital indicators
near them. See the hint for each one (Tempo and Notes per Measure). They
basically alters the speed for arpeggios and chord repetitions.
 
Try checking "All" in the Repeat Panel and "Up" and "Down" in the Arpeggio
Playing Panel, and pulse "REP. PLAY". Then, while playing move the 
slider bars to the right  and to the left to get a feeling of the operation speed
change. Positions near the right top produce nice arpeggios. 

For the Chord Analyzer lets make a simple example: Lock D, F and A keys
in octave 5 (notes Re-Fa-La) of the screen keyboard (click-hold-move 
away  and release as described in Keyboard.txt). Then click on the 
"Capture & Solve" button. You should see "Dm" in the solutions list with two 
more complex alias for the chord (open the list clicking the arrow). Select one
solution double clicking it, and then pulse the "Use this solution" button.

You should see now the chord specified in the chord definition panels.
Select now "1 Octave" in the Arrange Panel and uncheck any repetition
in the Repeat Panel. Then click on "SHOW & PLAY ONCE" and see, 
listen and compare the chord which appears in octave 4.

For the chord sequencer, the chords are stored with the tempo and arpeggio
type that you select before appending or inserting (storing) the chord. Before
clicking on "PLAY" in the chord sequencer, set a position in the tempo bar 
slider to specify the time (and number of repetitions) for each chord in the 
sequence.
 
If you alter the tempo bar while playing, you will momentarily alter the stored 
tempo for the notes of the arpeggio, and not the time slot for repeating each
chord (you must stop playing to do so).

For removing or inserting chords in the chords sequence list, double click on
the selected chord in the list, to put it in the selection box, before clicking on 
the corresponding button for the required operation.

Regarding Circle of Fifths and Transitions Map as auxiliary screens, you 
may get a complete explanation of those topics in my personal web page:

          http://free.hostdepartment.com/a/alfacentauri/index2.html

using "Access to my documents and music related tools" - The info is in
Spanish language but nowadays is easy to get it translated into English.

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Hope this have helped you a bit.

Alberto L. Fornasari.
