Chords performance
Chords mode gives you eight diatonic chord pads — the seven triads of your key (I through vii° in roman numerals), plus the tonic triad an octave up as an eighth pad for lift at the top of a progression.
By default, every pad plays a triad: root, third, and fifth, all notes drawn from the current scale. Nothing on the main grid adds sevenths or suspensions until you turn on the modifiers below.
The triad grid
| Pads | What you get |
|---|---|
| 1–7 | The seven diatonic triads in the key — major, minor, and diminished depending on scale degree |
| 8th pad | The I chord again, one octave higher — useful for cadences and variety without leaving the home harmony |
Pad labels show chord names (C, Dm, Em, …) and/or roman numerals (I, ii, iii, …). All voicings stay in key.
Playing chords
- Tap or hold a pad to sound the triad (or modified voicing if 7th/Sus is on)
- Notes sustain while you hold, like Notes mode
- Short taps and long holds both work — release lifts the chord
7th and Sus modifiers
Two latching buttons below the grid override the default triads for chords you play while they're on:
| Button | Effect |
|---|---|
| 7th | Adds the diatonic 7th — maj7, dominant 7, m7, or m7♭5 depending on the chord |
| Sus | Sus2 voicing — the third is replaced by the second above the root |
Tap to engage; tap again to clear. You can toggle them mid-progression — the next pads you hit use the active modifier.
When both are off, pads return to plain triads.
What gets recorded
Each stroke records the voicing you played — triad, 7th, or sus. You can mix all three on one track in the same bar. Playback flashes the pad with the recorded chord name (e.g. Cmaj7 when you played a 7th, not just C).
Note name labels
When Note names on pads is on in Setup, individual pitch names can appear on the pads alongside chord symbols.
Recording
- Select a track tab
- Arm it
- Press Play and trigger the chord pads
Tips
- Stay on triads for clear, stable harmony; add 7th for colour and tension; use Sus for open, unresolved movement
- The octave I pad (8th) is an easy way to brighten a progression without changing key
- Layer a sustained synth pad under your changes (long release + Mixer → FX → Atmosphere)
- See Recording for quantize and overdubbing