Using the Chord Track to Analyze MIDI Regions

You can use the Analyze button in the Chord track to analyze the chords in a MIDI region. Select a MIDI region (preferably one containing complete chords) and click the Analyze button in the Chord track header. The MIDI region is analyzed, with the resulting chords appearing in the Chord track. This also works for several subsequent regions. Alternatively, you can drag the regions onto the Chord track.

Note: Keep in mind that the chords in the Chord track are events, they affect the playback transposition of MIDI events and Apple Loops. Make sure that you only use the Chord track if you really want to use it consequently; once you use it, it always affects your composition. As an example:  When you analyze your project, then copy a region without copying the chord track events …; you should not use it if you only want to display the chords in your project; use the Marker track then—or the Score Editor text chord symbols.

Working in the Change Display Only Mode

You might come across situations in which there are incorrect or missing chords in the Chord track. For example, you record a MIDI region, select it and use the Chord track’s Analyze button. Normally this should work fine, as the analysis algorithm is rather intelligent and knows all about harmonics. If the result of the analysis process unexpectedly doesn’t comply with your recording, Logic Pro provides you with an easy solution:  the Chord track’s Change Display Only mode. If you activate this mode by clicking the Change Display Only option in the Chord track, you can adjust the chords to match what you’re actually hearing (the transposition events in the Transposition track are adapted accordingly). All changes applied to chords in the Chord track while the Change Display Only mode is active will have no result on the playback of the corresponding MIDI regions—these changes will only adapt the chords displayed in the Chord track to match the chords played in the MIDI region.

The Change Display Only mode does not work with Apple Loops used on audio tracks. For full details, see Using the Chord Track with Apple Loops.

Inserting Chord Symbols in the Score

The chord symbols displayed in the Chord track can be inserted into the Score Editor (and printed):

To insert chords from the Chord track into the Score Editor
  • Select the staff that you want to use for the chord symbols in the Score Editor, then choose Functions > Insert Chords From Global Chord Track.

    Figure. Score Editor showing chords inserted from global Chord track.

Inserted chord symbols are displayed in blue (printout will be black), and can only be moved within the boundaries of the chord on the Chord track. Double-clicking such a chord opens the Define Chord dialog of the Chord track.