Accompaniments

(Harmony Assistant only)

What operations can I perform on accompaniment and rhythm arrays?

They are numerous: you can cut, paste, erase, move, resize and edit rhythms and accompaniments.

To use cut/paste, select bars by clicking in the ruler and use the Edit menu.

To erase, use the lightning icon.

To move or resize, click on the object and drag the mouse.

To edit, double-click on the object.

I want to make my own accompaniment pattern. How can I do this?

Open the accompaniment definition window's Notes tab.

Here you can select the notes to be followed by the accompaniment.
They can be :
- A struck chord, of 3, 4 or 5 notes :
This is the simplest mode.
A harmonized accompaniment of 3, 4, or 5 notes from the specified chord will be generated for each beat of the bar.

- A pattern or a note sequence automatically harmonized with the chord or the chord sequence in the chord grid.
Notes in the pattern will be transposed according to the chord to be played.

A pattern is defined by reference to the C major chord, with its seventh (minor) or its ninth (or second) as necessary. Typically, it contains the notes C (fundamental), E (major third), G (fifth), Bb (diminished seventh) and D (second or ninth).

When the accompaniment is played, the notes of this C major chord are transposed to match the actual chord of the tune.

For example, if the desired chord is not inverted (or if the accompaniment does not process inversions) the notes defined in the pattern are replaced with the fundamental, the third, the fifth, the seventh and the ninth of the chord to be played.

If the desired chord is inverted and the accompaniment processes inversions, the notes C, E, G, Bb and D are replaced by the bass note of the inverted chord, and then by the following notes in ascending order.

If the model contains a seventh, but the chord does not have a seventh (for example in a C major chord) the seventh of the model is replaced by the octave of the chord.

Notes in the pattern other than those listed are replaced by notes with the same interval from the lowest note of the chord.

Examples
In the model, you     Chord to play           Harmony plays
entered notes         (in chord grid)

C/E/Bb                D, fundamental state    D/F#/D
C/D/E                 D, fundamental state    D/E/F#
C/E/G                 C, 1st inversion        E/G/C
C/D/G                 C, 1st inversion        E/F#/C
C/E/G/Bb              Em7, 1st inversion      G/B/D/E
...

Tip :
Models are sorted in alphabetical order. Try to follow this scheme: each model name begins with the kind of music it belongs to. For example, all the models of the Bossa style will be listed forthwith:
...
Bossa : Accompaniment
Bossa : Bass
Bossa : Piano
Bossa : Main solo
...

Having created my rhythms and accompaniments, can I transform them into "true" staves?

Yes. Select Transfer in the rhythm or accompaniment menu (triangle in the appropriate array margin)

Important : in the "tune playing" floating palette, deselect "play rhythms" and "play accompaniments" icons, otherwise they will be played twice (the staves created by the transfer and the original array).

How can I define the scope of a rhythm or accompaniment?

When created, a rhythm or an accompaniment only covers one bar. To extend it to more than one bar, click on its right or left limit, and drag it. In the same way, you can reduce its scope. However, it always covers a whole number of bars.

To delete a rhythm or an accompaniment, you can:
• move its left edge to the right of its right edge,
• double-click on the object and select "None" in the list
• use the delete (lightning) tool.