Page Index
What's In a Name?
The Chord Palette displays all the notes in the Current Chord, the chord's name, and the 11 other names of the chord. A Chord Name is another way of describing which notes are in the chord.
The letter name assigned to a chord is called the Root. The Root Note is used as an anchor for the chord. A chord named for just its root note, such as a C chord, is a triad with a root note (C), a major third (E), and a perfect 5th (G).
Extensions are added to a chord's name to specify alterations to the basic major triad. For example, the letter m indicates that the third of the chord is a minor 3rd. The number 7 indicates that a Dominant 7 has been added.
The following table shows the names of tones in the key of C in the primary and secondary octaves:
| NOTE | PRIMARY | SECONDARY |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | |
| C♯ | ♭9 | |
| D | 9 | |
| E♭ | m | ♯9 |
| E | 3 | |
| F | sus | 11 |
| F♯ | ♭5, –, or o | ♯11 |
| G | 5 | |
| A♭ | ♯5 | |
| A | 6 | |
| B♭ | 7 | |
| B | Δ7 |
Palette Features
- Chord Tones
The black box at the top of the window displays all the tones in the Current Chord arranged in ascending order beginning with the root of the Current Chord. Tones appear in different colors based on their relationship to the keyscale.
WHITE Note is in the Current Keyscale YELLOW Root Note of the Current Chord GRAY Note is not in the Current Keyscale - Chord Name
- The white box below the Chord Tones contains the name of the Current Chord. The letter name depends on the setting of the Chord Root Button and the position of the Scale Cursor.
- Check out Appendix C: Chord Naming to get the lowdown on all the special characters that appear in chord names.
- Root Lock
Moving the Scale Cursor selects the root and thus the name of the Current Chord. This is useful while you're trying to find a good name for your chord but afterwards it can become an inconvenience. The Root Lock causes the Current Chord to retain its key and root and to ignore the position of the Scale Cursor. This allows you to use the Scale Palette more freely without affecting the chord name.
When the root is locked the Scale Cursor stays on the Root Note as you move the Key Cursor. - Disclosure Triangle
- Click to view or hide the Extended Name List.
- The Extended Name List
- The full palette shows a total list of 12 chords, named for each of the 12 tones. This allows you to see how your chord fits into other "contexts." Any of these names is equally good. Which one you pick is up to you.
- Chord names are color-coded as a visual aid. A chord name appears in red if the tone it is named for is not native to the chord's key. A chord name is dimmed if the tone it is named for isn't in the Current Chord.
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- Click on any name in the extended list to select a new name for the chord.