How Chord Composition Works

A chordmap in the Chordmap Track of a segment is used in conjunction with markers in the Signpost Track to compose a chord progression in the Chord Track.

The selection of chords is based on the primary chords that are contained in the Signpost List of the chordmap. After suitable signpost chords are selected, they are inserted in the chord track. If the signposts are accompanied by chord paths, the chord paths are also inserted in the segment, so that a series of signposts and their chord paths are strung together in a long chord progression. If no chord paths can fit into a part of the segment—for example, if all chord paths are too long—then only a signpost chord is selected and inserted.

Each signpost chord must be assigned to at least one signpost group. Markers in the signpost track specify which signpost group is used at each point in the segment.

The composition mechanism goes through the following basic steps to select chords:

1. A chord from the Signpost list that belongs to the group specified by the first marker is placed at the position of that marker—normally on the first beat of the segment.

2. If any suitable chord paths are available, one is selected and its chords are placed at intervals defined in the chordmap. A chord path is considered suitable if all the following are true:

   • It can exactly fill the space before the next marker. Some flexibility in the length of the chord path is possible; seeFixed and Variable Connection Lengths.
   • Its beginning signpost is the chord that was placed at the first marker.
   • Its end signpost belongs to the group specified by the second marker.

   If no suitable chord path is found, no chords are entered until the next marker is reached.

3. The end signpost of the path is placed at the second marker. If no end signpost is available because no chord path was selected in step 2, a signpost chord from the correct group is selected from the Signpost list and placed at the marker.

4. The chord placed at the second marker is used as a beginning signpost, and the process resumes at step 2.

If there are multiple potential chord paths to choose from in step 2, one is chosen at random. However, the selection of chord paths is affected by other factors, such as the weight assigned to different connections, and the activity level. For more information, see the following topics:

• Connection Properties
• Signpost Track Properties

The following topics show examples of the chord composition process:

• Chord Composition Example: Placement of a Single Chord Path
• Chord Composition Example: Unmatched Signpost Chords