Virtual Keyboard
Last updated
Last updated
Song One's virtual keyboard allows you to ...
autoplay and show the keyboard positions of chords that are tapped/swiped in the song editor.
automatically identify chords of selected keys and add automatically formatted chord symbols to the lyrics.
customize the song's chord diagrams.
autoplay and explore the chords of harmonic fields created with the circle of fifths.
display and practice over 500 scales on the virtual keyboard.
Access the virtual keyboard by tapping/clicking on the keyboard icon of the docked toolbar. (If the docked toolbar is not visible tap/click on the three dots in the right corner of the bottom toolbar.)
When Song One is run on an iPad the chords are displayed while you play the keyboard. On a small screen (iPhone) or on a Mac computer it is necessary to tap/click on the sustain pedal icon in the lower left corner of the keyboard (see below).
When the sustain pedal is engaged notes can be touched individually to display chord symbols. Tap/Click on the sustain pedal once more to release all notes and clear the selection.
Song One automatically identifies chords while you use the virtual keyboard. Song One recognizes over 200 chord types and distinguishes between root positions, inversions and altered bass notes.
Most note combinations can form more than one chord. In the pop-up menu the first character of the chord symbol identifies the root note (see C, A, G above). If the root note is not the lowest note the chord's inversion is indicated underneath the chord symbol.
If necessary click/tap on the flat/sharp icon in the left corner of the keyboard to change the key signature.
Choose a chord from the pop-up menu by tapping/clicking on it. Add the chord to the lyrics at the cursor position by tapping/clicking on the guitar pick icon above the keyboard.
The virtual keyboard will automatically display and play a chord that has been tapped/clicked on (or swiped) in the song editor.
The virtual keyboard will also display and play a chord that has been selected with the chord matrix.
Tap/Click on the piano icon to the left of the virtual keyboard to change the sound of the virtual keyboard.
Tap/Click on the circle icon in the docked toolbar to explore scales on the virtual keyboard. (If the docked toolbar is not visible tap/click on the three dots in the right corner of the bottom toolbar.)
A circle will appear above the virtual keyboard:
The circle has a menu icon in its center to access a pop-up menu with the following options:
'Set Tonic/Transpose' (set and change the key of the song)
'Circle Of Fifths' (analyze chord progressions and build harmonic fields)
'Select Scale' (explore scales on the virtual fretboard or keyboard)
Choose 'Select Scale' from the pop-up menu.
A scrollable pop-up menu with a search field at the top will appear to allow you to find and select a specific scale (e.g. search for 'Blues' scales):
The notes of the chosen scale will be displayed on the keyboard. The tonic will be highlighted in blue. See 'G' in the example below. (You may change the tonic by tapping/clicking on a desired note in the circle.)
You may go to the settings (preferences) to mute/autoplay the notes of a newly selected scale.
Learn how to explore the chords of harmonic fields created with the circle of fifths.
