Create a Chord Track in Logic Pro X (Workflow Trick)

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you for your support! 😊🙏 Spotify: spfy.link/music 🎧 Music: nordstarstudio.com 🎹 Learn: mastersofmusic.net ▶ Playlists: spfy.link/playlists Music Licensing & Business: nordstarstudio.com Mikael "Mike" Baggström Composer, Musician, Artist

[@SergeyRevyakov]

Thanks a lot, Mike.This is the best explanation of the Logic chord track that I have seen on the internet.

[@westbethkid]

Thank you so much, ever since Apple took the "Chord" Track from the Global Tracks I've been wondering how to do this

[@chaddonal4331]

Thank you for the tip. I found, by clicking on accident on the score view, that I could more quickly name my chords on the last step by using Score view in parallel. (In case this helps anyone else who knows enough music theory to quickly label chords from a piano score.)

[@BrandiLynnColonMusic]

Oh this is smart! Thank you

[@benjensen8336]

AMAZING this is so simple and easy to learn how to start composing music!

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Glad you think so, thanks for the nice comment Ben =)

[@valium-fm7236]

Thanks Mike . All these tips add up to some very valuable tools to use in your mix. Thank you 😊

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Faster workflow means more music! ;) Sincerely Mike

[@Havanacuba1985]

Brilliant, I’m just getting started with logic as a guitarist and this is very helpful

[@jimlapbap]

Thanks, this answers my question of “can you display the chord symbols in the mixer (and not the score)?” Which the answer is no and you have to create the regions in a track as a workaround

[@cbhrcbhr]

Hello Thank you very much. Before you could see the chord name in the Global track Nowadays, just select the notes of the chords and Logic will display the value of the chords

[@tech1238]

Thank you very much Mike. I didn’t know about the trim feature for the note lengths! I was doing it manually with the mouse 🤣 Also thank for the chord block trick! Definitely going to use these ideas

[@warrenburroughs3025]

Hi Mike, I love the videos. They are brief and to the point and I usually learn something from each of them. I see that in this video you cut the region into 1 bar sections by cutting each bar individually. If this were an 80 bar piece or longer that could get quite tedious. If you hold down the Option (alt) key when you make the first cut with the scissors tool Logic will cut the entire region into sections of the same length. Works for MIDI and audio regions and can save a lot of time.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

You know, I actually knew about that feature, but haven't developed the "muscle memory" to use it. Indeed, super powerful for piano roll editor too. So thanks for reminding me! =) Sincerely, Mike

[@symlee3679]

Thank you very much. You are my best coach. One of the best useful tutorials

[@VAIBHAVSINGHMUSIC]

Can't we drag and drop on a chord track like studio one?

[@MyOwnWayMusic]

As a Cubase Pro and Logic Pro user, I think another way in Logic Pro is to use the Markers track as a Chord Track (you can have multiple Marker tracks subsets selectable through the dropdown)

[@team.logicpro]

It is a shame that you can't see more than one marker track at a time!

[@MyOwnWayMusic]

@@team.logicpro Yes I agree, but you can still have multiple markers, what I normally do is the have the arrangement track identify the song sections (suspended) and markers as the chord track to provide the Chord Chart so I know where I'm going..

[@Christer_Englund]

Super useful! Thanks! 👍🏼

[@jimpurcell]

Great idea, thanks!

[@RLeaguer_Saint]

Hey Mike, I have a "Bonus Tip" ;) Use Scaler (from Plugin Boutique) and Unison Midi Chord Pack (from Unison Audio) to get (i) a large range of chords, if you don't know the chords, or don't want to add them manually, as you show here, and (ii) get interesting chord progressions from different music genres. You can then use these chords and progressions in exactly the way you describe by constructing a chord track in Logic.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thanks! :) Sincerely Mike

[@russellaustincomposer1664]

You do what you do VERY well !

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you very much Russell. =)

[@scp234]

That's very clever. I had been using the score editor and just writing the chord names there but of course if the score editor isn't open you can't see the chords.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Not perfect, but this works. I still hope they will introduce a real global chord track soon! =) Sincerely, Mike

[@reverb992]

Dude. This is genius. Thank you!

[@JamesWilliams-se3vr]

Very useful, thanks.

[@RizzlaTheCat]

Thanks Mike for a great tip again! :) you are really helping us all getting better at music composing techniques and theory!

[@sevenxu5124]

Thank you very much Mike. After reading your explanation, I have a question. If you choose different tracks of MIDI notes, how do you show what chords are? This is because Cubase has this function. For example, if I make a string chord, the notes are 1 3 5 1, and they are played with different strings. When I select all these notes, how do I show which chord is? Of course, I know that selecting many notes on one track can indicate what chord is, what if it is a different track? thank you very much.

[@hifimidi]

Great idea!

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thanks, it is a work around until Logic introduces a real global chord track, which I hope they will do soon. =) Sincerely, Mike

[@EmilioLanzaMusic]

Ciao Mike! Any feature to automatically write chords name in the score for each bar? Without selecting the voicings everytime ? Thank you!!!

[@aryannparmar8704]

Very much informative az uzual...God bless u alwayZzzz 🎹🙏🏼🎼🎹

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Bless you too Aryann, keep making music! :) Sincerely Mike

[@MitchNeil]

Thanks for this video. Apple does a horrible job of explaining how to use this feature.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

They now how a new integrated chord track, which I have been emailing them about for like 7 years lol. Finally here! :P

[@chanakyahBalasubramanian]

Thanks a lot

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

You are very welcome! =) Sincerely, Mike

[@rajkumard4304]

Thanks

[@Wemakedancemusicstudios]

video youutube need more of this 😎

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you! :) Sincerely Mike

[@JosephAkins]

I've seen this also done with the Markers track

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Yes, until Logic adds a real global chord track, we have to find a compromise. I've used markers, and recently even the arrangement track to write down the chords on. Sincerely, Mike

[@jazzhotline]

Excellent!

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

It's not a perfect solution, but until Apple adds a real global chord track, this is at least something to boost the chord/harmony workflow. =) Sincerely, Mike

[@jazzhotline]

Professional Composers sure ! I have noticed that you are always in advance of apple staff ;-) BTW my daily workflow issue is : how to explode chords into 4 or 5 tracks for strings quintet for example It works very well in finale or Sibelius but I didn’t see that midi function there beside for drum track with always same note by instrument

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

@@jazzhotline I use a workflow for separating chord voices from strings ensemble to individual sections for example. Search my channel for Chord Separation trick, I don't remember the video title. Something like that. =)

[@jazzhotline]

@@mikaelbaggstrom Thank you very much Mike!

[@ianlennoxx]

Are you KIDDING ME??? 8 flipping steps just to keep track of my changes in Arrange? This is beyond insane. Just write it out on paper at that point holy hell

[@theRayzz]

Now I wish I have Cubase instead, damit Apple! 🙄

[@krewcialofficial]

misleading video title, as this is not what the chord track function does in Studio One.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

A real integrated chord track is my number one feature request for Logic Pro. But when it's not there we have to create our own with what we got. =) Sincerely Mike

[@colinowenuk]

That's fine for one chord per bar, but not all music is that spartan.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Oh It was just for demonstration. You can label the clips with more than one chord. Or you might want to use shorter clips than that. :) Sincerely Mike

[@hifimidi]

It would still work, because if you need to shorten the chord, simply copy the region and drag it to the right size.

[@Craiger522]

I agree. Also, I usually change chords by moving only one or two notes while sustaining the other notes. For example, going from Cmaj [C E G] to Am [C E A]. If I cut the notes at the chord change, the C and E notes will re-trigger, which will spoil the smooth chord change. I think marker tracks work better in this case.