User manual

643
Working with chords
The analysis method is not perfect since the same set of
notes can be interpreted differently depending on context.
Some editing may be required. If you record the track
solely to create chords automatically, play the chord as
simple as possible, in the correct inversion, without added
octaves, etc.
The Current Chord Display
Cubase features a handy chord recognition function that
helps you identify chords in the Score Editor note display.
To find out which chord is formed by simultaneously
played notes, place the project cursor over the notes. All
notes currently “touched” by the project cursor are ana
-
lyzed and the Current Chord Display in the status line
shows you which chord the notes form.
Global chord settings
In the Score Settings dialog on the Project page (Chord
Symbols and Notation Fonts subpages), there are several
global settings that affect how chords are displayed.
These settings affect all chords in the project.
Chord Symbols
Use the four sections of radio buttons to specify how the
four most common chord types are displayed:
• If you want the root (key) note to be aligned with the bass
note, so that they are both displayed at the same vertical
position, activate “Align Root Note”.
• If you want the tensions to be displayed at the same ver-
tical position as the root note (rather than a bit above the
root note), activate “Tension Bottom”.
• Activate “Scale Chords” to scale a staff (using the Size
setting on the Options tab of the Staff page in the Score
Settings dialog), and want the chords to be scaled ac
-
cordingly.
• Activate “Use Display Transpose” if you want the chord
symbols to be affected by the Display Transpose setting
on the Staff page of the Score Settings dialog.
• To apply the settings to your score, click “Apply to
Chords”.
Notation Fonts
• Use the Score Font pop-up menu to select a font for the
display of note heads, clefs, etc.
Available are Legacy, Classical, and Jazz.
• Use the Chord Symbols Font pop-up menu to select a
font for the chords.
Cubase comes with its own font for this (Steinberg Chord Symbols), but
you can also pick any other available font from the pop-up menu.
• Use the four size value fields to select sizes for the four
different chord “elements”.
You can type in values or use the pop-up menus. Normally, you would
want the “Root” size to be the largest and the “Tension” size the smallest.