Harmony Controls
Key and scale
Section titled “Key and scale”The key supplies the tonic. The scale supplies the pitch collection used by diatonic harmony, counterpoint, and arrangement degree maps. Contrapunk includes diatonic, harmonic and melodic minor, harmonic major, double harmonic, pentatonic, blues, symmetric, world, and Barry Harris collections.
Notes outside the selected collection may pass through or use a fallback, depending on the mode.
Visible harmony modes
Section titled “Visible harmony modes”| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Pass Through | Sends the played note unchanged. |
| Parallel Thirds | Adds voices two scale degrees apart. |
| Parallel Fourths | Adds voices three scale degrees apart. |
| Random Below | Chooses a diatonic interval below. |
| Random Below (consonant) | Random below without seconds. |
| Contrary Motion | Moves generated harmony opposite the melody direction. |
| Counterpoint | Scores note-against-note choices and rejects common voice-leading faults. |
| Explicit Interval Map | Uses direct semitone offsets for each scale degree. |
Some arrangements select additional engine modes internally.
Voices and position
Section titled “Voices and position”Voice count sets the total generated structure expected by the mode. Voice position chooses where the played note sits inside that structure. Higher counts create denser harmony and consume more MIDI notes and synth voices.
Voice leading
Section titled “Voice leading”Voice-leading styles favor different motion and spacing. Palestrina and Bach Chorale are constrained, Jazz favors compact extended movement, and Free applies fewer stylistic penalties.
The Performance view’s Tightness knob controls voice leading, not rhythm or note duration:
- Off disables voice-leading smoothing.
- Loose uses the Free style.
- Smooth uses compact Jazz movement.
- Strict uses Palestrina-style constraints.
Octave treatment
Section titled “Octave treatment”Octave controls can spread, split, or mirror a voicing. Use them after the basic harmony is correct; octave treatment does not repair an incorrect key or scale.