Introduction to Chordwalk
ChordWalk, based on US Patent 10614786 (April 7, 2020) and improvement application PTIE20220000000449, is a versatile software for Windows, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It simplifies music composition and performance, catering to users from beginners to advanced musicians, regardless of their music theory knowledge.
Getting Started
ChordWalk is not a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Instead, it sends MIDI data streams to a locally running DAW, an externally connected device with a DAW, or any MIDI device capable of playing MIDI instrument sounds. ChordWalk can also play locally installed SoundFonts.
Launch Screen
The default creation screen displays a Chord Selection area, a virtual instrument playing area, two Arpeggiator areas, and a Metronome and beat syncing area.
Run in Background
When you are running ChordWalk with a DAW on an iPad, and you are toggling between the applications, you must have ChordWalk, and the DAW set to “Run in background” mode for the DAW to continue playing with ChordWalk running in the background.
Resize Views in ChordWalk
ChordWalk provides a "Screen Configuration" option that enlarges borders, making it easier to resize individual views precisely on touch devices.
Selecting MIDI Play Devices
ChordWalk can also play locally installed SoundFonts. The guide provides detailed instructions for connecting to DAWs and external devices and installing SoundFonts.
Open a New Creation Tab
Click the “Add New Tab” icon (the plus sign) to add a new creation tab. This allows you to toggle between multiple tabs, enhancing your creative workflow efficiency.
Music Fundamentals for Beginners
A great hook is formed by combining some of the elements shown below. Every composition must have rhythm, Which underpins all great music compositions.
Resizing a Dialogue Box using Touch
To resize a Dialogue Box, hold one finger at the top of the Box, and with another finger, grab the bottom extremity of the Box and move it up/down/across to resize the Box view.
Structure of a composition
Most songs have some formal structure: intro, verse, and chorus, which is repeated over and over and finished with an outro. Other structures can include a bridge between the two main components. The bridge is often an instrumental solo or a piece of vocal improvisation.
Metronome
The selected Tempo is represented as a beat indicator scrolling across the bars to advise the Creator of their exact position in the composition structure in real-time. It is also important for the creator/performer to know where the beat is relative to the downbeat. The ChordWalk Metronome advises the current beat position relative to bar number and downbeat position.
Beats and Downbeats
On installation, the Metronome defaults to display four bars in the most popular time signature of 4/4 time, also known as Common Time.
Save and Recall Creation Settings
You can save your creation settings using the Save Creation Settings icon as shown below. Remember to label the saved settings in a file with a name that is related to the creation to quickly retrieve it for later use in another project.