Adding Instruments

You can create your own instrument parts to replace ChordSong's automatic piano accompaniment.

Creating an instrument part is similar to Creating a Melody, which we've already covered. Here are some tips specific to creating instrument parts:

Display the instrument staff. To create notes for an instrument part, you must first display the staff for that instrument. In the Note menu, click Show Piano Staff, Show Bass Staff, or Show Drum Staff.

Creating drum notes. With the Start Note tool selected, click on a line in the Drum Staff to create a drum note; click on an existing note to erase that note. Each line in the staff corresponds to a different drum: HH (Hi-Hat Cymbal), SD (Snare Drum), or BD (Bass Drum).

No rests in the drum part. The drum notes all have a fixed (short) duration, so there is no use for rests in the drum part. Therefore, in the Drum Staff, the End Note tool works just like the Start Note tool; either tool can be used to create or delete drum notes.

Turning off the automatic rhythm. When you start creating your own bass and piano parts, you probably don't want ChordSong's automatic accompaniment to play at the same time. So select the None style in the Rhythm dropdown list in the Play Bar.