Play Modes - Diatonic Mode - ISLA Instruments KordBot User Manual

That is the basic concept of the Key + MOD mode . Much, much more can be
done in this mode, using the built-in KordBot functions . Things like arpeggiation,
chord spreading, tempo change and velocity imodifications all designed to en-
hance your playing experience . Since these functions can be used in other modes,
they are covered in depth in the section "KordBot Common Built In Functions" .
Play Modes – Diatonic Mode
The Diatonic mode is the most complex mode that KordBot offers . While
it may seem daunting, once you get the hang of it, you will be able to ex-
plore musical areas few other MIDI controllers have ventured into .
To jump to the Diatonic mode, from any other mode, press the ALT key . The hot-
key menu on the bottom will then show the fn key to press to jump to the Diatonic
mode . The screen will refresh and you should see all the same controls as before,
with the mode in the lowest right status box noting "Diatonic" for the mode .
In this mode, the layout of the MOD keys is different from the Key + MOD mode .
Here, each row of 8 MOD keys are comprised of 7 diatonically related (normal-
ly) chords, based on a scale . Using the advanced setup features, you can make
these 7 chords related, unrelated, random or whatever you desire . But the ba-
sic reason for the mode is that the MOD keys alone generate chords . The NOTE
keys allow the user to play along with the chords, providing 6-note polyphony .
If you would like to refresh your memory, or learn about diaton-
ic theory, please refer to the chapter "Diatonic Theory"
The default key and scale rows on the KordBot are C Major, G Yo, C Natural Minor
(Aeolian mode) and Ab Blues . The default progression for each row is also the de-
fault for that scale type . The key and scale can be changed by choosing from a list .
But there are also 10 "User" progressions . In those 10, you can change the scale
to any pre-programmed scale, or you can build your own scale . Then you can also
change the chord type for each of the 7 'slots' . Currently you can pick from any of
the chord modifier key chord types (Maj through 9sus4) . In a future release you
will also be able to create your own chord templates and choose those as well .
For now, we'll look at the default C Major row – the top row of MOD keys .
Refer to the section on "Diatonic Progression Editing" for more advanced fea-
tures . Also, since all the encoder functions are shared by each play mode, you
might want to look at the section "KordBot Common Built In Functions" .
8
In the top row, the chords are laid out in standard diaton-
ic progression for a Major scale in the key of C .
MOD key legend Maj 6
Chord C Maj D m
Jazz notation I ii
Nashville Number 1 2m
With just this small 'palette' of chords, you have the ability to play literally mil-
lions of songs . There are an uncountable number of hits that use just the I, IV and
V chords . Throw in the vi chord and you have an uncountable number more .
Each mode has the ability to store up to 12 chords in the MEM key pads (M1-M12) .
For the Diatonic mode, this is done similarly to the Key + MOD mode . . First, play any
chord – you just have to play it, not keep the keys pressed . Note, you do not need to
press a key note, since diatonic chords already know which note is their key note .
Next, press the SHIFT key and press one of the MEM pads M1- M12 . The chord
that was played last is now stored into the slot you chose . If you wish to store
an inversion of the chord, press the inversion key AND the SHIFT key and then
press the MEM pad you want to save the inversion to . So, for instance, if you
press an Em (third key on the top row in the default Diatonic mode) chord and
then wanted to save the first inversion of that chord, press f1, SHIFT and then
I ii iii
wv
I √ √ √
ii √
iii √
IV
√
V √
vi √
vii° √
7 Maj7 9 Maj9
Em F Maj G Maj A min
iii IV V vi
3m 4 5 6m
IV V vi vii°
√ √ √ √
√ √ √
√
√ √ √
√ √
√ √
√ √
Maj11
B dim
vii°
7°