Chords & Harmony

Gen supports two types of chord notation: simultaneous notes (actual pitches played together) and chord symbols (lead sheet annotations).

Simultaneous Notes

Use parentheses () to play multiple notes at the same time:

(C E G)        # C major triad, quarter note
(C E G)p       # C major triad, half note
(C E G)/       # C major triad, eighth note

Rhythm on Chords

The rhythm modifier applies to the entire chord:

(C E G)        # Quarter note chord
(C E G)p       # Half note chord
(C E G)/       # Eighth note chord
(C E G)//      # Sixteenth note chord
(C E G)o       # Whole note chord
(C E G)p*      # Dotted half note chord

Octaves in Chords

Each note can have its own octave modifier:

(C E G)        # All in the same octave
(C E ^G)       # G is one octave higher
(_C E G)       # C is one octave lower
(C ^E ^G)      # Open voicing

You can also shift the entire chord:

^(C E G)       # All notes up one octave
_(C E G)       # All notes down one octave

Accidentals in Chords

(C Eb G)       # C minor triad
(C E G#)       # C augmented triad
(Db F Ab)      # Db major triad

Chord Progressions

---
title: Simple Progression
time-signature: 4/4
key-signature: C
---

(C E G) (F A ^C) (G B ^D) (C E G)

Voicing Examples

# Close position triads
(C E G) (D F A) (E G B) (F A ^C)

# Open voicings
(_C G ^E) (_D A ^F) (_E B ^G)

# Power chords
(_C _G C) (_D _A D) (_E _B E)

# Seventh chords
(C E G B) (D F A ^C) (E G B ^D)

Chord Symbols

Chord symbols are lead sheet annotations that appear above the staff. Use curly braces {}:

{C} C E G ^C
{Am} A ^C ^E ^A
{G7} G B D F

Attached vs. Standalone

Attached (with :): The chord symbol appears above the following note and inherits its duration for playback:

{Cmaj7}:Gp B D       # Cmaj7 attached to Gp, plays for a half note

Standalone (without :): The chord symbol has its own duration (whole note by default):

{Cmaj7} G B D        # Cmaj7 as whole note, melody plays separately
{Am7}p G B D         # Am7 as half note duration
{Dm7}/ G A B         # Dm7 as eighth note duration

Chord Symbol Syntax

Symbol	Meaning
{C}	C major
{Cm}	C minor
{C7}	C dominant 7
{Cmaj7}	C major 7
{Cm7}	C minor 7
{Cdim}	C diminished
{Caug}	C augmented
{Csus4}	C suspended 4
{Csus2}	C suspended 2
{C/E}	C major with E bass (slash chord)

Accidentals in Chord Symbols

{F#}:F# A# ^C#       # F# major
{Bb7}:Bb D F Ab      # Bb dominant 7
{Ebmaj7}:Eb G Bb D   # Eb major 7

Jazz Lead Sheet Example

---
title: Jazz Progression
time-signature: 4/4
key-signature: Bb
---

{Bbmaj7}:Bbp {Cm7}:Cp
{Dm7}:Dp {Eb7}:Ebp
{Dm7}:Dp {G7}:Gp
{Cm7}:Cp {F7}:Fp

Multiple Chord Symbols Per Measure

{C}:C E {Am}:A ^C
{F}:F A {G}:G B

Chord Symbols with Melody

---
title: Pop Song
time-signature: 4/4
---

{C} E/ G/ ^C/ G/ E/ G/ ^C/ G/
{Am} A/ ^C/ ^E/ ^C/ A/ ^C/ ^E/ ^C/
{F} F/ A/ ^C/ A/ F/ A/ ^C/ A/
{G} G/ B/ ^D/ B/ G/ B/ ^D/ B/

Combining Chords and Simultaneous Notes

You can use chord symbols with simultaneous notes:

{C}:(C E G) $ $ $           # Chord symbol on a triad
{Am}:(A ^C ^E)p {F}:(F A ^C)p   # Two half-note chords with symbols

Common Patterns

Block Chords

(C E G) (C E G) (C E G) (C E G)
(D F A) (D F A) (D F A) (D F A)

Arpeggiated with Chord Symbols

{C} C/ E/ G/ ^C/ G/ E/ C/ E/
{F} F/ A/ ^C/ ^F/ ^C/ A/ F/ A/

Comping Pattern

{Dm7}:(D F A ^C)/ $ (D F A ^C)/ $/ (D F A ^C)/ $ $/

Summary

Syntax	Meaning
(C E G)	Simultaneous notes (actual pitches)
{C}	Chord symbol (standalone, whole note)
{C}p	Chord symbol with half note duration
{C}:note	Chord symbol attached to a note
^(C E G)	Chord shifted up one octave
(C ^E G)	Mixed octaves within chord