To: Paul Ip,

Thanks so much for taking the time to perform 'chord recognition' tests on the Solton X1, Korg i30, and Roland G-1000 keyboards.

It seems like the major keyboard manufacters decided to take radically different approaches to arranger 'chord recognition/interpretation'. Yamaha and Technics in one camp and Solton, Korg, and Roland in the other.

Though "theoretically" the chords voicings recognized by Solton, Korg & Roland may be more or less correct, these voicings are not typically associated with the chords that Solton, Korg & Roland assigns them. I asked other pro jazz keyboard players and they concur. They associate the chord interpretations more in line with how Yamaha & Technics interpretes the voicings.

The 3rd of the chord is all important in determining the mood (major/minor/sus) of the chord. Interesting that Solton, Korg, and Roland chose to interprete the (F-C-E)chord voicing as 'major' even though the 3rd of the chord is not specified (played). How is the arranger to know if you might have meant Fm(+7) or Fsus(+7) instead of FMaj7 if you don't actually include playing the note A (3rd), Ab (minor 3rd), or Bb (4th)? As far as I'm concerned, playing (F-C-E) is not considered a FMaj7 chord. On the other hand playing F-C-E is a well accepted chord voicing (rootless in the tradition of Bill Evans) for playing Dm7(9)in the jazz idiom.

If indeed playing (F-C-E) is an (accepted?) voicing for FMaj7, I am really curious to find out what specific genre of music this type of chord interpretation is accepted in.

Thanks again Paul. It sounds like so far only the Yamaha PSR9000 & Technics will satisfy my chord recognition needs. I"m still waiting on chord recognition results on the GEM WK8 and Roland VA7.

- Scott


[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 10-09-2000).]