Silva, many thanks for providing the chord recognition details for the Korg PA1Xpro. Mike, thanks for taking the time to test this on your GEM WK8 as well.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid Korg, GEM, and possibly even Roland, if their chord intrpetation on the G70 yields the same, all FLUNKED rudimentary 'Music Theory' 101.

With the 'bottom most' note of these chords interpreted as the 'root' tone, 'NONE' of these chords INCLUDES the "ALL ESSENTIAL" 3rd of the chord, of which signifies whether the chord is: MAJOR or MINOR.

I believe these SAME chord voicings, but with the 3rd of the chord 'actually included', ALREADY yield the SAME chord recognition results:

1) F1-A1-C2-E2 : FMaj7
2) F1-A1-B1-E2 : FMaj7b5
3) E1-A1-B1-D2 : E7sus4
4) Eb1-G1-A1-D2 : EbMaj7b5
5) D1-F#-Ab1-C2 : D7b5

If so, this makes Korg and GEM's 3-note chord voicing recognitions:

1) F1-C2-E2 : FMaj7
2) F1-B1-E2 : FMaj7b5
3) E1-A1-D2 : E7sus4
4) Eb1-A1-D2 : EbMaj7b5
5) D1-Ab1-C2 : D7b5

not ONLY incorrect, but redundant as well.

Since these same chord notes (but with the 3rd included) ALREADY fulfill the chord recognition needs for that family of chords (and in all 12 keys), Korg & GEM need to do what Yamaha, Technics & Ketron have already done instead: assign these specific 3 note chord voicings to the (rootless type) chords commonly played by professional 'jazz style' keyboardists.


To begin with, the II-V7-I chord progression is the basic building block of American Pop Standards: Cole Porter, Kern, Gershwin, etc. These '3 note' chord voicings, when interpreted as 'rootless style' chords, provide a 'professional sounding' II-V7-I chord progression which includes: 'smooth voice leading', of which is critically important, especially when you assign the LEFT voice as acoustic piano, pad, or strings.

I'm very impressed by many features & sounds of the Korg PA1XPro (from it's hip contemporary type jazz styles & innovative sounds as well), but its lack of recognition of jazz style 'rootless chords' makes it far too limiting for professional playing style cocktail jazz work.

Interestingly enough, the problem could be easily fixed in an OS Update. Both Korg & GEM could just re-assign these 5 chord voicings, and in all 12 keys as well of course , to MATCH Yamaha , which would not only EXPAND Korg's chord recognition table, but not sacrifice the chord recognition for the same chords which merely include adding the 3rd of the chord, either. This would create a WIN-WIN situation, satisfying BOTH standard pop and pro jazz style players.

I apologize for being so long winded, but I believe it's time that arranger keyboard manufacters universally agree on a chord recognition table, hopefully one which matches what Yamaha has done.

In the meantime, I'm still WAITING to here the above chord voicing chord recognition results from a Roland G70 owner. G70 owners, PLEASE post your finding. Thanks in advance,

Ok, gotta run. I'm off (and late ) to my 3rd Xmas show (this one a late niter) today.


Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 12-11-2004).]