Ableton Live 12.2 introduced Expressive Chords Ableton as a powerful tool for integrating pre-voiced chords into your productions. However, the default device requires dragging and dropping MIDI clips to switch chord sets—a workflow that disrupts live performances. The Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device solves this by adding preset switching, MIDI mapping, and custom chord learning capabilities.
What Makes the Advanced Device Special
The Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device enhances the original by adding:
- Dropdown preset menu for instant chord set switching
- MIDI mapping capability to change presets with any controller
- Automation support for programmed preset changes
- Push integration with preset names displayed on Push screens
- Custom chord learning to store your own chord voicings
- Multiple user banks for organizing personal chord collections
Consequently, you gain seamless control over Chords during live performances without workflow interruptions.
Learn Custom Chords into Expressive Chords Ableton
The Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device lets you create and store your own chord voicings—essential for specific harmonic languages or unconventional chord structures.
To learn a custom chord:
First, select the MIDI note you want to assign by playing that note on your controller. Next, click the “Learn” button to activate learning mode. Now play the chord you want to store, keeping at least one note held down continuously while adding other notes.
Once you’ve played your complete chord voicing, deactivate “Learn.” The Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device now stores that custom chord and triggers it whenever you press the assigned MIDI note. Furthermore, the device transposes your custom chords across the keyboard, maintaining your voicing intervals across different root notes.
After creating chord collections, save them to user bank slots at the end of the preset list. This lets you maintain multiple libraries—perhaps one bank for jazz voicings, another for cinematic progressions, and another for experimental harmonies.
Automate and Route
Enable automation mode in Ableton Live and create automation for the preset selector parameter on the Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device. Draw steps or curves that move between different preset numbers, and the device switches chord sets automatically during playback. This transforms static chord progressions into evolving harmonic landscapes.
Additionally, route chord MIDI to different tracks by placing the device on a MIDI track and routing that track’s output to other MIDI tracks. This lets you play one chord while triggering piano, strings, and pad simultaneously—each with their own sound design but maintaining perfect harmonic unity.
MIDI Map and Control
The preset selector accepts standard MIDI mapping for hands-on control during performances. Enter MIDI Map Mode (Cmd/Ctrl + M), click the preset selector, then move the controller you want to assign. The device now responds to that controller, letting you cycle through presets with physical hardware.
For Push users, preset names appear directly on the Push display when you select the device. Browse presets using Push’s encoders and see exactly which chord set you’re loading—perfect for live performances.
Get the Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton Device
Download the Advanced Expressive Chords Ableton device from AbletonDrummer.com. This enhanced version includes all the original Expressive Chords Ableton presets plus the preset selector, MIDI mapping capability, custom chord learning, and user banks.
The original Expressive Chords Ableton device is available as a free pack from Ableton’s website. However, the Advanced version provides essential performance enhancements that make the device practical for live use. Both devices require Max for Live (included in Live Suite or available as an add-on for Live Standard) and work in Live 10, 11, and 12.
Check out over 150 Max for Live devices — all designed to expand what you can do with Ableton Live.
