Llamachord

How to play

1. Tap a chord button. The three rows are major, minor, and seventh.
2. Drag a finger or mouse across the plate. Each section plays a note from the chord.
3. Play other chord types by pressing two or three buttons in the same column together (on a phone, use two fingers). Major + minor gives diminished, major + 7th gives major 7th, minor + 7th gives minor 7th, and all three give augmented. For sus4, press a major button with the 7th button one column to the left. For add9, use the minor button one column to the left instead. For example, C major + F 7th makes C sus4.
4. On a computer keyboard, the number row plays major chords, the Q row minor, and the A row 7th, lined up with the columns on screen (Enter is the last 7th). Z through / plucks the plate from low to high, and Space sweeps the whole plate. Hold keys from two rows to combine chords, and use Show keys in the header to see which key plays each button.
5. Choose a rhythm for drums and bass, and a strum voice. Chords sound while you hold a button. Turn on Chord hold to keep them ringing after you let go, and Plate sustain to let strummed notes ring. Open Mixer and transpose to balance the parts or change key.

About the Omnichord

Llamachord is inspired by the Omnichord, an electronic instrument first sold by Suzuki in the early 1980s. You press chord buttons with one hand and strum a touch plate with the other, which makes full harmonies easy to play without reading music. The chord buttons here follow the circle of fifths, so neighboring keys sit side by side.