Play by feeling, not by the rules

Expressive Chords is an intuitive idea-generation and performance tool that lets you play interesting and nuanced chords from single MIDI notes. Think of it like a MIDI sampler, where the chord sets are organized by feel rather than root note or scale – it invites you to lead with your ears, and experiment outside the confines of traditional keys and scales.

Expression made intuitive

Push users will find even greater expressive depth thanks to Expressive Chords’s MPE support, plus a bespoke pad layout. Strum chords, soften or emphasize different notes, fine-tune the note order and timing or introduce random variation – all while you play, with a single finger on a pad. Chord articulation, inversion and dynamics can also be automated in Live, or controlled with other MPE controllers: opening up expressive performance to anyone, even if you’re just using a mouse or your computer keyboard. 

Explore curated chord sets – or create your own

Expressive Chords includes 36 expertly voiced chord sets from Render Audio, and 16 chord sets created by Ableton and Andrew Bruce. Covering styles from gospel, trap and R & B to jazz, classical, house and post-rock, each set is designed to spark new ideas and help you move beyond familiar patterns.

You can also import your own chord sets using MIDI clips or create new ones using Live 12’s MIDI Tools. Whether you’re using stock progressions or crafting your own, the device helps you remix harmonic ideas and turn them into playable, expressive parts.

The flexibility doesn’t stop there, either: as a Max for Live device, Expressive Chords can be endlessly customized to suit your workflow. Want to change how the device responds or expand its functionality in Live or on Push? Open up the Max patch and get tweaking.