A Guide to Using JUMP

Song Key

Use this control to set the song's key. To select a key click with the left mouse button and choose an item from the pop-up menu.

You can also click with the right mouse button to step through the keys (or click with the right mouse button while holding down the CTRL key to step backwards through the keys).

The choice of key determines which scale is used. Select a major key to use a major scale (Ionian mode). Select a minor key to use a natural minor scale (Aeolian mode).

The choice of key also affects which chords are available, according to the rules of Diatonic Harmony. Changing the key automatically changes which chords are used

All the standard major and minor keys are supported, as detailed in the table below...

Major Relative Minor Key Signature

B (Cb) major G# (Ab) minor ##### (bbbbbbb)

Bb major G minor bb

A major F# minor ###

Ab major F minor bbbb

G major E minor #

F# (Gb) major D# (Eb) minor ###### (bbbbbb)

F major D minor b

E major C# minor ####

Eb major C minor bbb

D major B minor ##

Db (C#) major Bb (A#) minor bbbbb (#######)

C major A minor

If you want a section to use a different key to the rest of the song then use the section's Key Override control to specify another key.

There are considerable differences between songs using major and minor keys. Songs using major keys often have a familiar, happy, "pop" sound while songs using minor keys tend to sound rather more serious and/or sad. Because chords are automatically adjusted to fit the current key, you can easily experiment with different keys. (Note a sudden change to an unrelated key can sound like everything has gone out of tune - try giving your ears a few seconds rest before making a judgement).

The Circle of Fifths

A common representation of the relationships between keys is called the Circle of Fifths, shown "unrolled" in the table below.

Major

B (Cb)

F# (Gb)

Db (C#)

Relative Minor

F#m

C#m

G#m (Abm)

D#m (Ebm)

Bbm (A#m)

Key Signature

###

####

##### (bbbbbbb)

###### (bbbbbb)

bbbbb (#######)

bbbb

This organises the keys so that they ascend in intervals of a perfect fifth as one moves to the right in the table (or clockwise round the circle). The Circle of Fifths has a number of interesting properties including being useful for finding easy key modulations.

Don't worry if you do not fully understand this table. It is provided simply as a quick reference in case you are interested in the underlying theory.

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