Omnichord chord combos explained
Llamachord, like the Omnichord, has three rows of chord buttons: major on top, minor in the middle, and 7th on the bottom. Each column is one root note. One button plays one chord, and pressing two or three at once unlocks more, for nine chord types in all.
One button
| Chord | Press | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Top row | Bright and settled |
| Minor | Middle row | Darker and more wistful |
| 7th | Bottom row | Bluesy, pulls toward the next chord |
Two or three buttons in the same column
| Chord | Press | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Major 7th | Major + 7th | Soft, dreamy, a little jazzy |
| Minor 7th | Minor + 7th | Mellow and smooth |
| Diminished | Major + minor | Tense and mysterious |
| Augmented | All three | Unsettled, floating |
Diagonal combos
Two chord types, added on the newest Omnichord, reach into the column just to the left. Press the major button of your chord plus one of these:
| Chord | Press | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Sus4 | Major + the 7th one column left | Open and unresolved, wants to settle back to major |
| Add9 | Major + the minor one column left | Sparkly, modern pop |
For example, C major plus F 7th makes C sus4, and C major plus F minor makes C add9. On a phone, use two fingers. The chord name above the buttons shows what you're playing.
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. Turn on Show keys to see them. For C, the combos are:
| Chord | Keys |
|---|---|
| C major 7th | 6 + H |
| C minor 7th | Y + H |
| C diminished | 6 + Y |
| C augmented | 6 + Y + H |
| C sus4 | 6 + G |
| C add9 | 6 + T |
Things to try
Play C, then C sus4, then back to C. That small lift and release is one of the most common moves in pop and folk music. Then try swapping plain major chords for major 7ths or add9s in any progression. It instantly sounds dreamier, especially with the harp or celeste voice.