Set the project key and scale

Each project has a key, which defines the central note to which the other notes relate. By default, new projects are in the key of C major. You can choose a new key when you create a project, and change it later while you’re working. When you add Apple Loops to your project, they match the key of the project.

When Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, you can also add key signature changes in a project. Key signature changes only affect the display of MIDI notes in the Score Editor—they do not have an effect on MIDI or Apple Loops playback. For more information about key signature changes, see Time and key signatures overview.

Set the project key

When you change the project’s scale type from major to minor or vice versa, in some cases the key may change enharmonically (for example, from Db major to C# minor). These changes follow common practice for printed music, and affect only the key as shown in the menu, not the pitch of regions in your project.