Tools for Cubase, FL Studio & Ableton

The free producer starter kit

Four MIDI files — one chord per bar at 90 BPM, channel 1. Import via File → Import → MIDI in Cubase, or drag the file onto a track in FL Studio and Ableton Live. Load a piano or pad, transpose to taste, and build from there.

• I-V-vi-IV in C majorThe classic pop loop — C · G · Am · F.
• vi-IV-I-V in A minorThe wistful rotation — Am · F · C · G.
• ii-V-I in F majorThe jazz backbone — Gm · C · F.
• i-VI-III-VII in D minorThe cinematic minor lift — Dm · Bb · F · C.

FL Studio

Tutorials — try these first

1. 1Set scale highlighting in the Piano roll (Helpers → Scale highlighting) so every in-key note lights up while you write.
2. 2Use the chord stamp to drop diatonic triads and sevenths with one click — pick a root, pick a quality, stamp a bar.
3. 3Turn on key labels (View → Key labels → All notes) to learn note names while you program.

Template recipes to build

• Beat skeletonOne Pattern with kick on quarters, snare on 2 and 4, closed hats on eighths; clone it per song section.
• Chord sketch channel rackA piano instrument routed to its own mixer insert, with the Piano roll folded to your song key.
• Progression loopFour-bar Piano roll clip holding one chord per bar — the exact shape of the MIDI files in the kit below.

Ableton Live

Tutorials — try these first

1. 1Fold the MIDI editor to a scale with the Scale button so only in-key rows appear.
2. 2Stack the Chord and Scale MIDI effects: one finger plays full diatonic chords that can never leave the key.
3. 3In Live 12, set a clip's key/scale and let MIDI Tools generate chord and melody ideas inside it.

Template recipes to build

• Chord rack trackAn instrument track with Chord → Scale → your piano device, saved as a preset for instant in-key chords.
• Loop sketching sceneFour Session-view scenes: drums, bass, chords, melody — launch a scene to audition an arrangement.
• Progression clipA four-bar MIDI clip, one chord per bar, transposable from the clip's key setting.

Cubase

Tutorials — try these first

1. 1Build your progression on the global Chord Track, then set other tracks to follow it so parts re-voice automatically.
2. 2Sketch by ear with Chord Pads — diatonic chords with inversions on pads or a MIDI keyboard.
3. 3Switch on the Key Editor's Scale Assistant to colour or snap notes to your key and scale.

Template recipes to build

• Song starter projectChord Track + a piano track following it + a basic drum groove, saved via File → Save as Template.
• Writing layoutKey Editor open with Scale Assistant active and Chord Editing analysing selected notes into named chords.
• Progression loopA four-bar MIDI part, one chord per bar, mirrored on the Chord Track for global transposition.