Chord Inversions, Voicings, Positions & Key Changes in Virtual Guitarist Series

Overview: The Two-Mode Design (Realism vs. Control)

This article provides a definitive guide to how the UJAM Virtual Guitarist (VG) series handles chords, voicings, inversions, fretboard positions, and key changes. It directly addresses user observations of significant shifts in "tonal balance," "inversions," or perceived "position on the fret" when changing keys—for example, when moving from an A minor (Am) chord to a B minor (Bm) chord.

This behavior is a documented and intended consequence of the core design of the Virtual Guitarist series, which separates functionality into two distinct modes: Player Mode and Instrument Mode.

1. Player Mode: The default, phrase-based mode found in all VG plugins. It is designed for rapid, realistic-sounding results with minimal input. It uses an automated "voicing mechanism" to prioritize realism.
2. Instrument Mode: A note-based mode, introduced in the "V2" series (AMBER 2, IRON 2, SPARKLE 2, SILK 2) and later plugins (CARBON, CINEDREAM). It is designed for "hands-on control" and "total control over phrasing and notes".

The tonal shift that users experience is a direct result of the "voicing mechanism" that functions automatically in Player Mode.

The "Voicing Mechanism" Explained

User manuals for the V2 series, including IRON 2, SILK 2, and SPARKLE 2, explicitly state the inclusion of a "voicing mechanism".

• Its Purpose: The mechanism's documented function is to ensure that "whatever notes you play, they will always be translated to the next suitable voicing of a guitar".
• The Problem it Solves: This system is essential for realism because a piano keyboard and a guitar fretboard are fundamentally different instruments. A producer might play a large, low-interval chord on a keyboard that is physically impossible to perform on a six-string guitar. The voicing mechanism intercepts this input and selects a "suitable" and physically playable guitar chord voicing.
• The "Side Effect" (The Tonal Balance Shift): The "voicing mechanism" is optimized for guitar-centric realism, not for static transposition. A real guitarist must change voicings and fret positions for different chords. The user example of moving from A minor (Am) to B minor (Bm) is the most illustrative case :

• A minor (Am): On a guitar, an Am chord is most commonly played in the "open" position (fret 0), utilizing the open A, G, B, and E strings. This voicing has a full, resonant, and bright sound unique to open-string chords.
• B minor (Bm): It is physically impossible to play a Bm chord in the same "open" position voicing as Am. A guitarist must move their hand and play it as a "barre chord," typically at the 2nd fret or the 7th fret. This barre chord voicing uses all fretted notes, resulting in a different set of string overtones and a more compressed timbre.

The Virtual Guitarist's voicing mechanism is programmed to know this. When it receives "Am" input, it selects a realistic, open-position Am phrase. When it receives "Bm" input, it intelligently and correctly switches to a "suitable" Bm barre chord phrase. This automatic, realism-driven switch from a resonant open chord to a fretted barre chord is the direct and intended cause of the perceived "tonal balance" shift.

The V1 series of plugins (AMBER, IRON, SILK, SPARKLE) operated only within this automated Player Mode. The V2 series and later plugins introduced Instrument Mode specifically to provide a solution for producers who require full manual control over this behavior.

Chord Input & Recognition (Player Mode)

In Player Mode, the "voicing mechanism" works in conjunction with an internal chord recognition system that interprets the user's MIDI input before selecting a suitable voicing. This system is, by design, optimized for simplicity and common guitar chords.

Chord Recognition Logic

The chord recognition system interprets up to four notes of simultaneous input. The Virtual Guitarist SILK 2 manual, for example, documents this logic :

• 1 Note: Interpreted as power chords (root, fifth, octave).
• 2 Notes: Interpreted as intervals.
• 3 Notes: Interpreted as three-note guitar chords (triads).
• 4 Notes: Interpreted as four-note guitar chords (tetrads).

Inherent Limitations and Plugin-Specific Logic

By design, the internal chord dictionary in Player Mode is limited. It is optimized for common, basic chords (Major, minor, sus, 7th) and is not documented to include "altered seventh or more complex chords". When the system receives complex MIDI input (e.g., a Cmaj7(b9, \#11)), it is forced to make a "best guess" assumption and will default to a simpler, recognized chord. This is a primary reason why advanced users require the precision of Instrument Mode.

Furthermore, the voicing "brain" is plugin-specific and tuned to its intended genre. This means the same MIDI input will be interpreted differently across the Virtual Guitarist series, which can be another source of "tonal balance" shifts when layering plugins.

• IRON (V1/V2): The voicing mechanism "focuses on Power Chords," as this is the "key ingredient of Metal".
• CARBON: This plugin is built on samples from an 8-string, low-tuned guitar, and its engine is documented to play "four-voice chords".

An A-minor triad played in AMBER (programmed for acoustic strumming) will be voiced differently than the same triad played in IRON (programmed for power chords).

Inversions & Voicings: The Core Mechanic (Automatic vs. Manual)

The fundamental difference in how the Virtual Guitarist series handles voicings and inversions is the separation between Player Mode and Instrument Mode.

Player Mode: The Automatic "Voicing Mechanism"

In Player Mode, all voicing and inversion control is Automatic. As established in Section 1, the plugin's "voicing mechanism" intercepts all MIDI input and translates it to a "suitable voicing".

This system is the only way the V1 series of plugins (AMBER, IRON, SILK, SPARKLE) function. The user-experienced frustration with tonal shifts is a well-understood limitation of this V1 design, which prioritizes realism over manual control. This mechanism is the root cause of the Am-to-Bm timbral shift, as it correctly selects a realistic (but different-sounding) open-string vs. barre-chord voicing.

Instrument Mode: Full Manual Control

Instrument Mode is the definitive, documented solution for users who require precise, manual control over every note.

This feature was introduced in the V2 series (AMBER 2, IRON 2, SPARKLE 2, SILK 2) and later plugins (CARBON, CINEDREAM) as a "probably the most requested feature".

In this mode, voicing control is Manual. The plugin "bypasses phrase logic"  and the automatic "voicing mechanism". It functions as a direct, note-for-note sampler, playing exactly the MIDI notes it receives. This allows the user to define the exact chord inversion they desire.

The "Two-Handed" Workflow for Instrument Mode

Instrument Mode is designed to be "played like a real guitar"  and emulates this by requiring a "two-handed" keyboard technique. The on-screen interactive keyboard is split into two distinct zones:

1. Right Hand (Fretboard / Play Range): This area (typically C3 and up) is where the user plays the literal notes of the desired chord. The plugin will voice only the notes held. This gives the user 100% control over the inversion.

• Example: Root position A minor = A+C+E.
• Example: First inversion A minor = C+E+A.

2. Left Hand (Key Switch / Articulation Range): This area (typically below C3) no longer triggers phrases. Instead, these keyswitches trigger specific articulations (strums, mutes, picks) that play the notes being held by the right hand.

This keyswitch mapping is specific to each plugin.

Example Articulation Keyswitches (Left Hand):

• AMBER 2 :

• A#2 / Bb2: Strum - Open
• G#2 / Ab2: Strum - Half Mute
• F#2 / Gb2: Strum - Mute
• D#2 / Eb2: Strum - Dead
• C2: Picking

• SILK 2 :

• B2: Strum - Auto
• A#2 / Bb2: Strum - Open
• F#2 / Gb2: Strum - Mute
• C2: Picking

• CARBON :

• C3: Sustains
• B2: Long Mutes
• A2: Half Mutes
• G2: Full Mutes
• F2: Dead Notes

By holding the desired notes (e.g., C+E+A for Am/C) in the Fretboard Range and striking a keyswitch (e.g., A#2 for "Strum - Open") in the Articulation Range, the user has complete and repeatable control over the exact voicing and articulation.

Comparative Analysis: Player Mode vs. Instrument Mode

The following table provides a direct comparison of the two modes, based on the V2 series and later plugin documentation.
 

Positions (Fretboard Location)

The user's complaint regarding a shift in "position" is directly related to the voicing mechanism.

In Player Mode, fretboard position is not a direct user control. It is an automatic component of the voicing decision made by the "voicing mechanism". The Am-to-Bm example is a literal change in fretboard position: the plugin correctly switches from an open "0-fret" position (for Am) to a fretted "2nd-fret" barre chord position (for Bm). This automatic positional shift is a primary driver of the resulting timbral change.

In Instrument Mode, the user has implicit control over position by selecting the specific notes of the voicing.

Manual Timbral/Positional Controls

Separately from the automatic voicing system, some VG plugins have other documented controls that simulate a change in playing position or timbre. If these controls are automated or set inconsistently between song sections, they will also cause a "tonal balance shift."

• Position Knob (VG SILK V1): The Virtual Guitarist SILK (V1) manual documents a "POSITION" knob. This control is designed to emulate the guitarist moving their picking hand. Moving it towards the neck results in a "full-bodied, hollow sound," while moving it towards the bridge creates a "thinner sound with more attack".
• Doubling Feature (VG AMBER V1): The Virtual Guitarist AMBER (V1) manual explicitly states that enabling the "Doubling" feature makes the guitar "sound fuller/lower as lower versions/inversions of the wanted chord are now available". This is a documented source of automatic inversion and voicing changes.

Scales & Keys: The Other Automated System

A second, compounding factor in Player Mode is the "Key" parameter. This feature, documented in V2 manuals (e.g., AMBER 2, SPARKLE 2), adds another layer of automated decision-making that can conflict with a user's intended harmony.

Function: When a key is set (e.g., "A minor"), this parameter "limits what is played to ensure that the chords work within the selected scale". It is designed as a "helping hand" to prevent non-harmonious notes.

This feature can directly compound the Am-to-Bm problem :

1. A user's "Key" is set to "A minor."
2. The user attempts to play a Bm chord (as in their example).
3. In the key of A natural minor, the chord built on the note B is a B-diminished.
4. The plugin's logic may therefore automatically "correct" the user's intended Bm input, forcing it to become a B-diminished chord to "work within the selected scale".

In this scenario, the user experiences two simultaneous, automated shifts:

1. A Voicing Shift (Timbral): The plugin changes the timbre from an open Am chord to a fretted B-diminished chord.
2. A Harmonic Shift (Quality): The plugin changes the chord quality from the intended minor to a diminished.

This combination fully explains why the resulting chord "doesn't sound at all like the same" as the original.

Furthermore, UJAM plugins (including Virtual Guitarist and Virtual Bassist) are documented to "follow" a DAW's native "Chord Track" (e.g., in PreSonus Studio One). This integration is another source of automated harmonic control, where the plugin will "automatically adjust its playing style, rhythm, and articulation to fit the chords" defined in the DAW, which may also override the user's direct MIDI input.

Key Changes & Transposition: The Definitive Solutions

This section synthesizes all previous points into direct, step-by-step solutions for achieving tonally consistent chord changes.

Why Tonal Balance Shifts (A Summary)

The tonal shift experienced during key changes in Player Mode (e.g., Am to Bm) is the intended behavior of the "voicing mechanism". This system prioritizes guitar-centric realism (correctly switching from open-string to barre-chord voicings) over static transposition. This timbral shift may be compounded by the "Key" parameter automatically changing the chord's harmonic quality.

To gain full control over voicings and ensure tonal consistency, one of the following two workflows must be used. Both require a V2 or later plugin (e.g., AMBER 2, IRON 2, SPARKLE 2, SILK 2, CARBON, CINEDREAM).

Solution 1: Real-Time Control (Instrument Mode Workflow)

This workflow is the solution for producers who prefer to play parts in real-time on a keyboard. It provides 100% manual control over the notes.

1. On the plugin interface, switch the mode from "Player" to "Instrument".
2. To play the Am chord, hold the exact notes of the desired inversion (e.g., A+C+E for root position) on the Fretboard Range (right hand).
3. Press a Key Switch in the Articulation Range (left hand) to trigger the articulation (e.g., A#2 for "Strum - Open" in AMBER 2).
4. To play the Bm chord, release the right hand and hold the exact notes of the desired Bm inversion (e.g., B+D+F#) on the Fretboard Range.
5. Press the exact same Key Switch (e.g., A#2) on the left hand.

Result: This provides 100% consistent articulation while giving the user full manual control over the note-for-note voicing and inversion. This completely eliminates the plugin's automatic voicing and positional shifts.

Solution 2: Post-Production Control (MIDI Drag & Drop Workflow)

This workflow is the solution for producers who prefer to program and edit in a piano roll. It provides the "best of both worlds": the humanized rhythms of Player Mode and the note-for-note control of Instrument Mode.

This feature is available in the V2 series (SPARKLE 2, IRON 2, AMBER 2, SILK 2) and CARBON.

1. Start in Player Mode. Select a Style and record or program your performance. This captures the realistic, humanized rhythm and timing of the pre-recorded phrases.
2. Drag and Drop the performance from the plugin's interface (from the dotted drag area on the phrase key) directly onto a MIDI track in your DAW.
3. This action creates a MIDI clip containing the exact notes that the "voicing mechanism" chose. The user can now "see for sure" what was being played.
4. In the DAW's piano roll, manually edit this MIDI clip. Fix any notes, change inversions, or re-voice entire chords to your exact specification.
5. Crucial Step: Change the UJAM plugin's mode from "Player" to "Instrument Mode". Instrument Mode is designed to receive and play exact MIDI notes.
6. Feed this new, manually-edited MIDI clip back into the Virtual Guitarist plugin.

Result: This workflow uses Player Mode to generate the rhythm and Instrument Mode to execute the user-defined notes, granting 100% manual control over the final voicing and inversion while retaining the realism of the original phrases. Note that some DAWs or plugin versions may require manually switching the plugin to Instrument Mode for correct playback of the dragged MIDI clip.

Troubleshooting & Advanced Timbral Controls

If a "tonal balance shift" is still being experienced, it may be caused by other automated features or manual controls. Use this checklist to diagnose the issue.

Tonal Balance & Voicing Checklist

1. Check Your Mode: Are you in Player Mode? If so, all voicings and positions are Automatic and subject to the "voicing mechanism". To gain manual control, you must use one of the Instrument Mode workflows described in Section 6.
2. Check the "Key" Parameter: Is this set to anything other than "Off"? If so, the plugin may be harmonically correcting your intended chords to fit the selected scale (e.g., changing your Bm to Bdim). Set this to "Off" for full harmonic control in Player Mode.
3. Check "Open Chords" (SPARKLE 2, SILK 2, CINEDREAM): Is this toggle active? This feature is documented to "automatically add tension" (e.g., 7th, 9th, 11th, or 13th notes) to your chords. If this is enabled for one song section and disabled for another, the harmonic content will change drastically. Ensure this setting is used consistently.
4. Check Modwheel (CC1) Automation: In the Virtual Guitarist series, the Modwheel (CC1) is not mapped to vibrato. It is explicitly mapped to Palm Muting or Damping. As the wheel is raised, notes become shorter and more percussive, morphing to "dead notes" at the maximum position. Any un-reviewed Modwheel automation will cause dramatic changes in tonal balance.
5. Check "Doubling" (V1 Plugins): If using a V1 plugin (e.g., AMBER V1), is this feature enabled? The V1 AMBER manual states this adds "lower versions/inversions" to the sound, which will fundamentally change the voicing.
6. Check "Position" Knob (V1 Plugins): If using a V1 plugin (e.g., SILK V1), is this knob automated? It is designed to change the timbre from a "neck" to a "bridge" sound, which is a significant tonal shift.

Advanced Technique for Player Mode: "Implied Harmony"

For users who wish to remain in Player Mode but require complex harmonies (e.g., altered 7ths) that are not in the plugin's native chord dictionary, a forum-documented workaround exists.

1. Use a separate bass track (e.g., Virtual Bassist) to play the true root note of the desired complex chord (e.g., 'D').
2. On the Virtual Guitarist track (in Player Mode), play a simple chord that the plugin recognizes, but one that contains the desired tensions (e.g., 'Ab major').
3. Result: The 'Ab major' chord (Ab, C, Eb) played over the 'D' bass note creates an "implied harmony" of a D7(b9, +5) chord. The VG plugin "thinks" it is playing a simple Ab major, so its voicing remains stable and predictable, but the resulting musical harmony is complex.

Resources & Further Reading

All UJAM product user guides are available on the UJAM support website. The V2 and later manuals contain full documentation on Instrument Mode and MIDI Drag & Drop.

1. VG CINEDREAM User Guide
2. VG Carbon User Guide
3. VG IRON2 User Guide
4. VG SPARKLE 2 User Guide
5. VG SILK 2 User Guide
6. VG AMBER 2 User Guide
7. VG SILK 2 | FAQ
8. VG SILK User Guide
9. Using the Chord Track in Studio One with UJAM Plugins
10. Key Switch & Chord Track Workflows with UJAM Virtual Bassist #StudioOne5
11. How to use MIDI Drag & Drop
12. FAQ ⎪ Virtual Guitarist CARBON
13. How to Use Open Chords to Spice Up Your Guitar Parts
14. Where to find the product manuals?
15. AMBER 2 | Videos
16. VG IRON 2 | FAQ
17. VG SPARKLE 2 | FAQ