Use the song structure editor to:
Define the order of sections, eg "AABA", "verse verse chorus verse", ...
Select the rhythm(s) to be used
Adjust the rhythm parameters to introduce dynamics, eg variation, intensity, fill, muted instrument, ...
A song part is linked to a parent section of the chord lead sheet.
A song part has a name, a rhythm and a value for each of the rhythm parameters.
To add a new song part:
drag a section from the chord lead sheet into the song structure editor, or
right-click menu Insert, or
copy an existing song part: drag it while pressing the ctrl key, use copy & paste, or right-click menu Duplicate
By default the name of the song part is the name of the parent section. If the song part is renamed, the parent section is shown below the name.
If some contiguous song parts share the same name, then the name is displayed only on the first song part and a line is shown on the contiguous song parts. Clicking this line will select all the related song parts.
Song parts can be reordered by dragging them using the mouse.
You can modify the song part name, rhythm, and rhythm parameter values.
Edition is done directly from in the song structure editor using the mouse, or from the song part editor (see snapshot at the top of this page). Edited values will impact all the selected song parts or rhythm parameters.
Press R or click the rhythm name to open the rhythm selection dialog.
When changing the rhythm, JJazzLab tries to adapt the values of the previous rhythm parameters to the new rhythm parameters.
Midi can only accommodate 16 channels, and many rhythms use 7 or 8 instruments. That's why it's difficult in practical to have a song with more than 2 rhythms.
Many actions are also available via the context menu (right-click on Windows/Linux, ctrl-click on Mac), and when available the associated shortcut is displayed.
Selection
Mouse
Action
song part, rhythm param.
click
select
song part
double click
edit song part name
song part name
click
edit
rhythm
click
select a rhythm
editor, song part, rhythm param.
right-click
open popup menu
rhythm parameter
double-click
edit value
rhythm parameter
mouse wheel
change value
rhythm parameters
shift+mouse wheel
make values identical then change value
editor
ctrl mouse wheel
change X zoom factor
Selection
Key
Action
song part, rhythm param.
enter
edit song part name
song part, rhythm param.
R
select rhythm
song part, rhythm param.
I
insert song part
song part, rhythm param.
ctrl-I
append song part
song part, rhythm param.
D
duplicate song part(s)
song part
delete
delete song part(s)
rhythm parameter
ctrl-up/down
next/previous value
rhythm parameter
Z
reset param. value
song part
ctrl-C/X/V
copy/cut/paste
editor
ctrl-Z/Y
undo/redo
editor
ctrl-F
zoom to fit width