Move notes in the Piano Roll Editor in Logic Pro for Mac

You can move selected notes in the Piano Roll Editor to change their time position. When you move notes, they move according to the current Snap value for the Piano Roll Editor.

When you drag a note, a help tag shows its current time position and pitch. Its deviation from the starting pitch is shown as a positive or negative value.

You can also move notes using an Event Float window. See Use the Event Float window.

Tip: The info display in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar shows the note name and time position under the pointer. Watch the info display as you move notes to ensure that you move them to the correct position.

Move notes

In the Logic Pro Piano Roll Editor, select one or more notes, then drag left or right.

Move notes in finer increments

In the Logic Pro Piano Roll Editor, select the notes.
Begin to drag the notes.
Press and hold Control and continue dragging the note to the desired position.
The drag resolution depends on the current Snap value and zoom level (see Snap to grid in the Piano Roll Editor in Logic Pro).
Alternatively, you can press Control-Shift as you drag to move the notes in tick steps, overriding the Snap value.

Limit dragging to one direction

Choose Logic Pro > Settings > General > Editing.
Select the Limit Dragging to One Direction In Piano Roll and Score checkbox.

This option helps you avoid accidentally transposing notes when moving them horizontally, or changing their time position when moving them vertically. The initial direction—vertical or horizontal—restricts movement to this plane while the mouse button is pressed. Release the mouse button and click the event to move in the other direction.

Move notes using key commands

In Logic Pro, use any of the following key commands:

Nudge Region/Event Position Right by SMPTE Frame
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by SMPTE Frame
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 1/2 SMPTE Frame
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 1/2 SMPTE Frame
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 5 SMPTE Frames
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 5 SMPTE Frames
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by SMPTE Bit
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by SMPTE Bit
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Tick
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Tick
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Division
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Division
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Beat
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Beat
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Bar
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Bar
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Nudge Value
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Nudge Value
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Sample
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Sample
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 1 ms
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 1 ms
Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 10 ms
Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 10 ms

The selected events are shifted one step right or left, by the unit defined in the particular key command.

Move other MIDI data along with notes

In Logic Pro, choose Functions > Include Non-Note MIDI Events from the Piano Roll Editor menu bar to tie other data (such as pitch bend, modulation, aftertouch, or poly aftertouch) in a region to the region’s notes.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Control Surfaces Support Guide: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac