Jazz Sketch 1.8: New Progressions, MIDI Export

Posted on 4. July 20263. July 2026 by Max Noizefield

Katz Praatz Updates Jazz Sketch to Version 1.8
Musician and hobbyist programmer Katz Praatz has announced a significant update to his software, Jazz Sketch, bringing it to version 1.8. This latest iteration introduces a substantial expansion of its harmonic library, alongside crucial workflow enhancements designed to support both seasoned musicians and those new to jazz harmony.

Expanded Chord Library and New Features
The highlight of this update is the addition of 192 new chord progressions, elevating the total count from 1,224 to an impressive 1,416 jazz chord progressions. Moreover, the software now includes 48 additional tension chords, increasing the available options from 168 to 216. These extensive additions provide users with an even broader palette for creating sophisticated, jazz-inspired music. Furthermore, version 1.8 introduces highly requested save and load functionality. This feature allows users to store their created chord progression data and recall it for future sessions, facilitating organization and refinement of musical ideas. Consequently, users can revisit and build upon their compositions with greater ease and efficiency.

A Versatile Tool for Jazz Musicians
Jazz Sketch 1.8 functions as a dedicated chord sequencer, specifically engineered to assist in the arrangement of its vast collection of jazz chord progressions and tension chords. Users can effortlessly export their arranged chord sequences as MIDI files. This capability enables seamless integration with any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), where the MIDI data can be further edited, played back, or used to trigger virtual instruments. Beyond composition, Jazz Sketch also serves as a practical educational resource. It offers a hands-on approach to learning jazz harmony, providing harmonic information for the currently playing chord progression or chord. As a result, it becomes an invaluable tool for understanding complex jazz structures through direct exploration and playback.

Comprehensive Feature Set
The software is designed to cater to a diverse range of jazz styles, including Swing, Bebop, Bossa Nova, Jazz Blues, and Neo Soul. It incorporates various harmonic concepts such as standard 2-5-1 progressions, tritone substitutions, secondary dominants, and modal interchanges. Annotation features for chords and progressions are also included, which further aid in understanding the underlying harmonic structures. While Jazz Sketch is a standalone application, not a plug-in, its robust features make it a highly useful software tool for any electronic music producer interested in jazz.

Features

A chord sequencer designed to help you create sophisticated, jazz-inspired music by arranging 1,416 jazz chord progressions and 216 tension chords.
Can also be used for learning or practicing jazz harmony.
The provided chord progressions incorporate standard 2-5-1 progressions, tritone substitutions, secondary dominants, secondary subdominants, deceptive resolutions, modal interchanges, parallel modal shifts, pivot chords, altered dominants, and turnarounds.
Designed to help you create a wide range of jazz styles, including Swing, Bebop, Bossa Nova, Jazz Blues, and Neo Soul.
Includes annotation features for chords and chord progressions to help users better understand harmonic structures.
Allows users to save and load chord and chord progression data for future use.
Can export the chord sequence that you arranged as a MIDI file to play it or edit it in your DAW.
Written in Java, and requires JAVA or JRE version 8 or higher installed to run.

System Requirements and Installation
Jazz Sketch is developed in Java, utilizing the .jar file format. Consequently, it requires JAVA or JRE (Java Runtime Environment) version 8 or later to be installed on the user’s computer. This ensures compatibility across various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. For users who do not have the necessary Java version, a link to the official Java download page is provided for convenience. The software is compatible with laptops and desktop computers featuring a monitor of 13 inches or larger. However, tablet PCs running non-Windows or macOS operating systems, such as iPads or Galaxy Tabs, are not supported.