# Proposal: Smart Chord Engine

## Intent

Current chord generation (`build_chords_track`) produces static root-position block chords with zero voice leading — every chord jump resets all 3 voices, producing audible jumps and amateur-sounding progressions. Add a `ChordEngine` class with voice leading, inversion selection, emotion modes, and genre-specific reggaeton progressions.

## Scope

### In Scope
- New `src/composer/chords.py` with `ChordEngine` class
- Voice leading: minimize semitone movement, max 4 semitone jump per voice
- Inversion selection: root, first, second inversion
- 4 emotion modes: romantic, dark, club, classic
- Genre-specific reggaeton chord progressions per emotion
- Deterministic: seed-based reproducibility
- Modify `build_chords_track()` in `scripts/compose.py` to use `ChordEngine`

### Out of Scope
- Seventh/suspended/diminished chord types (use existing `CHORD_TYPES`)
- Real-time chord generation (only batch/offline)
- Other genres beyond reggaeton
- Chord rhythm/pattern generation (only chord selection + voicing)

## Capabilities

### New Capabilities
- `chord-engine`: `ChordEngine` class with seed-based deterministic progression generation, voice leading, and inversion selection

### Modified Capabilities
- `chords-track-generation`: `build_chords_track()` delegates to `ChordEngine` instead of hardcoded i-VI-III-VII

## Approach

**Pure Python, zero new dependencies** — all chord logic runs on MIDI note numbers using existing `NOTE_NAMES`, `SCALE_INTERVALS`, and `CHORD_TYPES` from `composer/__init__.py`.

Voice leading: score candidate voicings by total semitone distance from previous chord; select lowest-score candidate within the 4-semitone max-jump constraint.

Emotions → progression profiles:
| Emotion  | Degrees | Quality flavor |
|----------|---------|----------------|
| romantic | i-VI-III-VII | softer, wider voicings |
| dark     | i-iv-V-v  | minor-focused |
| club     | i-VII-VI-V | driving, ascending |
| classic  | i-VI-III-VII | tight block chords |

## Affected Areas

| Area | Impact | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| `src/composer/chords.py` | New | `ChordEngine` class |
| `scripts/compose.py` | Modify | `build_chords_track()` uses `ChordEngine` |
| `tests/test_chords.py` | New | Unit tests for voice leading, emotion modes, inversions |

## Risks

| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|------|------------|------------|
| Voice leading sounds worse than static | Low | 4-semitone cap prevents unnatural jumps; inversions smooth transitions |
| Emotion modes too similar | Med | Each has distinct degree set and quality bias |

## Rollback Plan

Revert `build_chords_track()` to hardcoded progression. Delete `src/composer/chords.py`. One commit.

## Dependencies

None. Uses existing `composer/__init__.py` constants only.

## Success Criteria

- [ ] `ChordEngine(seed=42).progression(8)` returns identical output on repeated calls
- [ ] No voice leap exceeds 4 semitones
- [ ] All 4 emotion modes produce distinct chord sequences
- [ ] `build_chords_track()` produces MIDI notes with `<4 semitone jumps between consecutive chords`
- [ ] Existing tests pass unchanged
