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chordnotation

Chord Notation

This user’s guide and Twiddler Tuner uses a special notation to show you how to type each character and command with a factory-preset chord. As you face Twiddler’s twelve-key layout, you will find four keys (labeled SP, DEL, BS, and ENT) arranged in a column on the left. This column is designated “L”. The four keys in the middle column (E, F, G, H) are referred to as “M”. And the four keys on the right (A, B, C, D) are designated “R”.

Image of Twiddler with keys facing the viewer indicating left hand column marked as "L", middle column marked as "M" and, right hand column marked as "R"

Each unique chord is defined by a four-symbol sequence indicating which key is pressed in each of the four rows ordered from top to bottom. If no key needs to be pressed in a particular row, a zero (0) in the sequence will indicate that. Remember that the first symbol in the chord notation refers to a key in the top row pressed by your index finger, the second symbol to a key in the second row assigned to your middle finger, the third symbol to a key in the third row pressed by your ring finger, and the fourth symbol to a key in the bottom row reached by your little finger.

For example, to type a lowercase letter “a”, your index finger must press and release the key at the right end of the top row, while no other keys need to be pressed in the next three rows. So, the notation for “a” is: R000

Image of Twiddler with keys facing viewer with the letter "A" marked in green at the top right of the key matrix. Position R000 in Twiddler Notation.

Finger Keys

FINGER KEYS are indicated by a group of four symbols: 0, L, M, and R.

These symbols represent key presses in ROWS: 1, 2, 3, and 4 (top to bottom). 0 means no button pressed in that row; L means the Left button is pressed; M means the Middle button is pressed; and, R means the Right button is pressed.

Example: L00R means:

Left Button in ROW 1
0 buttons in ROW 2
0 Buttons in ROW 3
Right button in ROW 4

This example types the letter “k”.

Image of the Twiddler with the keys facing the viewer. The "Space" key in the top left is shaded red and the "D" key in the bottom right is shaded green.  This is how the chord  L00R would be pressed.

Similarly, you can type the lowercase letter “k” by pressing and releasing (with your index finger) the left key in the top row, no keys in the next two rows, and (with your little finger) the right key in the bottom row. This chord is designated by the notation L00R. L00R is the notation for typing the letter “k”.

Thumb Keys

THUMB KEYS are indicated by a group of four symbols: N,A,C,S Image of the Twiddler, keys facing away from viewer and looking top down at the joystick and four modifier buttons Thumbs keys are not pressed individually but are modifiers to other keypresses and make up a chord.

In order, from left to right the buttons are:

NotationKey
NNum
AAlt
CControl
SShift

Expanding on the Finger Key example above, adding a Shift (S) modifier to L00R would issue a Shifted “k” and result in a capital “K” being displayed onscreen. Explicit notation for this is S L00R.

You can use multiple thumb keys at the same time. Some combinations are harder to press than others. We use this to make special reserved chords harder to press as they may cause undesirable results during normal operation. For example: Holding Num and Shift (N+S 0000) during power on replaces the current firmware on the Twiddler with the factory boot firmware.

Experimental Chord Notation

If Experimental Features is turned on and Multiple Buttons per row is in enabled, you will be able press more than one key per row. Keys in the same row will be bracketed.

Example: (RML)00(ML) means:

Right, Middle, AND Left Button in ROW 1
0 buttons in ROW 2
0 buttons in ROW 3
Middle AND Left buttons in ROW 4

More info here: multiple_buttons_per_row

Last modified: 2020/11/30 14:13

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