First, I do think the access to the GM material is a bit wonky. It would have been more straight-forward to add a GM bank so [CATEGORY SEARCH] could list these GM Performances. As it is, they're a bit "hidden".

The expected usage of the GM bank is to have a MIDI file with PC (program changes) play on MODX. If you start with the "Init Multi/GM" Performance - then the MSB/LSB will be set to 000 and any PC changes will select GM sounds.

Otherwise you could send from an external control MSB/LSB of 000/000 and then the PC to select one of 128 GM sounds.

Let me interject that MODX/Montage do not conform to the full GM spec. However, the sounds used in the GM bank match the GM 1 patch list (there's no Mandolin in that set).

... moving on:

To select a GM sound on the MODX without using an external controller

1) Recall the "Init Multi/GM" Performance
2) To the left of the Parts there's a selection for "Type" and "Name". If type is selected, touch here to select "Name" so the Parts show the name instead of category.
3) Touch Part 1 (or any Part) on the name section (Piano) - a popup will show up. [EXIT] out of this. We're just trying to select the Part, not do any editing or otherwise.
4) Turn the DATA DIAL (jog wheel - it's to the right of the touchscreen). Turn it clockwise. You will see you can scroll through 128 different names and each will match the GM 1 naming.

If there's a GM sound you happen to use a lot - you can change Part 1 this way then delete Parts 2-16 and [STORE] the Performance with a name like "GM Applause" then later you could find this in your User bank as "GM Applause".

Source: https://immusic.co/gm_gm2_overview/

Pgm#	Instrument Name	

	1	Acoustic Grand Piano

	2	Bright Acoustic Piano

	3	Electric Grand Piano

	4	Honky-tonk Piano

	5	Electric Piano 1

	6	Electric Piano 2

	7	Harpsichord

	8	Clavi

	9	Celesta

	10	Glockenspiel

	11	Music Box

	12	Vibraphone

	13	Marimba

	14	Xylophone

	15	Tubular Bells

	16	Dulcimer

	17	Drawbar Organ

	18	Percussive Organ

	19	Rock Organ

	20	Church Organ

	21	Reed Organ

	22	Accordion

	23	Harmonica

	24	Tango Accordion

	25	Acoustic Guitar (nylon)

	26	Acoustic Guitar (steel)

	27	Electric Guitar (jazz)

	28	Electric Guitar (clean)

	29	Electric Guitar (muted)

	30	Overdriven Guitar

	31	Distortion Guitar

	32	Guitar harmonics

	33	Acoustic Bass

	34	Electric Bass (finger)

	35	Electric Bass (pick)

	36	Fretless Bass

	37	Slap Bass 1

	38	Slap Bass 2

	39	Synth Bass 1

	40	Synth Bass 2

	41	Violin

	42	Viola

	43	Cello

	44	Contrabass

	45	Tremolo Strings

	46	Pizzicato Strings

	47	Orchestral Harp

	48	Timpani

	49	String Ensemble 1

	50	String Ensemble 2

	51	SynthStrings 1

	52	SynthStrings 2

	53	Choir Aahs

	54	Voice Oohs

	55	Synth Voice

	56	Orchestra Hit

	57	Trumpet

	58	Trombone

	59	Tuba

	60	Muted Trumpet

	61	French Horn

	62	Brass Section

	63	SynthBrass 1

	64	SynthBrass 2

	65	Soprano Sax

	66	Alto Sax

	67	Tenor Sax

	68	Baritone Sax

	69	Oboe

	70	English Horn

	71	Bassoon

	72	Clarinet

	73	Piccolo

	74	Flute

	75	Recorder

	76	Pan Flute

	77	Blown Bottle

	78	Shakuhachi

	79	Whistle

	80	Ocarina

	81	Lead 1 (square)

	82	Lead 2 (sawtooth)

	83	Lead 3 (calliope)

	84	Lead 4 (chiff)

	85	Lead 5 (charang)

	86	Lead 6 (voice)

	87	Lead 7 (fifths)

	88	Lead 8 (bass + lead)

	89	Pad 1 (new age)

	90	Pad 2 (warm)

	91	Pad 3 (polysynth)

	92	Pad 4 (choir)

	93	Pad 5 (bowed)

	94	Pad 6 (metallic)

	95	Pad 7 (halo)

	96	Pad 8 (sweep)

	97	FX 1 (rain)

	98	FX 2 (soundtrack)

	99	FX 3 (crystal)

	100	FX 4 (atmosphere)

	101	FX 5 (brightness)

	102	FX 6 (goblins)

	103	FX 7 (echoes)

	104	FX 8 (sci-fi)

	105	Sitar

	106	Banjo

	107	Shamisen

	108	Koto

	109	Kalimba

	110	Bag pipe

	111	Fiddle

	112	Shanai

	113	Tinkle Bell

	114	Agogo

	115	Steel Drums

	116	Woodblock

	117	Taiko Drum

	118	Melodic Tom

	119	Synth Drum

	120	Reverse Cymbal

	121	Guitar Fret Noise

	122	Breath Noise

	123	Seashore

	124	Bird Tweet

	125	Telephone Ring

	126	Helicopter

	127	Applause

	128	Gunshot

The listing is based on MIDI.org's GM spec: https://www.midi.org/specifications-old/item/gm-level-1-sound-set

MODX may use variations on the names - but the sounds are "compatible" in a sense that the MODX should have a representatively similar sound to the standard.

First, I do think the access to the GM material is a bit wonky. It would have been more straight-forward to add a GM bank so [CATEGORY SEARCH] could list these GM Performances. As it is, they're a bit "hidden".

Thanks to Jason for the answer to my question. And to Bill for the extra info.

I get the impression that GM was an afterthought, given the strange implementation, only GM 1, and virtually nothing in the user manual. Hopefully it gets fixed in a future release!

I get the impression that GM was an afterthought, given the strange implementation, only GM 1, and virtually nothing in the user manual. Hopefully it gets fixed in a future release!

Then you have a completely wrong impression... The following from a previous post will give you an idea of what Yamaha was thinking about GM in the synthesizer product lines going back more than twenty years (versus GM in the Yamaha portable keyboards and arrangers - which are built exclusively around GM/XG protocols)

The MONTAGE and MODX do not wear the official GM logo (found on every product that conforms to the exacting GM protocol standards).... The Yamaha synths contain what is a pseudo-GM Bank.... It will follow the Bank Select and Program Change protocol but ignore the restrictions in other areas.

From a previous post discussion on this subject.....
.

"GM is most often used by playing back a GM-compatible MIDI File. All GM Files begin with a GM RESET command... this bit of Sysex alerts all connected devices to change 16 Parts to the default MIDI condition which looks exactly like the last Factory Performance in your MODX/MONTAGE, called appropriately enough “Multi/GM”

This places the “Concert Grand Piano” in all Parts 1-16, except Part 10, which goes to the “Stereo GM Kit”.
All volumes are reset to 100, all Pan to “C”, etc., etc.

From the HOME screen
Press [CATEGORY]
Set "Bank/Favorite" = All
Set "Attribute" = All
Touch “Init” > Select “Multi/GM”
When you go to the HOME screen and then move the cursor down to highlight the Part1's "Type/Name box"... you can now scroll through your GM Set in order from “Concert Grand Piano” 001 through to the “Gunshot” 128

GM at its heart, can be used by consumers (non-musicians) - I refer to them as “civilians” — they take a GM Compatible File, push play and everything happens automatically. If you were to load a GM File to the MONTAGE or MODX, the GM RESET would immediately recall the “Multi/GM” Performance, and the “setup bar” of the GM song File would send the appropriate Bank Select MSB/LSB (000/000) on each channel 1-16 for Normal sounds, except 10, and (127/000) on channel 10 for drums... and all the ‘appropriate’ instrument’s will be recalled by the Program Changes. If you are non-musician (civilian consumer) likely all you do is playback the song.

Our market research says our (synth) customers would like to take this MIDI file and rework the data... select different instruments, borrow some parts, mute others, in short, they don’t just play it back, they edit it, change it, borrow from it, generally make it their own. That’s why the “pseudo-GM Bank'... our Home keyboards (PSR, Arrangers, Genos etc.,) get the official GM/XG Logos because they follow all the strict rules of GM (too many to mention here). The synths, do not... GM is respected but not at the center of the instrument. So our research says when you hear the sound the author selected for strings, you’re gonna say “I want to substitute this other string sound for the one the file recalls...” They can make substitutions, remove the original author's Program Change selection, and STORE you new Performance internally (are we wrong?)

If you are actually authoring GM Song Files for general distribution, then you know you don’t need to see the separate Bank listing because the required GM protocol means you must place the BANK SELECT and PROGRAM CHANGE 200-300ms after the GM RESET, followed by all your edits... so the SELECTION is done by messages placed in each TRACK... since GM as a protocol does not require that the receiving device have any storable RAM, all edits to envelopes, filters, effects, EQ, etc., etc., must entered as CC and System Exclusive Parameter. Change messages. All this data would be manually entered in your DAW sequence data.

The properly prepared General MIDI Setup Bar (typically 1 measure) should contain all the parameter edits for all 16 Parts. If you want to tune the snare drum on the GM Kit, you would have a NRPN (Non-Registered Parameter Number) that can be used to tune that drum. (Yikes)... if you wanted to tune a snare drum on a synth like MONTAGE/MODX that *does* have storable RAM, you simply call up the drum kit and tune that snare drum... because you CAN *store* your Performance, you don’t need to learn what NRPN values you must enter and manipulate. The difference is humungous in terms of data entry.

Many people think GM is for beginners, well, yes, the intended target customer being a civilian consumer doesn’t want to know how much work goes on behind the scene, they just want the flute track to select a flute sound and all instruments playback correctly (automatically). If you’ve ever authored any GM Files for distribution, you quickly learn that GM is very complex, full of details, and those who laugh at it thinking it is for non-pros (don’t know from what they speak) couldn’t be more wrong. You have to have at least two MIDI Jedi Knight Merit Badges to even get started!!!

Every edit must be encoded into messages that you insert in that Setup measure... to be as simple and foolproof to use at the “user” side, it is very detailed and complicated on the “creation” side."

Hope that helps...

Extra Credit:
If your goal is to author General MIDI Files for general distribution - we highly recommend one of dozens of GM/XG logo wearing keyboards from Yamaha.
If your goal is to author your own music - we highly recommend using the GM sounds found in your MODX as intended. You can insert a SMF (.mid) that is General MIDI protocol correct - it will automatically recall all the correct instrument sounds (a Flute track will select a Flute, an Nylon Guitar will select a Nylon Guitar) but the sounds will be selected and use the same powerful synth engine, Dual Insertion Effects, Filters, LFOs, Part EQ both pre and post your Insertion Effects, and so on...same sound engine that drives every other MONTAGE/MODX sound.

The concept behind GM's "minimum requirement-oriented spec is so that an entire basic musical palette could be assembled in a very tiny amount of space (remember for consumers - who purchase a basic laptop or smart device - they can be provided a full musical GM sound set that doesn't take up much space, at all (and since Edits to GM sounds are all stored in the MIDI Track as coded messages, it can be made really inexpensively). The pseudo-GM set that Yamaha fashions for the synths is NOT a separate GM chip, like most manufacturers do (they pop in a separate GM sound set chip which can fit on the head of a pin — and sounds different from the rest of their synthesizer). We expressly decided against doing that! All the sounds in the pseudo-GM bank are equal to the sounds in the rest of the instrument.

NOTE: because a GM engine can be made so inexpensively does not mean that they all are. And it does not mean that you couldn't provide storage onboard the product... it just means to get the logo you can build it inexpensively but do not have to...

If you are waiting for a proper GM sound set with separate listings and GM Logo on your MODX - please don't. That is not what the designer's were going after in the MONTAGE and MODX (or any of the synthesizers for that matter).

I've never found GM sounds terribly inspiring, but occasionally I need a stock voice such as Mandolin.

Seems our market research is on-point.
Btw: Mandolin - did not make the original set of 128 most used instruments...
GM sounds in a particular product are not always uninspiring - you might not find all GM banks inspiring, but they come in different qualities as well... for example, the GM sounds in a basic PSR-series are a bit different than the GM sounds in the Genos... To lump all GM sounds as uninspiring is to believe they are all the same. Not necessarily true.

There are Libraries that contain Mandolins, Zithers, and other classic and folk string instruments.

Then you have a completely wrong impression... The following from a previous post will give you an idea of what Yamaha was thinking about GM in the synthesizer product lines going back more than twenty years (versus GM in the Yamaha portable keyboards and arrangers - which are built exclusively around GM/XG protocols)

The MONTAGE and MODX do not wear the official GM logo (found on every product that conforms to the exacting GM protocol standards).... The Yamaha synths contain what is a pseudo-GM Bank.... It will follow the Bank Select and Program Change protocol but ignore the restrictions in other areas.

Thanks for the extra insight, but I still think one would be excused for thinking GM was an afterthought. when there is virtually no information in ANY of the manual on how to use it.

You're correct there. There is really not anything that talks about them any deeper than that they are there.

What can help to "find" them is the Category Search feature.
Press [CATEGORY]
Set the "Bank/Favorite" = All
Set the "Attribute" = Single
under the magnifying glass type in "Concert Grand"
The "Concert GrandPiano" is GM sound #001
With the search set to "Default" the GM sounds are listed in order.