Bill,
Apparently I cannot edit my own comments so I had to add another one. I just wanted to add that for the most part I don't necessarily need to have the chord names displayed, however there are a few chords that I am weak on recognizing such as diminished, augmented, minor 7ths etc that having such a feature would be a helpful aid. My point is in my struggle to hit the right chord, sometimes I am playing a diminished for example and I don't even know it until I see it on screen. My process does not involve the computer dictating the chords for me, I am realizing these chords on my own with the chord recognition as a visual aid.

Think there's a basic failure of imagination occurring with regards "Live" instrument.

If wanting a synth live performance keyboard, controllable merely be traditional means and played by our mere two hands, there are vastly better options: Hydrasynth Deluxe and Novation Summit come immediately to mind, both having truly astonishing sounds that are vastly easier to program, and far more dynamic.

But once we're considering 8 parts under keyboard control to be the headline feature, in conjunction with Motion Control Sequences and the SuperKnob, the need for some of those parts to do things automagically comes into the picture to get the most out of those parts, which means patterns and arpeggios, and drum machine-like operation, as per AnotherScott's recent thread.

Patterns are fixed. We know what's going to come out. The Drum arps are mostly fixed in pitch, we know what's going to come out.

Arps, however, are an entirely different beast, because there's some kind of Yamaha Logic trying to ascertain what the "arp engine" should play, based on its interpretation of the user's key inputs.

We need insight into what Yamaha's seeing, and how it's utilising what it interprets, so that we can reliably ever consider using that arp engine in any kind of live environment. Otherwise it's a riddle that can ridicule.

How the MODX/Montage interpret what's being played can be solved by one of three means, none of which we have:

1. Show us what Yamaha thinks is the currently played chord for any split that's chosen (this thread's point!)
2. Break down how the arpeggio engine works to determine what it's going to play
and, best option of all... give us a blend of 1 and 2 and...
3. Chord Memory functionality so that we can be sure about what is going in, and do it with one key

This way some of the rest of the 8 Parts available can be more fully utilised, more assuredly, in a live scenario - that which it's frequently suggested is the targeted purpose of this keyboard.

I hope this clears up why this isn't just a "let's make it easier for newbs" request.

We need insight into what Yamaha's seeing, and how it's utilising what it interprets, so that we can reliably ever consider using that arp engine in any kind of live environment. Otherwise it's a riddle that can ridicule.

My screenshot provided of the Gmaj/Min7th chord was a direct response to this request. I was running an arpeggio and and this was the insight given for the buttons I was pressing. These notes are not what I was pressing directly - but what notes the arpeggiator chose to play in response to what I was pressing.

Your presentation seems to presume there's no tool available unless Yamaha adds this to the keyboard or are otherwise electing to ignore the available paths that satisfy solving this riddle. My assertion is that the tools are already there and further development would be redundant. However, that's an opinion and not a fact. Someone else may have an application where chord insight absolutely cannot leverage an external device - and that would be a fair distinction if that can be articulated.

Bill, Andrew,
I appreciate you all taking the time to respond, I really do. However I think we are on different wavelengths here on knowledge and technical skill, as I am a hobbyist/newbie just gettin back into music keyboard playing.

This is the thing that worries me about choosing the MODX. Will it be too technical for me. I just want to do mostly at home music playing using it's great sounds and do just a bit of transcribing on it. So many synth users on these forums talk a lot about tech related to performance, MIDI, computer DAWS, etc. which is understandable because that's their need. I plan on using the MODX just as a solo instrument and at best do some sound layering and arpeggio experimentation. I think it's a much better option for me than buying a digital piano which has less variety of sounds. I hope I am making the right choice here, as I don't see any other options, an arranger is not needed either.

I did get my question answered here on this forum. Yamaha has chosen, for some reason, not to include a simple on-screen chord recognition feature. I don't plan on hooking MODX up a computer (maybe an iPad though) to get this feature, I can just do my amateur transcribing on a cheap keyboard that has this feature. I can live with that.

The solution I gave (webpage) is compatible with using with an iPad since you can run Chrome and the webpage will work properly recognizing your MODX.

Optionally, with a relatively inexpensive optional accessory - a bluetooth MIDI interface - you can use the iPad wireless without using a USB connection.

Jason, yes, I will look into that webpage and iPad solution, I think that will be more convenient than a computer connection

FYI @Richard,

I have Synthesia ( https://www.synthesiagame.com/) installed on my iPAD and connected through the Bluetooth MIDI MD-BT01.
Although it is a Songs Learning App, but it might help you, it shows what notes/chords you play.
You can try it for free (from the App Store) in addition to what @Jason suggested.

Just tested it.
When it comes to Chords, as I excepted, you play a "well know chord" and it shows on the screen, but as soon as you add a melody, then recognized chords will change.
For example, you are playing a E-minor Triad, as soon as you play a C elsewhere on the Keyboard, it becomes a CM7.
Same for Arps, I tested it in this mode as well, whatever chord you play, recognized chords will change based on the transmitted notes.

That was my point when I brought up the Arranger example, in the arranger it is straight forward, your keyboard is split between Lower & Upper and they do send on different channels, and do have a Chords Engine, that's why it is more straight forward.
Maybe, you can mimic the arranger by splitting your keyboard based on Midi Channels and send only your "Chords Channel Part" to the Recognition App.

Cheers

EDIT: My bad, I meant E-Minor lol!

Thanks Bassam, I made a note of this app.

On a side note, I would get an arranger like an SX900 but I just don't need all those Styles and I'm not totally into traditional song structure. I think the MODX's sound capabilities would give me good inspiration. In some ways I like the idea of just rhythms and arpeggiator patterns. One MODX reviewer indicated some of the patterns "are full blown accompaniments that adapt to the harmonies you play and generate bass lines, riffs, textural elements or drum patterns, some of the things we would expect to find on an "arranger" keyboard, albeit without any formal facilities for intros, ending and fills."

Thanks for those links, Bill, should be useful later on.