Mastering the keyboard shortcuts for Ableton Live is an essential skill to make your writing and production sessions more fluid, maintaining creative flow and more effortlessly executing your ideas as they come to mind (and to hand).
Download all the Ableton Shortcuts in the PDF form. Read more: Most used Spotify Shortcuts – Windows & Mac. Type in value, 09. With Ableton Live 10 you can get complete control over your music. Some of these shortcuts are used at regular intervals. Download Ableton Shortcuts PDF! Login Register. 10 keyboard shortcuts pdf, ableton live 9 keyboard shortcuts pdf, ableton metronome shortcut, ableton shortcut keyboard, ableton shortcuts cheat sheet, ableton shortcuts cymatics, ableton shortcuts for mac, ableton shortcuts keyboard.
For beginners, this list and PDF is also a great resource to learn key features of Ableton Live.
For advanced producers, we’d added in bold the new shortcuts added in Live 10.
Ableton Live 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
Bold = new or updated in Live 10
FLIPPABLE VIEWS | ||
| tab | tab | Toggle Session/Arrangement view |
| ⇧ tab | ⇧ tab | Toggle Device/Clip view |
COLLAPSIBLE VIEWS | ||
| (Remember it: ‘SLIMBORG’) | ||
| ⌘⌥ S | CTRL–ALT–S | Sends |
| ⌘⌥ L | CTRL-ALT-L | Lower section (aka Detail View) |
| ⌘⌥ I | CTRL-ALT-I | Input/output routing panel |
| ⌘⌥ M | CTRL-ALT-M | Mixer |
| ⌘⌥ B | CTRL-ALT-B | Browser |
| ⌘⌥ O | CTRL-ALT-O | Overview |
| ⌘⌥ R | CTRL-ALT-R | Returns |
| ⌘⌥ G | CTRL-ALT-G | Groove Pool |
FLOATING WINDOWS | ||
| ⇧⌘W | ⇧CTRL-W | Launch a second window |
| ⌘⌥ P | CTRL-ALT-P | Plug-in window (for non-Ableton plug-ins) – hides/shows selected device |
| ⌘⌥ V | CTRL-ALT-V | Video window (there must be a video on arrangement view timeline first) |
| ⌘, | CTRL-, | Preferences |
BROWSE | ||
| ⌘ F | CTRL-F | Search in browser |
| → | → | Preview selected browser item |
| Esc | Esc | Stop previewing selected browser item |
| Return | Return | Load selected browser item onto track |
| Q | Q | Hot swap the selected device (when device is on a track). Hit Q again after loading |
| 1,2,3…7 | 1,2,3…7 | Assign colour to selected browser item (adds item to a “collection”) |
| 0 | 0 | Remove all colours from selected browser item (removes item from all “collections”) |
PLAYBACK and RECORD | ||
| Fn ← | Home | Move insert marker to beginning of arrangement timeline |
| Space | Space | Play (from start, or from insert marker, or from start of selection) |
| Space | Space | Pause |
| ⇧ Space | ⇧ Space | Un-pause |
| ⌥ Space | ALT-Space | Play selected time only, then pause |
| ⌘⇧ F | CTRL⇧ F | Scroll display to follow playback |
| F9 | F9 | Record to arrangement |
| F10 | F10 | Back to arrangement |
ZOOMING | ||
| + | + | Zoom in |
| – | – | Zoom out |
| Z | Z | Zoom to selected clip/time |
| ⇧ Z | ⇧ Z | Zoom out from selected clip/time. Do this again to zoom all the way out |
| ⌥ scroll | ALT-scroll | Zoom height of selected track (arrangement view) |
| S | S | Fold height of all tracks (arrangement view) |
ALL THE SINGLE-LETTER COMMANDS | ||
| Remember it: BRAS ZOMQ | ||
| B | B | Toggle draw mode (for programming within MIDI Clips or drawing automation) |
| R | R | Reverse selected audio – in arrangement view only |
| A | A | Automation (hide / show) – in arrangement view only |
| S | S | Fold height of all tracks (arrangement view) |
| Z | Z | Zoom to selected clip/time (then ⇧ Z to zoom out) in arrangement view or detail view |
| 0 (zero) | 0 (zero) | Deactivate (clips, tracks, devices, & notes) |
| M | M | Toggle computer MIDI keyboard |
| Q | Q | Hot swap the selected device (when device is on a track). Then arrows, Return, Q |
PARAMETER MAPPING | ||
| ⌘ M | CTRL-M | MIDI map mode – assign a MIDI controller to any purple-shaded parameter |
| ⌘ K | CTRL-K | Key map mode – assign a QWERTY key to any orange-shaded parameter |
CREATE AND CAPTURE | ||
| ⌘ T | CTRL-T | Insert new audio track |
| ⌘⇧ T | CTRL⇧ T | Insert new MIDI track |
| ⌘ I | CTRL-I | Insert new scene (in session view) |
| ⌘⌥ T | CTRL-ALT-T | Insert new return track |
| d-click | d-click | Create new MIDI clip (in session view clip slot or on arrangement view timeline) |
| ⌘⇧ I | CTRL-ALT-I | “Capture and Insert scene” Creates new scene from currently playing clips |
| ⌘⇧ C | CTRL⇧ C | Capture MIDI (if you forgot to hit record while jamming) |
| ⌘⇧ S | CTRL⇧ S | Save Live Set As… (new name and / or version number) |
| ⌘⇧ R | CTRL⇧ R | Export your song or selection. Choose to export as audio file, mp3 and / or video |
ARRANGEMENT VIEW | ||
| ← → | ← → | Move selected clip left/right |
| ⇧ ←→ | ⇧ ←→ | Nudge selected clip left/right |
| Hold ⌘ | Hold CTRL | Finer resolution when dragging clips |
| R | R | Reverse selected audio |
| ⇧ | ⇧ | Hold shift and drag the edge of a warped audio clip to stretch it |
ARRANGEMENT TIMELINE EDITING | ||
| ⌘⇧ del | CTRL⇧ del | Delete time |
| ⌘⇧ V | CTRL⇧ V | Paste time |
| ⌘⇧ X | CTRL⇧ V | Cut time |
| ⌘ I | CTRL-I | Insert silence |
| ⌘ J | CTRL-J | Consolidate selection into clip |
| ⌘ E | CTRL-E | Split clip at selection |
| ⌘⇧ D | CTRL⇧ D | Insert duplicated time |
| ⌘ L | CTRL-L | Loop the current timeline selection |
MIXER AND DEVICE PARAMETER EDITING | ||
| del | del | Return value to default (on selected parameter). Double-clicking also works |
| Hold ⇧ | Hold ⇧ | While moving parameters, moves in finer increments |
| r-click | r-click | Show automation or Show modulation |
AUTOMATION | ||
| A | A | Toggle automation mode |
| B | B | Draw stepped automation |
| Hold ⌥ | Hold alt | Curve the automation |
| ⌘ del | CTRL-del | Delete automation (on automated parameter) |
| Hold ⇧ | Hold ⇧ | For finer increments |
| Hold ⇧ | Hold ⇧ | To restrict automation movements to either horizontal or vertical |
| Hold ⌘ | Hold CTRL | When drawing: freehand lines | When moving: overrides grid snapping |
GROUP TRACKS and RACKS | ||
| ⌘ G | CTRL-G | Tracks: Group selected tracks | Devices: Create rack from selected device/s |
| – | – | Tracks: Hide grouped tracks | Devices: Collapse device |
| + | + | Tracks: Unfold grouped tracks | Devices: Expand device if collapsed |
MIDI EDITING | ||
| B | B | Draw mode |
| ⌘ U | CTRL-U | Quantize |
| ⌘⇧ U | CTRL⇧ U | Quantize settings |
| ←→↓ ↑ | ←→↓ ↑ | Move selected notes left/right/up/down |
| ⇧ ↓ ↑ | ⇧ ↓ ↑ | Transpose MIDI notes up / down in octaves |
| ⌘ ←→ | CTRL ←→ | Nudge MIDI notes |
| ⇧ ←→ | ⇧ ←→ | Lengthen / Shorten MIDI note |
| ⌘⇧ D | CTRL⇧ D | Insert duplicated time |
COMPUTER MIDI KEYBOARD | ||
| M | M | Toggle computer MIDI keyboard |
| A to L | A to L | This row triggers white notes from C (the A key). |
| W to O | W to O | This row triggers black notes from C# (the W key). Actual keys are: WE – TYU – O |
| Z | Z | Octave down |
| X | X | Octave up |
| C | C | Decrease note velocity |
| V | V | Increase note velocity |
check out the updated version of this article here
using shortcuts while performing repetitive tasks in software can save you up to 60 hours per year according to some estimates. ableton is no exception - that's more time you can spend on your productions or buying groceries or whatever. so let's review some of the top shortcuts for ableton live!
many of these you may (should) already be duly familiar with but there are a few that I didn't know about before researching for this article. definitely have a look and let me know what stands out to you as the most useful shortcut.
fades are a valuable tool. not just for seamlessly joining clips and transparently bringing tracks in and out of a song, they're also a necessary utility for removing zero-crossing pops from your clips.
follow transport: cmd + shift + f (ctrl + shift + f)
following playback let's you keep a careful eye on all the details of your track as it plays. very useful indeed, this shortcut both turns on and turns off the function.
mute tracks: fn + f1, f2, f3, etc. (f1, f2, f3, etc.)
how often do you need to quickly mute something to get reference of the rest of the song? you can quickly mute and unmute tracks 1-8 with the function keys. mind that if you have tracks in groups, even if they are collapsed, they are still considered to be in the order they are in.
record: fn + f9 (f9)
a very useful shortcut for quick recording. note that if you've enabled 'start playback with record' in the record/warp/launch section of the preferences this will also start your transport. handy!
exclusive arm/solo: cmd + click (ctrl + click)
the function of this shortcut will depend on your settings in the record/warp/launch section of the preferences. if you have exclusive arm and solo enabled, cmd (ctrl) + clicking these in the mixer will allow you to arm or solo multiple tracks. if exclusive arm and solo are not enabled, this will allow you to to simultaneously disarm or desolo all other tracks but the one you click.
insert time: cmd + i (ctrl + i)
it can be a pain to highlight half of your project and move it a few bars just to make a little room for more. this shortcut makes that no problem. don't forget you can delete time as well (via cmd (ctrl) + shift + delete) so don't worry about getting too exact with the amount of time you add.
duplicate time: cmd + shift + d (ctrl + shift + d)
this shortcut is great for creating variations and 'children' from your current loops. just duplicate a few bars over and make adjustment to the patterns and sounds and you've got a b-section!
paste time: cmd + shift + v (ctrl + shift + v)
you don't always want everything moved over, I know. so just copy what you need and paste it right into the middle of your song!
loop selection: cmd + l (ctrl + l)
a great tool for looping whatever you have highlighted. in my opinion this makes session view obsolete for all but live applications. this same shortcut is very useful inside clips where it will snap the clip loop to the selection.
more looping shortcuts: cmd + shift + l, cmd + arrow (ctrl + shift + l, ctrl + arrow)
more tools for working with loops in arrangement view. cmd (ctrl) + shift + l will select the loop to make it 'active'. from there, you can hold cmd and use the arrow keys to expand or shorten the loop (by a factor of two) or move it around your song.
midi tracks and clips: cmd + shift + t and cmd + shift + m (ctrl + shift + t and ctrl + shift + m)
we'll go into the more common shortcuts now for anyone missing out (I was definitely a late-bloomer with some of these, I empathize). create a midi track and midi clip speedy-quick!
quantize: cmd + shift + u (ctrl + shift + u)
you can quantize with cmd (ctrl) + u but if you want control over the settings you'll want to add shift. works for both midi and warped audio.
group devices: cmd + g (ctrl +g)
cmd (ctrl) + g does a lot of things and undoubtedly you're already using it for this and grouping tracks. one of the best features of ableton imo.
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open preferences: cmd + , (ctrl + ,)
cmd + , gives you quick access to the preferences on nearly every osx application, ableton included.
consolidate: cmd + j (ctrl + j)
I have to mention consolidate, just because it changed my life. incredibly useful to quickly 'bounce' several clips into one. flattens any warp adjustments you make. works for both midi and audio. HUGE.
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those are some of my favorites, hope you find them useful and time-saving! for me, the speed of ableton enhances and inspires creativity.
remember you can find all of my production tips here and follow the socials to never miss a new tip//
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