Tutorial: Ableton Shortcuts

Welcome to a new series on workflow! We'll be covering shortcuts, creative tips, organization and more.

Welcome to a new series on workflow! We'll be covering shortcuts, creative tips, organization and more. This first video is our 'Ableton Shortcut Bible' which includes every useful keyboard/mouse shortcut you need to know, to help speed up your workflow using Live. We have also listed them below for quick reference.

• 00:00 - Intro

• 01:00 - UI & Navigation

• 03:00 - Audio/MIDI Clips

• 05:30 - Transport

• 06:54 - Automation

• 09:04 - Devices & Tracks

macOS users: Unless stated otherwise, substitute Cmd for Ctrl, and Option for Alt

UI & NAVIATION

• [Tab] Switch between Session and Arrangement view

• [Ctrl+T] Insert new Audio track

• [Ctrl+Shift+T] Insert new MIDI track

• [Ctrl+F] Search in browser

• [Ctrl+1-5] Change grid size/quantization

• [Alt+drag] Disable grid snap — [Cmd] on macOS

• [+][-] Zoom

• [Ctrl+scroll] Zoom

• [Shift+scroll] Horizontal timeline navigation

• [Ctrl+Alt+drag] Horizontal timeline navigation

• [Alt+scroll] Increase/decrease track height

• [Shift+?] Show/hide Info box

• [Ctrl+,] Open Preferences window

• [Ctrl+Shift+W] Open second Live window

• [Ctrl+K] Enable Key Map Mode

• [Ctrl+M] Enable MIDI Map Mode

AUDIO & MIDI CLIPS

• [Ctrl+D] Duplicate

• [Ctrl+R] Rename

• [Ctrl+E] Split

• [Ctrl+J] Consolidate

• [0] Deactivate/reactivate

• [R] Reverse audio

• [Shift+drag edge] Stretch audio

• [Ctrl+Shift+drag] Navigate audio file inside the clip

• [Ctrl+Alt+F] Crossfade adjacent clips

• [F] Show clip fades (in automation mode)

• [Ctrl+Shift+M] Create MIDI clip

• [M] Toggle keyboard mode

• [B] Toggle draw mode

• [Shift+↑↓] Move MIDI notes up/down octave

• [Shift+←→] Shorten/lengthen MIDI notes

• [Alt+drag] Adjust note velocities

TRANSPORT & LOOPING

• [F9] Start recording

• [Shift+Space] Play from paused position

• [Ctrl+Space] Play highlighted region only — [Option+Space] on macOS

• [Ctrl+I] Insert silence

• [Ctrl+L] Loop highlighted region

• [Ctrl+click] Set start loop marker

• [Ctrl+Shift+click] Set end loop marker

• [←→] Move highlighted loop

• [Ctrl+←→] Double/halve loop duration

• [Ctrl+Shift+L] Highlight loop contents

• [Ctrl+Shift+R] Open Export Audio window

AUTOMATION

• [A] Toggle automation mode

• [Alt+drag] Create curve from line segment

• [Alt+double click] Reset curve to line segment

• [Shift] Fine tune value adjustment/lock movement to single axis

• [Drag edge] Stretch automation

• [Shift+drag edge] Stretch whilst preserving automation

• [Ctrl+drag handle] Mirror stretch on opposite handle — [Alt] on macOS

DEVICES & TRACKS

• [Shift+Tab] Switch between device and clip views

• [Ctrl+Alt+P] Show/hide plugins windows

• [Ctrl+G] Group devices/tracks

• [Ctrl+Shift+G] Ungroup devices/tracks

• [0] Toggle track on/off switch

• [S] Toggle solo

• [C] Toggle arm track

• [Shift+↑↓] Highlight multiple tracks

• [Ctrl+↑↓] Move highlighted track(s)

• [←→] Collapse/expand track(s)