Abstract

An automatic accompaniment apparatus stores a plurality of chord variety progression patterns corresponding to the respective types of chords. Each chord variety progression pattern is constituted by a subprogression of plural chords provided for the corresponding chord type. When a player designates chords in progression to be used for an automatic accompaniment performance, the chord type of each designated chord is detected, and each single chord will be substituted by a chord variety progression pattern for the chord type which is the same as such a designated single chord, under the condition that the chord variety progression function is made operative for such a designated chord and that such a designated chord is of a type for which a chord variety progression pattern is provided correspondingly. As the player performs a chord progression of a slower change, the apparatus realizes a modified complex chord progression with a faster chord change to enhance the variousness in chord progressions. The chord variety progression pattern may further include on/off control data for the accompaniment pattern and wavy control data for performance volume variation, thereby adding further variety in accompaniment performance.