ableton-mcp

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create_scale_melody_clip

Generate or plan an exact scale-degree melody in an empty Ableton Live Session clip. It binds key, meter, grid, and destination, then verifies each note during native execution.

Instructions

Plan or create one exact scale-degree melody in an empty Session clip. Binds Live key, meter, grid, destination, and state; native execution verifies every generated note.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`gate`	Yes	Note duration as a fraction of one selected grid step.
`grid`	Yes
`name`	Yes	New melody clip name.
`clipId`	Yes	list_clips Session ID or supported list_arrangement_clips ID.
`dryRun`	No	False executes with token and hash.
`events`	Yes	Explicit scale-degree events; omitted grid steps are rests.
`repeats`	Yes
`trackId`	Yes	ID from list_tracks.
`maxPitch`	Yes
`minPitch`	Yes
`planHash`	No	Plan hash.
`velocity`	Yes	Default note velocity.
`basePitch`	Yes	MIDI pitch for scale degree one.
`motifBars`	Yes
`confirmationToken`	No	Single-use plan token.
`expectedStateVersion`	Yes	Observed stateVersion.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
No arguments

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.3.1Oct 23, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / clipId / description

Previous value: -"Session ID from list_clips; Arrangement ID from list_arrangement_clips where supported."New value: +"list_clips Session ID or supported list_arrangement_clips ID."

removedOutput schema / additionalProperties
```
Removed value: -true
```

addedOutput schema / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "oneOf": [
+      {
+        "properties": {
+          "confirmation": {
+            "properties": {
+              "expiresAt": {
+                "type": "number"
+              },
+              "planHash": {
+                "pattern": "^[a-f0-9]{64}$",
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "token": {
+                "minLength": 1,
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "token",
+              "planHash",
+              "expiresAt"
+            ],
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "dryRun": {
+            "const": true
+          },
+          "plan": {
+            "type": "object"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "dryRun",
+          "plan",
+          "confirmation"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      {
+        "properties": {
+          "dryRun": {
+            "const": false
+          },
+          "operationOutcome": {
+            "properties": {
+              "evidence": {
+                "items": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "type": "array"
+              },
+              "reason": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "schemaVersion": {
+                "const": 1
+              },
+              "status": {
+                "enum": [
+                  "applied",
+                  "outcome_unknown",
+                  "postconditions_failed",
+                  "pending_postconditions",
+                  "pending_user_action"
+                ]
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "schemaVersion",
+              "status",
+              "reason",
+              "evidence"
+            ],
+            "type": "object"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "dryRun",
+          "operationOutcome"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    ],
+    "properties": {
+      "dryRun": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "dryRun"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "properties": {
+      "error": {
+        "properties": {
+          "message": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "outcome": {
+            "enum": [
+              "unknown",
+              "not_executed"
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "message",
+          "outcome"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "error"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  }
+]

Changed7 schema fields changedv0.3.0Oct 19, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / clipId / description

Previous value: -"Stable clip ID: track-N:clip-M from list_clips, or track-N:arrangement-clip-M from list_arrangement_clips for tools that support Arrangement clips."New value: +"Session ID from list_clips; Arrangement ID from list_arrangement_clips where supported."

changedInput schema / properties / confirmationToken / description

Previous value: -"Short-lived, single-use token returned by the matching dry run."New value: +"Single-use plan token."

changedInput schema / properties / dryRun / description

Previous value: -"Omit or true to return a plan; false requires a valid confirmationToken."New value: +"False executes with token and hash."

changedInput schema / properties / expectedStateVersion / description

Previous value: -"Exact stateVersion observed immediately before planning."New value: +"Observed stateVersion."

changedInput schema / properties / planHash / description

Previous value: -"Hash returned by the matching dry run."New value: +"Plan hash."

changedInput schema / properties / trackId / description

Previous value: -"Stable track ID returned by list_tracks."New value: +"ID from list_tracks."

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedv0.1.0Sep 23, 2026

TDQS

A3.6/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare non-readonly, non-idempotent, non-destructive, so the description does not need to repeat the safety profile. The description does add meaningful context beyond the annotations: the tool binds key, meter, grid, destination, and state, and native execution verifies every generated note, which tells the agent that output is validated rather than written blindly. It stops short of stating what happens if verification fails, or how the single-use token and plan hash are consumed.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two dense sentences with the resource and the empty-clip precondition front-loaded, followed by the binding and verification guarantees. Nothing is padded, though the second sentence is heavily compressed and could be clearer.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists, so the description does not need to explain return values. With 16 params, 13 required, and a multi-step plan-and-execute protocol, the description is adequate but leaves the agent without guidance on how the dryRun/planHash/confirmationToken sequence works, or how this tool differs from plan_scale_melody.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 69%, so about a third of the 16 parameters, including the motifBars, repeats, and minPitch/maxPitch group, carry no description. The description adds no param-level meaning of its own, so the mid-range schema baseline of 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

It states a specific verb pair (plan or create) and a specific resource (an exact scale-degree melody in an empty Session clip), plus the key constraint that the destination must be empty. It does not name the closely related sibling plan_scale_melody or plan_scale_bassline/create_scale_bassline_clip, so an agent must infer the boundary itself.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

'Plan or create' plus the dryRun parameter implies a two-phase workflow, and 'empty Session clip' implies a precondition. However, there is no explicit statement about when to use this tool rather than plan_scale_melody, create_scale_chord_progression_clip, or create_midi_clip, and no exclusion of non-empty clips beyond the parenthetical phrase.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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