Ableton Live is a program with some serious depth and power. In order to harness this power it’s essential to have a working knowledge of the Ableton Live shortcuts. Being able to access Live’s essential features with a few keystrokes can speed up your workflow and help you stay in the zone when that big idea strikes.
With every new version of Live there are more shortcuts to master, which is why we have compiled this list of all Ableton Live shortcuts into one handy PDF, updated to reflect all new features and workflow enhancements for Live 11.1.
ENTER DETAILS TO DOWNLOAD PDF VERSIONS
Ableton Live 11 Keyboard Shortcuts
Showing and Hiding Views
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Toggle Full Screen Mode |
F11 |
CTRL–CMD–F |
|
Toggle Second Window |
CTRL–Shift–W |
CMD–Shift–W |
|
Toggle Session/Arrangement View |
Tab |
Tab |
|
Toggle Device/Clip View |
Shift–Tab or F12 |
Shift–Tab or CTRL–F12 |
|
Hide/Show Detail View |
CTRL–ALT–L or Shift–F12 |
CMD–ALT–L or CTRL–Shift–F12 |
|
Toggle Hot-Swap Mode |
Q |
Q |
|
Toggle Drum Rack |
D |
D |
|
Hide/Show Info View |
Shift–? |
Shift–? |
|
Hide/Show Video Window |
CTRL–ALT–V |
CTRL–ALT–V |
|
Hide/Show Browser |
CTRL–ALT–B |
CMD–ALT–B |
|
Hide/Show Overview |
CTRL–ALT–O |
CMD–ALT–O |
|
Hide/Show In/Out |
CTRL–ALT–I |
CMD–ALT–I |
|
Hide/Show Sends |
CTRL–ALT–S |
CMD–ALT–S |
|
Hide/Show Mixer |
CTRL–ALT–M |
CMD–ALT–M |
|
Open the Preferences |
CTRL–, |
CMD–, |
|
Close Window/Dialog |
ESC |
ESC |
Adjusting Values
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Decrement/Increment |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
|
Finer Resolution for Dragging |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Return to Default |
Delete |
Delete |
|
Type in Value |
0…9 |
0…9 |
|
Go to Next Field (Bar.beat.16th) |
.–, |
.–, |
|
Abort Value Entry |
ESC |
ESC |
|
Confirm Value Entry |
Enter |
Enter |
Browsing
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Scroll Down/Up |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
|
Close/Open Folders |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
|
Load Selected Item Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
|
Preview Selected File |
Shift–Enter |
Shift–Enter |
|
Search in Browser |
CTRL–F |
CMD–F |
|
Jump to Search Results |
down arrow key or Enter |
down arrow key or Enter |
|
Assign Color(s) to |
1…7 |
1…7 |
|
Reset Assigned Color(s) |
0 |
0 |
Transport
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Play from |
Space |
Space |
|
Continue Play |
Shift–Space |
Shift–Space |
|
Play Arrangement |
Space |
Space |
|
Move Insert Marker |
Home |
Function+left arrow key |
|
Record |
F9 |
F9 |
|
Back to Arrangement |
F10 |
F10 |
|
Activate/Deactivate |
F1…F8 |
F1…F8 |
Editing
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Cut |
CTRL–X |
CMD–X |
|
Copy |
CTRL–C |
CMD–C |
|
Paste |
CTRL–V |
CMD–V |
|
Duplicate |
CTRL–D |
CMD–D |
|
Delete |
Delete |
Delete |
|
Undo |
CTRL–Z |
CMD–Z |
|
Redo |
CTRL–Y |
CMD–Y |
|
Rename |
CTRL–R |
CMD–R |
|
Select All |
CTRL–A |
CMD–A |
By holding down an additional modifier key, some of the above commands can also be applied to:
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Clips and Slots Across all Tracks |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Time Across all Tracks |
Shift |
Shift |
|
The Selected Part of the Envelope |
ALT |
ALT |
Tab can be used to move from one track or scene to another while renaming.
Loop Brace and Start/End Markers
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Move Start Marker to Position |
Shift-click |
Shift-click |
|
Nudge Loop Left/Right |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
|
Move Loop By Loop Length |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
|
Halve/Double Loop Length |
CTRL up and down arrow keys |
CMD up and down arrow keys |
|
Shorten/Lengthen Loop |
CTRL right and left arrow keys |
CMD right and left arrow keys |
|
Select Material in Loop |
CTRL–Shift–L |
CMD–Shift–L |
Session View Commands
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Launch Selected Clip/Slot |
Enter |
Enter |
|
Select Neighboring Clip/Slot |
arrow keys |
arrow keys |
|
Select all Clips/Slots |
CTRL–A |
CMD–A |
|
Copy Clips |
CTRLdrag |
ALTdrag |
|
Add/Remove Stop Button |
CTRL–E |
CMD–E |
|
Insert MIDI clip |
CTRL–Shift–M |
CMD–Shift–M |
|
Insert Scene |
CTRL–I |
CMD–I |
|
Insert Captured Scene |
CTRL–Shift–I |
CMD–Shift–I |
|
Move Nonadjacent Scenes Without Collapsing |
CTRL up and down arrow keys |
CMD up and down arrow keys |
|
Drop Browser Clips as a Scene |
CTRL |
CMD |
|
Deactivate Selected Clip |
0 |
0 |
Arrangement View Commands
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Split Clip at Selection |
CTRL–E |
CMD–E |
|
Consolidate Selection into Clip |
CTRL–J |
CMD–J |
|
Create Fade/Crossfade |
CTRL–ALT–F |
CMD–ALT–F |
|
Toggle Loop Selection |
CTRL–L |
CMD–L |
|
Insert Silence |
CTRL–I |
CMD–I |
|
Pan Left/Right of Selection |
CTRL–ALT |
CMD–ALT |
|
Unfold Selected Tracks |
U |
U |
|
Unfold all Tracks |
ALT–U |
ALT–U |
|
Adjust Height of Selected Tracks |
ALT–+ and ALT–- |
ALT–+ and ALT–- |
|
Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
|
Optimize Arrangement Height |
H |
H |
|
Optimize Arrangement Width |
W |
W |
|
Deactivate Selection |
0 |
0 |
|
Nudge Selection Left/Right |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
|
Reverse Audio Clip Selection |
R |
R |
|
Zoom to Arrangement Time Selection |
Z |
Z |
|
Zoom Back from Arrangement Time Selection |
X |
X |
|
Play from Insert Marker in Selected Clip |
ALT–Space |
ALT–Space |
Commands for Tracks
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Insert Audio Track |
CTRL–T |
CMD–T |
|
Insert MIDI Track |
CTRL–Shift–T |
CMD–Shift–T |
|
Insert Return Track |
CTRL–ALT–T |
CMD–ALT–T |
|
Rename Selected Track |
CTRL–R |
CMD–R |
|
While Renaming, Go to next Track |
Tab |
Tab |
|
Group Selected Tracks |
CTRL–G |
CMD–G |
|
Ungroup Tracks |
CTRL–Shift–G |
CMD–Shift–G |
|
Show Grouped Tracks |
+ |
+ |
|
Hide Grouped Tracks |
- |
- |
|
Move Nonadjacent Tracks Without Collapsing |
CTRL arrow keys |
CMD arrow keys |
|
Arm/Solo Multiple Tracks |
CTRL click |
CMD click |
|
Solo Selected Tracks |
S |
S |
|
Add Device from Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
|
Deactivate Selected Track |
0 |
0 |
Commands for Breakpoint Envelopes
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Toggle Automation Mode |
A |
A |
|
Finer Resolution for Dragging |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Create Curved Automation Segment |
ALT |
ALT |
|
Momentarily Toggle Fade Controls |
F |
F |
|
Delete Automation/Clear Envelope |
CTRL–Backspace |
CMD–Backspace |
Key/MIDI Map Mode and the Computer MIDI Keyboard
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Toggle MIDI Map Mode |
CTRL–M |
CMD–M |
|
Toggle Key Map Mode |
CTRL–K |
CMD–K |
|
Computer MIDI Keyboard |
M |
M |
|
Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Octave Range Up/Down |
X and Z keys |
X and Z keys |
|
Adjust Computer MIDI Keyboard Incoming Note Velocity Up/Down |
C and V keys |
C and V keys |
Zooming, Display and Selections
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Zoom In |
+ |
+ |
|
Zoom Out |
- |
- |
|
Drag/Click to Append to a Selection |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Click to Add Adjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to Multi-Selection |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Click to Add Nonadjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to a Multi-Selection |
CTRL |
CMD |
|
Follow (Auto-Scroll) |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–K |
|
Pan Left/Right of Selection |
CTRL–ALT |
CMD–ALT |
Clip View Sample Display
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Quantize |
CTRL–U |
CMD–U |
|
Quantize Settings… |
CTRL–Shift–U |
CMD–Shift–U |
|
Move Selected Warp Marker |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
|
Select Warp Marker |
CTRLright and left arrow keys |
CMDright and left arrow keys |
|
Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
|
Move Clip Region with Start Marker |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
|
Zoom to Clip Selection |
Z |
Z |
|
Zoom Back from Clip Selection |
X |
X |
Clip View MIDI Editor
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Quantize |
CTRL–U |
CMD–U |
|
Quantize Settings… |
CTRL–Shift–U |
CMD–Shift–U |
|
Scroll Editor Vertically |
Page Up/Down keys |
Page Up/Down keys |
|
Scroll Editor Horizontally |
CTRL Page Up/Down keys |
Shift Page Up/Down keys |
|
Copy Notes |
CTRLdrag |
ALTdrag |
|
Change Velocity From Note Editor |
ALTdrag |
CMDdrag |
|
Move Insert Marker to Beginning |
Home |
Function+left arrow key |
|
Move Insert Marker to End |
End |
End |
|
Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
|
Move Clip Region with Start Marker |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
|
Zoom to Clip Selection |
Z |
Z |
|
Zoom Back from Clip Selection |
X |
X |
Grid Snapping and Drawing
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Toggle Draw Mode |
B |
B |
|
Narrow Grid |
CTRL–1 |
CMD–1 |
|
Widen Grid |
CTRL–2 |
CMD–2 |
|
Triplet Grid |
CTRL–3 |
CMD–3 |
|
Snap to Grid |
CTRL–4 |
CMD–4 |
|
Fixed/Zoom-Adaptive Grid |
CTRL–5 |
CMD–5 |
|
Bypass Snapping While Dragging |
ALT |
CMD |
Global Quantization
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Sixteenth-Note Quantization |
CTRL–6 |
CMD–6 |
|
Eighth-Note Quantization |
CTRL–7 |
CMD–7 |
|
Quarter-Note Quantization |
CTRL–8 |
CMD–8 |
|
1-Bar Quantization |
CTRL–9 |
CMD–9 |
|
Quantization Off |
CTRL–0 |
CMD–0 |
Working with Sets and the Program
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
New Live Set |
CTRL–N |
CMD–N |
|
Open Live Set |
CTRL–O |
CMD–O |
|
Save Live Set |
CTRL–S |
CMD–S |
|
Save Live Set As… |
CTRL–Shift–S |
CMD–Shift–S |
|
Quit Live |
CTRL–Q |
CMD–Q |
|
Hide Live |
CMD–H |
|
|
Export Audio/Video |
CTRL–Shift–R |
CMD–Shift–R |
|
Export MIDI file |
CTRL–Shift–E |
CMD–Shift–E |
Working with Plug-Ins and Devices
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Show/Hide Plug-In Windows |
CTRL–ALT–P |
CMD–ALT–P |
|
Open Second/Multiple Windows |
CTRL |
CMD |
|
Group/Ungroup Devices |
CTRL–G |
CMD–G |
|
Activate/Deactivate All Devices in Group |
ALT device activator |
ALT device activator |
|
Click to Append Devices to a Selected Device |
Shift |
Shift |
|
Load Selected Device From Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
New in Live 11
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
|
|
Create Crossfades |
CTRL–ALT–F |
CMD–ALT–F |
|
Select Automation and Take Lane Headers |
Up & Down Arrow Keys |
Up & Down Arrow Keys |
|
Move Automation and Take Lanes |
CTRL–Up & Down Arrow Keys |
CMD–Up & Down Arrow Keys |
|
Resize Automation and Take Lanes |
ALT - or + |
ALT - or + |
|
Clear Automation in Take Lanes |
CTRL - Backspace |
CMD - Backspace |
|
Turn off Audio Engine |
CTRL-ALT-Shift-E |
CMD-ALT-Shift-E |
|
Insert Take Lane |
ALT-Shift-T |
ALT-Shift-T |
|
Show Take Lanes |
CTRL-ALT-U |
CMD-ALT-U |
|
Switch to Notes Panel in Clip View |
ALT-1 |
ALT-1 |
|
Switch to Envelopes panel in Clip View |
ALT-2 |
ALT-2 |
|
Switch to Note Expression panel in Clip View |
ALT-3 |
ALT-3 |
|
Switch to Audio Panel for Audio Clips |
ALT-1 |
ALT-1 |
|
Switch to Envelopes Panel for Audio Clips |
ALT-2 |
ALT-2 |
|
Maximise Clip View Height |
CTRL-ALT-E |
CMD-ALT-E |
|
Duplicate Selected Take Lanes |
CTRL-D |
CMD-D |