diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
index 50f39efe02..79941e588d 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@
     <Option name="midi bus base" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="midi frame base" value="393d3766"/>
     <Option name="midi note inactive channel" value="bfbfbf88"/>
+    <Option name="midi note meter color max" value="ee33338a"/>
+    <Option name="midi note meter color mid" value="eeee338a"/>
+    <Option name="midi note meter color min" value="33ee338a"/>    
     <Option name="midi note selected" value="8888ff88"/>
     <Option name="midi note velocity text" value="000000ff"/>
     <Option name="midi program change fill" value="0000ffa0"/>
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.h b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.h
index 28140267f6..ee22e00dac 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.h
@@ -93,13 +93,13 @@ public:
 	{
 		if (vel < 64) {
 			return UINT_INTERPOLATE(
-					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MeterColorBase.get(),
-					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MeterColorMid.get(),
+					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorBase.get(),
+					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorMid.get(),
 					(vel / (double)63.0));
 		} else {
 			return UINT_INTERPOLATE(
-					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MeterColorMid.get(),
-					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MeterColorTop.get(),
+					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorMid.get(),
+					ARDOUR_UI::config()->canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorTop.get(),
 					((vel-64) / (double)63.0));
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
index 1141dbe8f1..1dfdd72d9a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas_vars.h
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MeterMarker, "meter marker")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiBusBase, "midi bus base")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiFrameBase, "midi frame base")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteInactiveChannel, "midi note inactive channel")
+CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorBase, "midi note meter color min")
+CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorMid, "midi note meter color mid")
+CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteMeterColorTop, "miri note meter color max")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteSelected, "midi note selected")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiNoteVelocityText, "midi note velocity text")
 CANVAS_VARIABLE(canvasvar_MidiProgramChangeFill, "midi program change fill")