What to practice?

Choose the core musical material for your exercises. Select one of these three modes:

1. Selected types:

   Practice specific chord types (like major, minor 7th) across various root notes. This is the default mode.

   • Types: Check boxes for desired chord qualities (maj, min, dim, aug, sus2, sus4, maj7, min7, 7, etc.). Hover over them in the app for suggested levels.
     Benefit: Gradually increase complexity, focusing practice on specific harmonic sounds.
   • Base notes: Choose white keys (CDEFGAB) and/or black keys (C♯D♯F♯G♯A♯) for chord roots.
     Benefit: Start simply with white keys or ensure comprehensive practice with both.
   • Only these: Select specific root notes (C, C♯, D, etc.) for focused practice. (Black keys require black base notes to be enabled).
     Benefit: Target challenging chords or focus on roots common in a specific piece.

2. In the key of:

   Focus practice on notes, chords, or intervals belonging to a specific musical scale or key.

   • Key Selection: Use dropdowns to select the root note (e.g., C, F♯) and scale type (e.g., major, natural minor, dorian).
     Benefit: Essential for understanding harmony in context, practicing diatonic chords, modes, and more.
   • Related Scale Button (⇋): Quickly switch between relative major/minor keys (e.g., C Major ↔ A Minor).
     Benefit: Reinforces the relationship between relative keys.
   • Voicing Dropdown: Choose what to practice within the key:
     • single notes: Practice the scale notes individually.
     • chords: diatonic triads: Practice the 3-note chords of the key.
     • chords: diatonic sevenths: Practice the 4-note (7th) chords of the key.
     • intervals: ...: Practice specific intervals (e.g., major thirds) from each scale degree.
     • custom progression: Enter your own chord sequence using Roman numerals.
     Benefit: Diverse practice covering technique, harmony, ear training, and theory within a key.
   • Custom Progression Input (progression): (Visible when custom progression voicing is selected). Enter Roman numerals like I.0, IV.1, V7.0 (Chord.Inversion).
     Benefit: Practice common progressions (ii-V-I), song sections, or specific harmonic sequences.
   • Options within "In the key of":
     • first chord repeated at the end: Plays the starting item again at the end of the sequence. (Benefit: Provides resolution).
     • display fingering: Shows suggested fingerings in single notes mode. (Benefit: Develops good technique).
     • scale note highlighting: Highlights scale notes on the virtual keyboard (off, bullets, whole keys). (Benefit: Visual aid for learning scales).

3. Specific chords:

   Practice an exact sequence of chords you define.

   • Chord Input (specific): Type chord names, optionally with inversions (e.g., C, Gm, Fmaj7.2, Am.1). Default example: D, G, C.
     Benefit: Perfect for practicing specific songs, challenging passages, or custom exercises.
   • Suggest Inversions Button (⇅): Analyzes entered chords and suggests inversions for smoother connections.
     Benefit: Promotes good voice-leading habits.
   • Load/My Button (...): Load previously saved custom chord sequences.
     Benefit: Save and recall custom practice routines easily.

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Inversions

Control which chord inversions (which note is lowest) are included.

• Root: Standard form, root note lowest (Level A).
• 1st: First inversion, usually 3rd lowest (Level B).
• 2nd: Second inversion, usually 5th lowest (Level C).
• 3rd: Third inversion, for 7th chords+ (Level D, available only for more complex chords).

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Hands

Specify which hand(s) should play.

• not important: Either hand or both.
• right: Right hand only.
• left: Left hand only.
• both: Both hands required.
• When both is selected, choose what the left hand plays:
  • the same notes: Duplicates right hand (usually octave lower).
  • root note only: Plays only the root note.
  • lowest note only: Plays the lowest note of the current inversion.
  • nothing: Left hand doesn't need to play.

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Notation

Control the display of musical staff notation.

• display staff & notes: Master switch for staff visibility.
• Staff Details (if enabled):
  • Clef: treble (G clef) or bass (F clef). (Benefit: Practice reading specific clefs).
  • Display Style: harmonic (stacked chord) or melodic (sequential notes). (Benefit: Visualize chords vs. melodies/arpeggios).
  • Melodic Order (if melodic): ascending, descending, shuffle. (Benefit: Practice scales/arpeggios directionally or randomly).
  • Note Duration: whole notes checkbox. (Benefit: Controls rhythmic appearance).
  • highlight the root note: Colors the root note on the staff. (Benefit: Visually identify the root).
  • key signature: Set manually or match the selected key. (Benefit: Practice reading accidentals in context).
  • octave shift: Transpose notation up (1), down (-1), or none (0). (Benefit: Adjust notation range).
  • rotate staff lines: Rotate staff by degrees (0-90). (Benefit: Experimental visualization).

Preferences

General settings for exercise presentation and interaction.

Chords order:

(Mainly applies to "In the key of" mode; options often disabled otherwise).

• random: Presents items randomly.
• step by step: Presents items in scale order.
• step by step up and down: Up the scale, then back down.
• all inversions: All selected inversions for one step before the next.
• all 12 keys / all 12 keys - left: Auto-advance through keys via circle of fifths (clockwise/counter-clockwise).

Chord names:

• short: Abbreviated names (e.g., Am).
• long: Full names (e.g., A minor).

Names of black keys:

• #: Prefer sharps (e.g., A♯).
• ♭: Prefer flats (e.g., B♭).
• random: Use both randomly.

Display:

Check which info elements appear with the question:

• chord name: e.g., D minor.
• step: Scale step number (e.g., 1st, 2nd). (Requires "In the key of").
• degree: Technical name (e.g., tonic, supertonic). (Requires "In the key of").
• roman numeral: e.g., I, ii, V7. (Requires "In the key of").
• chord description: Detailed chord info.

Hints:

Control how and when hints appear:

• note names: Show note names (e.g., C, E, G).
• notes on keyboard: Highlight correct keys on virtual keyboard hint.
• chord name: Show the chord name in the hint.
• always show hints: Hints always visible.
• auto hints: Show hints when struggling (low hearts), hide when doing well.
• hide chord info: Hide main chord name/inversion (shows notes only if enabled).
• hide chords sequence: Hide the list of upcoming chords.

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Sound & Ear Training

Sound:

• piano sound (MIDI): App plays piano sound on MIDI key press.
  Benefit: Provides audio feedback via the app.

Ear training:

• play question notes: App plays the chord/scale notes for you to identify/replicate.
  Benefit: Turns exercise into an ear training drill.
• Sub-options for play question notes:
  • display question mark: Shows ? instead of chord name.
  • display root note only: Shows only the root note name.
  Benefit: Enhances ear training by removing visual chord clues.
• play answer notes: App plays the correct answer notes after your attempt.
  Benefit: Auditory confirmation of the correct answer.
• note duration (Slider): Adjusts playback speed for melodic sequences.
  Benefit: Slow down to hear clearly, speed up for fluency.

Volume:

• piano volume (Slider): Adjusts app's piano sound volume.
• metronome volume (Slider): Adjusts metronome volume (if active).

Other Options

Miscellaneous settings for notation, rules, and advanced voicings.

• german notation: ...A B H, dur/moll: Use German note naming (B♭=B, B=H) and terms. (Benefit: For users accustomed to this system).
• slash inversions: Display inversions like C/E instead of C.1. (Benefit: Uses common lead sheet notation).
• repeat each chord: Requires playing each chord twice correctly. (Benefit: Reinforces muscle memory).
• consecutive mistakes allowed: Makes grading slightly more forgiving (details may vary).
• any inversion is fine: Accepts any correct inversion, not just the specific one requested.
  Benefit: Focuses on chord quality recognition regardless of inversion; good for fluency.
• rootless: Removes the root note from the chord target (play 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.).
  Benefit: Essential practice for jazz/band contexts (bass covers root); trains upper structure recognition.
• shell voicings: Presents simplified chords (e.g., root, 3rd, 7th).
  Benefit: Practices common, efficient jazz voicings, focusing on core harmony.
• repeat first chord note on top: Adds the lowest note again an octave higher. (Benefit: Creates wider texture, practice stretches).
• next chord after X correct series: Adds a new chord after X consecutive successes (set X in the box).
  Benefit: Adaptive learning path where difficulty increases with mastery.
• highlight the root key: Highlights the root note's key on the virtual keyboard. (Benefit: Constant visual anchor).

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Game Options

Settings related to gamified elements.

• hearts and points: Enables game mode (scoring, lives, etc.). (Benefit: Motivation and progress tracking).
• baby mode: Extremely simplified mode (sub-option of game mode). (Benefit: Gentle introduction).
• LOL cats: Displays funny cat pictures as rewards. (Benefit: Fun motivation).
• confetti and fireworks: Celebratory visual effects. (Benefit: Enhances accomplishment).
• do not advance levels: Prevents auto-increasing difficulty in game mode. (Benefit: Practice current level until ready).
• don't make easier: Prevents auto-decreasing difficulty after failure. (Benefit: Maintains consistent challenge).
• metronome jumper: Enables a rhythm-based mini-game. (Benefit: Engaging rhythm practice).
• draw cues: Displays visual timing guides for the jumper game (sub-option).
• Tempo steps: Sets BPM increase/decrease amount for adaptive tempo (set value in box). (Benefit: Controls tempo change granularity).

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Theme & Language

• Theme: Choose funny or serious visual style.
• Language: Select display language (english, polski, etc.).

Saving & Sharing

• Share Button (Icon): Generates a URL containing all current settings.
  Benefit: Easily share your custom exercise setup or save it by bookmarking the URL.
• Export Field: Displays the shareable URL for copying.
• Save settings Button: Saves your preferences within the application (e.g., in browser storage).
  Benefit: Remembers your settings for next time.

Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect setup for your learning goals!