05 / A browser-based music tool
Jam Machine.
Choose a key, chord progression and drum pattern, then play along in your browser.
Why I started it
It started with an old Lenovo tablet looking for a new job. Put it on a stand, let it keep time, show the current chord and warn you about the next one. Retirement can wait.
Jam Machine is a small rehearsal station. Pick a major or minor key, a preset progression, a tempo and a drum groove, press play and join in on your instrument.
Rhythm, harmony and a stage screen
Chords, bass and drums are synthesised in the browser. The prototype offers different chord playback modes and sounds, a 16-step drum grid and swing. The chord strip tracks the progression; tapping a chord during playback jumps to it on the next bar.
You can build and save your own progression and transpose it with the key. Stage mode enlarges the current and next chord and displays guitar fingerings so the tablet can sit beside you while you play.
- Keys, major or minor mode, tempo and preset progressions
- 16-step drum editor and swing control
- Custom progressions are stored in this browser
- Stage mode with guitar fingerings; space bar toggles playback
Current state and next experiment
A working single-file HTML prototype. It runs locally in the browser without a server or audio libraries. Saved progressions stay in that browser and do not sync across devices. The app interface is currently in Russian.
What comes next
Try it on the tablet during a real practice session: check audio latency, stage-mode readability and whether the built-in grooves are useful. Then decide how best to package it for fully offline use.
ANOTHER PROJECT
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