Basic guide · 2 min · 5 steps

Play your first chord

Make your first sound in under two minutes.

What you'll learn

  • Start the studio
  • Pick a key
  • Play and change chords
  • Shape the sound with filter and volume

The steps

Read them here, or press Play along and the studio will walk you through them.

  1. Start the studio

    With the camera: Press Start Camera & Synth and allow camera access. Hold both hands up so the camera can see them.

    Without a camera: Press Start Audio. No camera is needed — you'll click the chord pad instead.

    Light your hands from the front and keep both inside the frame, palms toward the camera. (Without a camera: Prefer gestures later? You can switch to the camera studio any time from the top bar.)

  2. Pick a key

    Choose a key from the Root Key menu — C is perfect to start. Every chord you play will stay in this key, so nothing sounds wrong.

  3. Play a chord

    With the camera: Raise one finger on your left hand — that's the I chord. Add one finger on your right hand for the plain triad.

    Without a camera: On the pad, click I in the left-hand row, then 1 in the right-hand row.

    Your left hand picks which chord; your right hand picks how it's voiced.

  4. Change the chord

    With the camera: Now try five fingers (V), then four (IV), then back to one (I). That I–V–IV–I loop is the backbone of countless songs.

    Without a camera: Click V, then IV, then back to I. That I–V–IV–I loop is the backbone of countless songs.

  5. Shape the sound

    With the camera: Tilt your right wrist to sweep the filter from muffled to bright, and raise or lower that hand to change the volume.

    Without a camera: Drag the Filter and Volume sliders while a chord is held.

    Press Next when you've had a play — there's no wrong answer here.

Ready? The studio will coach you through it.Play along now

Next up

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Mix, export and save

Balance your tracks, export WAV or MP3, and save the project.

  • Play every track together
  • Mix with gain, mute and solo
  • Export WAV or MP3
  • Save a project to reopen later

You'll need at least one track — do “Record your first loop” or “Add a drum beat” first.

No webcam? Play along by clicking

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