nr neirocca sound-first music theory

Melody & Ear

Step Sequencer

Build your own melodies by arranging scale notes on a step grid. Tap the grid to toggle notes, then loop-play your pattern at any tempo.

Key
Scale
E5
D5
C5
A4
G4
E4
D4
C4
1
·
·
·
2
·
·
·
3
·
·
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4
·
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Changing key/scale keeps your pattern positions and remaps notes to the new scale.

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What is this tool?

A grid where the vertical axis is pitch and the horizontal axis is time. Since you pick a scale first, only in-key notes appear — you can build great-sounding melodies without knowing any theory.

When it helps

  • A first step into melody writing

    Drop notes on the grid and hear them instantly. Much faster than pen-and-paper — your ear is the feedback loop.

  • Feel the difference between scales

    Switch between Pentatonic, Blues, Dorian, and more. The same pattern sounds radically different — a hands-on way to learn scales.

  • Sketch ideas before opening your DAW

    Try patterns here before committing to a full production. Save time by locking an idea in audio first.

How to use

  1. 1 Pick Key and Scale. Beginners: try C Pentatonic Major — every note will sound right.
  2. 2 Tap grid cells to place notes. Vertical = pitch, horizontal = time.
  3. 3 Press Play to loop. You can edit live while it plays.
  4. 4 Hit Random to auto-generate a pattern — editing from there is a great way to learn.
  5. 5 Use BPM for tempo and Steps for the pattern length.

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