By Cozy Cooper
I like websites that give your hands something to do. A few keys to tap, a little pattern to change, a sound that makes you want to try it again. It is a nice change from watching somebody else make things.
These six browser music tools let you have a go without setting up a studio. Some feel like toys. Others give you enough room to shape a proper tune. You can start with a few notes and decide how ambitious you feel afterwards.
Keep the volume low to begin with, especially if you have headphones on. Open one music tab at a time, let it load, and use its play button or tap inside the page to get started.
Patatap: the keyboard gets a new job
Patatap combines sounds with moving shapes. Tap the controls and a small musical idea becomes something you can see as well as hear.
This is where I would begin if I just wanted to play. There is very little distance between wondering what a key does and finding out. You can stumble into a pleasing rhythm without first deciding what genre you are attempting.
Try leaving gaps between the sounds. It is tempting to press everything at once, but two or three things repeated with a bit of space can be more satisfying. You get to hear what each one brings to the little pattern.
A small thing to try: choose three sounds and repeat them in the same order. Change the timing before you add another sound.
Patatap includes flashing visuals. If you prefer a steadier page, start with Typatone or BeepBox further down the list.
Patatap
Tap a key.Make a little rhythm.
Song Maker: draw something you can listen to
Song Maker, part of Chrome Music Lab, is an inviting way to make a little song in your browser. You work with coloured squares on a grid, press play, and hear the pattern you have made.
The visual layout makes it easy to try an idea. A short rising line, a repeated note, a gap where something used to be. You can hear the effect of a small change instead of trying to imagine it.
Google's introduction to Song Maker explains that songs can be shared with a link, without creating an account. That is a lovely fit for this sort of afternoon: make something small and send the finished link to a friend if you feel like it.
A small thing to try: draw a short melody, then remove half the notes. Listen again before deciding which version you like.
If the experiment shows a compatibility message, follow its suggestion to try Chrome.
Incredibox: let the little group find its groove
Incredibox lets you assemble a musical mix with animated performers. You give them sound parts and listen to the combination come together.
It has a lovely sense of play. Adding a part feels like inviting somebody into a tiny band. Removing one gives the others a bit more room. You can think about how the sounds fit together without having to play every note yourself.
I would begin with a rhythm, then add one other part and leave it running for a moment. It is easier to notice what you like when you give a change time to settle.
A small thing to try: build a mix you like, then remove one performer. Sometimes the smaller version has the better groove.
The link below opens the browser demo. The downloadable app is a separate option, so start with the demo before deciding whether you want more.
Incredibox
Build a beat.Meet your little band.
Typatone: your sentence has a soundtrack
Typatone gives each letter you type a musical note. Write a few words and you are making a small composition at the same time.
It is an unusually gentle way into browser music. You already know how to type, so the only new thing is listening to what the text becomes. A familiar phrase turns into something you would never have arrived at by choosing notes deliberately.
There is a nice little question to play with here: does changing the wording change the feeling of the tune? You do not need a clever answer. Type something, listen, and try a different version.
A small thing to try: write one short sentence. Then replace one word and listen to how the pattern changes.
Typatone
Turn your words into music.Type a little melody.
Online Sequencer: give an idea a little more room
Online Sequencer is a browser tool for making tunes and sharing them. Its note grid and instrument choices give you more control over what happens than the instant sound experiments above.
This is a good next stop when you have a small melody in your head and want somewhere to put it. Start with one instrument and a short stretch of notes. You can change the timing or try another sound once there is something to listen to.
The interface has plenty of controls, but you can leave most of them alone on a first visit. A little repeated phrase is enough to help you get familiar with the grid.
A small thing to try: make a four-note phrase and repeat it. Change just the last note on the second repeat.
Before closing the tab, check the save or export options if you want to keep what you made.
Online
Sequencer
Place a few notes.Make a little tune.
BeepBox: a small loop can become a keeper
BeepBox is a free online tool for sketching instrumental music. Click notes into its patterns, listen to the loop, and adjust it as you go.
It is a nice choice when you want to make a tune that has a little shape. The pattern system lets you revisit an idea and change one part while the rest stays familiar.
I would keep the first attempt very small. A short melody and a simple rhythm give you enough to play with. You can always add another part later.
A small thing to try: make one short pattern, then change its final note. Listen to a few repeats before choosing a favourite.
Keep your tune: BeepBox stores the song in the page URL as you edit. Copy or bookmark that full URL before you leave. Its own instructions explain how this works.
BeepBox
Make a chiptune.Little notes. Big melodies.
You only need one bit you like
There is no need to make a finished song out of a five-minute visit. A rhythm, a funny sounding sentence, or a melody that stays in your head is already a good result.
My small rule would be to change one thing at a time. Keep the part you like, try a different note or sound, and listen. It leaves a little room for a surprise.
For another playful break, try seven websites that make learning feel like procrastinating. If you would rather let somebody else provide the soundtrack, browse our relaxing websites for a quieter afternoon.
A few things you might be wondering
Can I make music online without knowing music theory?
Yes. Start with Patatap, Typatone or Song Maker and listen as you experiment. Online Sequencer and BeepBox give you more controls when you want to shape a melody more deliberately.
Do I need to install anything?
The experiences linked here run in your browser, including the Incredibox demo. Use a current browser and let the page load. Song Maker may suggest Chrome if it has trouble with your browser.
Which site is best for saving a little tune?
BeepBox is handy because the song is stored in its URL. Song Maker offers link sharing, and Online Sequencer has save and export controls. Check those options before closing a tab you want to keep.
