ToneKey 1.0

Any of ToneKey's thirty three different scales from around the world are made instantly playable without error, providing a fast and failsafe means of consistently playing harmonious music within a stable harmonic structure. This is facilitated using a Customisable Scale Mapping strategy. This strategy takes advantage of the symmetrical layout of the keyboard together with MIDI protocol’s digitisation of musical information. Scales are remapped onto just one customisable and constant shape on the keyboard, making them instantly playable without any musical experience.

For users wishing to practise, memorise and learn scales a reinforced learning facility is provided. This maps scales onto the keyboard in their original form while silencing the notes outside of the scale, encouraging users to play the correct scale shape on the keyboard. This is backed up by graphical depictions and interval by interval descriptions of the selected scales within the GUI.

ToneKey's more advanced functions include the Chord Builder and Arpeggiator. These are aimed at the digital composer, serving to enhance digital composing techniques in building harmonies and sequencing melodies. The Chord Builder and Arpeggiator allow a user to design a chord or arpeggio to be played with just one finger over a selected range of keys. This leaves the other hand free to play melodies at the same time. The timing and velocity of each interval can be dynamically programmed and/or determined within selectable ranges of random variation for a more natural or human feel. Intervals can also be sent through separate MIDI channels to trigger different instruments in a DAW for a spread, harmonic effect.

Since its conception ToneKey's user base has grown from the digital composer with little or no music theory to include the music therapy community, people with learning difficulties and the disabled.