Scale Sketch App

Getting Around

This app is a scale-friendly piano roll made for quick melody sketches. Dip into the topics below whenever you want a fast tip or a bit of encouragement.

Choosing Notes Inside the Scale

Open the drawer, pick a root and scale, and let the grid highlight the safe notes for you. Every click lands somewhere musical.

  • Lean on the tonic (bottom row) when you want home base, and toss in thirds or fifths for instant movement.
  • Toggle Allow out-of-scale notes if you crave tension, then nudge them back for a tidy resolve.
  • Swap scales mid-loop to test brand-new moods without touching the rhythm.

Making a Catchy Melody

Switch to the 1/16 note division to lock the grid into tight steps. Start with a short four-beat loop and tap where you want the bounce to land.

  • Drop notes on beat 1, the "&" of 2, and beat 4 for an easy earworm.
  • Let a little air in—silence is rhythm too—and drag note edges to vary the feel.
  • Loop and tap along; nudge notes left or right until the groove smiles back.

Exporting Your Ideas

When a loop feels good, tap Export MIDI in the drawer to grab a file that drops straight into any DAW. Your notes, timing, and scale settings tag along for the ride.

  • Hit Save to stash a work-in-progress pattern before you bounce it out.
  • Come back later and load the JSON file to keep riffing on the same groove.