How to use
- Pick a clef, a key, a time signature, a range and a rhythm level.
- Press New exercise. Read the key and time signature first, then scan for the highest and lowest note.
- Tap the rhythm on your knee, then play the melody slowly without stopping, even when you slip.
- Show note names only to check a note you could not place. Press New exercise for the next one.
How each exercise is written
The generator builds the rhythm first, bar by bar, so every bar adds up exactly to the time signature. It then walks a melody through the scale of your chosen key. Most moves are a step or a skip of one scale note, with the occasional wider leap in the ninth range. The first note is the tonic, the last bar is a single long tonic, and the line avoids sitting on one note for long. Every note belongs to the key, so the key signature does all the work and no stray accidentals appear.
The three rhythm levels
| Level | Durations used | Practise this when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quarter notes, half notes, and in 3/4 or 6/8 dotted values | You are still matching notes to keys and need a steady pulse. |
| 2 | Level 1 plus pairs of eighth notes joined by a beam | Reading notes is comfortable and you want to subdivide the beat. |
| 3 | Level 2 plus dotted quarter and eighth, and eighth quarter eighth patterns | You can keep a pulse and want rhythms that start off the beat. |
Range options
Five-finger position uses five notes, the tonic up to the fifth, so your hand never moves. One octave uses eight notes, and Ninth uses ten, which can push the melody onto ledger lines at the top. The tonic sits near the middle of the staff for every key: for treble clef the lowest note lies between B3 and A4, and for bass clef between G2 and F3.
Time signatures
4/4 has four quarter-note beats per bar, 3/4 has three, and 2/4 has two. 6/8 has six eighth-note beats felt as two groups of three, so a dotted quarter note is one beat. Eighth notes that share a beat are beamed together, which is how you can see where each beat falls.
A ten minute routine
- Two minutes: read the key signature, name the sharps or flats, and find the first and last note.
- Two minutes: tap or clap the rhythm while counting aloud.
- Five minutes: play three different exercises slowly, never stopping to fix a mistake.
- One minute: choose one thing to adjust tomorrow, such as a lower tempo or a harder rhythm level.
A seed is the short code under the controls. The same seed with the same settings always returns the same exercise, so you can write the seed on a lesson note or send the link to a student.
Frequently asked questions
What is the seed?
The seed is a short code that decides the random choices. The same seed with the same clef, key, time signature, range and rhythm level gives you the same exercise every time. Press New exercise to get a different seed, or type your own.
Can I use it for hands together?
Each exercise is a single line on one staff, so it trains one hand or one instrument at a time. Use treble clef for the right hand, bass clef for the left hand, or play both clefs one after the other.
Why are there no accidentals inside the exercise?
Every note belongs to the key signature, so the exercise trains you to read the signature rather than hunt for sharps and flats. If you need chromatic notes, use the key signature chart to practise the accidentals first.
Does the tool play the exercise?
No. Sight reading is about turning notation into notes yourself, so the generator draws the music and stays silent. Play it on your own instrument.
How do I print or save an exercise?
Press Print to send only the music and its settings to your printer, or choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. Download PNG saves a high-resolution picture. Copy link stores the seed and settings in the address.
What level should I start on?
Start with treble clef, a key with no more than two accidentals, five-finger position and rhythm level 1. Move up one setting at a time, only after you can play three exercises in a row without stopping.