EZ Music Composer

This applet requires Java Runtime 1.5 or higher. You can download the latest Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from Sun's Web site: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.

Launch EZ Music Composer

The composer will be launched in a new window. It might take a while for the applet to load if you are not in a high-speed network. The applet itself is small but the total size of the sound files for the piano is about 500K bytes.

Playing with the Piano

You can start by familiarizing yourself with the piano:

Use your mouse key to press and release the piano key. Just like a real piano, the sound will sustain until you release the piano key.
Drag your mouse on the piano keys to play a glissando; that is, sliding to the next piano key without explicitly releasing the previous one.
Click on the sustain pedal that says PRESS SHIFT TO SUSTAIN. You should see the text going from gray to black. Now the computer keyboard is activated. Press shift on your computer keyboard while pressing the piano keys with you mouse, you should hear the notes being sustained even after you release the piano keys.
Click on the sustain pedal again to re-gain focus if the sustain pedal is grayed out. Now you can play the piano with your computer keyboard. Try pressing A on your computer keyboard. You should see the middle C being pressed. You can still press shift to sustain notes. Notice that you can play the piano using your computer keyboard only when the piano has the focus. The color of the sustain pedal text turns black only when the piano has the focus.
You can click on Demo to hear a sample tune.
Note: This applet relies on your CPU to play the audio clips in a "timely fashion." If you switch to other applications and come back, or if you're running applications that demand a lot of your CPU, the notes may "jam" together from time to time. If that happens, try stopping the playing and starting again. Hopefully your computer will give this applet more CPU time.

Starting to Compose

To make up tunes, you put notes with different note values together. A note value is the duration of a note.

Click on Insert to enable the input controls.
Select a duration. The duration is relative to the tempo. The tempo is measured by beats per minute (BPM). Duration x1 represents the length of a beat. For example, BPM 120 indicates that there are 120 beats per minute. In other words, two x1 notes playing one after the other will take a second when the tempo is 120 BPM (which is equivalent to 2 beats per second). You can select a duration from 4 times a beat (x4) to one eighth of a beat (1/8).

By selecting dot ., you can increase the duration by half. For example, if you select x1 and ., the duration becomes 1.5 times the beat length; similarly, if you select x4 and ., the duration becomes 6 (= 4 + 4/2) times the beat length.
Click on a piano key. The corresponding note will be inserted with the selected duration, along with a delimiter. The default delimiter is comma. You can use spaces, tabs, semicolons or new lines to separate the score items.
Click a few more piano keys to insert more notes, either at the same or a different duration.
Click on Play Score to hear your composition. If you select part of the score items, only the selection will be played. If you select Play From Caret Position, the score will be played from the caret position.

You need not worry about "breaking" a score item if the caret is inside the item. The editor will adjust the selection. For example, if you select "3, g3, h" from "d3, f3, g3, h3, j3", the selection will be adjusted to "f3, g3, h3". This is also true when inserting a score item using the piano key or other buttons in the editor.
You can change the tempo by inserting a tempo item. For example, move the caret to the very beginning, change 120 to 220 and press enter. "%220" will be inserted. Now play the score. You should hear that the same music now plays faster. Notice that if you don't have any tempo indication, the score will always be played at 120 BPM, regardless of what the tempo box says. You can insert a tempo item any where you want, even in the middle of the composition. The tempo value must be an integer between 32 and 280.
You can insert rests as needed. A rest is a "silent note." It has a duration like a note, but within the duration, no sound will be heard.
You can insert Pedal On and Pedal Off to make use of the sustain pedal. When the sustain pedal is on (pressed), the notes continue to sound even after the piano keys are released.
Backspace button helps you delete a score item. The button will detect the boundaries of the score items and properly remove a score item without breaking an item apart.
You always have the option to manually enter the score. A score item starts with a code character (a-z, 0-9, %, [, ], ?) and a duration (1-6) followed by a dot if dot is selected. The valid delimiters are: space, tab, comma, semicolon and new line. Optionally you can add comment items. A comment item starts with a slash followed by a word; for example, "/MyTune". Comment items are for your information only. They do not affect how your composition is played.

Converting to MIDI

Once you're happy with the score, you can save it as a MIDI file, so it can be played in almost all computers.

Give a name for the MIDI file.
Normally you don't need to change the volume, but if you think the generated MIDI is too loud or too quiet, you can adjust the volume by setting an integer between 1 and 127, with 127 being the loudest.
You have the option to add 1 second of silence to the end of the music. This is useful if you find that the last few notes of your composition cannot be heard on a MIDI player. What happens is that when a MIDI player turns off the MIDI output immediately after playing the last note, the last few notes may be muted before even being played. This is especially obvious when the composition ends with very short notes.
Click on Submit. It might take a while for the conversion, depending on how large your composition is and how fast your Internet is. If successful, a new window will open, and you will be prompted to save or play the MIDI file.

Samples

All scores are arranged or composed by Jeremy Liu. To listen to a sample, copy the sample and paste it into the composer. If your browser does not allow direct copy/paste in the applet, use the clipboard below the composer to upload/download the score.

/Sample1
%150, [, g5, k5, 05, 84., 05, 83, ],

/Sample2
%90, [, 03, k3, l3, g2., ], [, g3, l3, 03, k2., ], 
[, k3, 03, l3, g2., ], [, g3, l3, 03, k2., ],

/Sample3
%100, 
[, e5, y5, k5, p5, p5, p5, k5, k5, k5, y5, k5, y5, e3., ],; 
[, e5, y5, k5, p5, p5, p5, k5, k5, k5, y5, k5, e5, y3., ], 

/Sample4
%100, x3, x4., x5, x3, a4, z4, z4, x4, x4, n4, x2,

/Sample5
%90;
[, h6, k6, 06, 84, ], 84, 84, [, 82, 93, ]; 
[, g6, j6, k6, 04, ], 04, 04, [, 02, l3, ]; 
[, s6, f6, h6, o4, ], o4, o4, [, o2, j3, ], [, w6, f6, y6, o1, ];
%280, j4, 84, u4, j4, h4, i4, 94, 04, g4, y4, h4, p4, l4, k4, e4, d4, j4, h4, y4;
[, z5, a5, d5, g2, ], x2, x2, x3, x3, [, x1, ];
[, n6, a6, f6, j6, 96, 41, ?3, ?3, ?3, ];                

/AuldLangSyne
%80, 
?4, g4, [, s6, d6, g6, k3., k4, ], k3, 
03, [, f6, y6, j6, l3., k4, ], l3, 
04, l4, [, k4, d4, h4,  k4, 04, k4,  84, k4,  ], [, k6, 06, 96, 62.,],  
63, [, j6, k6, 06, 83., 04, ], 03, k3, [, t6, h6, l3., k4, ], l3, 
04, l4, [, f6, h6, k3., h4, ], [, z6, s6, h3, ], g3, [, a6, d6, g6, k2., ], 
63, [, 84, g4, k4, 04, 04, g4, k4, g4, ], [, l4, f4, g4, k4, l4, y4, ],  
63, [, 85, g5, k5, g5, j5, g5, 05, g5, 05, g5, u5, g5,  85, g5, u5, g5, ], [, h6, k6, 06, 96, 62.,],  
63, [, j6, k6, 06, 83., 04, ], 03, k3, [, t6, h6, k6, l3., ], k4, l3, 
04, l4, [5, f6, h6, k3., ], h4, %70
[, b6, w6, f6, h3, ], ?4, [, z6, s6, f6, g3, ], ?4, 
[, w6, f6, y6, k3., ], [, 94, 73, ], [, k6, 06, 86, 32, ?3, ],           

/XmasTune
%200, 
k3 93 94 84 94 04 [ l3 l3 l3 ] 
83 84 64 84 94 03 k3 k3 63
64 54 64 84 93 l3 k3 l3 83 03 92
k3 93 93 93 02 03 93 03 l3
k2 k3 63 83 93 33 k3 k3 l3 83 03 92 
a3 f4 d4 f4 g4 h4 a4 g4
f4 g4 h4 u4 a4 f3 d3 s3 d6 s6 d6 s6 a2 
k3 34. k5 34. k5 54. k5 64. k5 64. k5 93 l3 83 03 95, ?4., ?3, 
f5, h5, k5, 95, ?4., ?3, [, f6, h6, k6, 91,  ],                

/TheEntertainer
%190, 
s3, e3, d4, k3, d4, k3, d4, k3., ?4, k4, l4, p4, 04, k4, l4, 03, j4, l3, k2,
s3, e3, d4, k3, d4, k3, d4, k3., ?4, h4, g4, t4, h4, k4, 03, l4, k4, h4, l2,
s3, e3, d4, k3, d4, k3, d4, k3., ?4, k4, l4, p4, 04, k4, l4, 03, j4, l3, k2, 
k4, l4, 04, k4, l4, 03, k4, l4, k4, 04, k4, l4, 03, k4, l4, k4, 04, k4, l4, 03, j4, l3,
k4, ?4, 84, ?4, [, a6, d6, g6, k6, 06, 86, 36, ?1, ],               

/GameTune
%150, 
k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, 03, k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, h3, 
k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, l4, p4, 04, l4, k4, h4, k3, h3, 
83, 04, 84, 64, 04, 84, 64, 04, l4, k4, h4, k2, 
h4, k4, l4, k4, p4, l4, k4, l4, 04, k3, h4, g2, 
k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, p3, k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, h3, 
k4, k4, h4, g4, k4, k4, 04, 84, %200,
34, ?5, 85, 64, ?5, 85, 03, k4, ?5, g5, h4, ?5, g5, d3, a5, ?2, 
%300, [, z6, a6, d6, h6, l1., ], 
%150, 86, 66, 46, 36, ?3,               

/TwinkleTwinkleLittleStar
%160, 
[, k4, g4, d4, ], [, k4, g4, d4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], 
[, 64, 94, k4, ], [, 64, 94, k4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ],
[, 94, k4, h4, ], [, 94, k4, h4, ], [, 04, k4, g4, ], [, 04, k4, g4, ], 
[, l4, h4, f4, ], [, l4, y4, f4, ], [, k4, g4, d4, a4, d4, g4, ],
 
[, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 94, k4, h4, ], [, 94, k4, y4, ], 
[, 04, k4, g4, ], [, 04, k4, t4, ], [, l4, j4, g4, f4, g4, j4, ], 
[, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 94, k4, h4, ], [, 94, k4, h4, ], 
[, 04, k4, g4, ], [, 04, k4, t4, ], [, l4, g4, f4, s4, f4, g4, ], 

[, k4, g4, d4, ], [, k4, u4, d4, ], [, 84, 04, k4, ], [, 84, k4, u4, ], 
[, 64, 94, k4, ], [, 64, i4, k4, ], [, 84, o4, u4, g4, u4, o4,], 
[, 94, j4, y4, f4, y4, j4, ], [, 04, k4, g4, d4, g4, k4, ], 
[, l4, g4, f4, s4, f4, g4, ], [, k4, h4, d4, a4, d4, h4, ], 
[, z4, s4, y4, ], [, x4, d4, h4, ], 
%130, 
[, f4, a4, x4, ], [, f4, a4, x4, ], 
[, d4, a4, c4, ], [, d4, a4, c4, ], 
[, s4, c4, v4, ], [, s4, c4, v4, ], 
[, a2, d2, g2, k1,  ],                

/Prelude
%70, 
[, s6, f6, h6, k6, l6, 96, 66, 36, 66, 96, l6, k6, h6, f6, ], 
[, s6, f6, h6, k6, l6, 96, 66, 36, 66, 96, l6, k6, h6, f6, ], 
[, s6, f6, g6, j6, l6, 96, 86, 46, 86, 96, l6, j6, g6, f6, ], 
[, s6, f6, g6, j6, l6, 96, 86, 46, 86, 96, l6, j6, g6, f6, ], 
[, a6, d6, g6, j6, k6, 06, 86, 46, 86, 06, k6, j6, g6, d6, ], 
[, a6, d6, g6, j6, k6, 06, 86, 46, 86, 06, k6, j6, g6, d6, ], 
[, a6, d6, g6, h6, k6, 06, 86, 66, 86, 06, k6, h6, g6, d6, ], 
[, a6, d6, g6, h6, k6, 06, 86, 66, 86, 06, k6, h6, g6, d6, ], 
[, z6, s6, f6, h6, j6, l6, 96, 66, 96, l6, j6, h6, f6, s6, ], 
[, z6, s6, f6, h6, j6, l6, 96, 66, 96, l6, j6, h6, f6, s6, ], 
[, z6, s6, f6, y6, j6, l6, 96, 76, 96, l6, j6, y6, f6, s6, ], 
[, z6, s6, f6, y6, j6, l6, 96, 76, 96, l6, j6, y6, f6, s6, ], 
[, x6, a6, s6, d6, g6, h6, k6, l6, 06, 66, 06, l6, k6, h6, g6, d6, s6, a6, ], 
[, x6, a6, s6, d6, g6, h6, k6, l6, 06, 66, 06, l6, k6, h6, g6, d6, s6, a6, ], 
[, x6, z6, a6, s6, d6, t6, y6, h6, j6, k6, l6, 06, i6, 76, 66, 46, 36, 26, ], 
%180, [, q6, 16, ?1, ],               

/SmallTune
%220, 
[, h3, 03, 63, r3, 63, 03; h3, 03, 63, r3, 63, 03; ], 
[, g3, 03, 63, r3, 63, 03; g3, 03, 63, r3, 63, 03; ], 
[, t3, l3, 63, 23, 63, l3; t3, l3, 63, 23, 63, l3; ], 
[, f3, l3, 63, 23, 63, l3; f3, l3, 63, 23, 63, l3; ], 
[, d3, l3, 03, 73, 03, l3; d3, l3, 03, 73, 03, l3; ], 
[, k3, 03, 63, 33, 63, 03, ], [, j3, l3, 73, 43, 73, l3, ], 
[, h3, k3, 03, 63, 03, k3, ], 
[, y3, l3, 93, 73, 43, 23, 33, 43, 63, 73, 93, 03, l3, k3, j3, h3, ], 
[, g3, j3, l3, 93, l3, j3, ], [, y3, j3, l3, h3, k3, 03, ], 
[, j3, l3, 93, 83, 93, l3, j3, l3, 93, 83, 93, l3, ], 
[, k3, 03, 83, j3, l3, 93, ], [, h3, k3, 03, g3, j3, l3, ], 
[, f3, y3, k3, 03, k3, y3, ], [, g3, j3, l3, 63, l3, j3, ], 
[, 83, l3, j3, ], [, 93, k3, j3, ], 
[, 03,k3, g3, k3, g3, d3,  a1,  ],

Source Code

The source code is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/ezmusiccomposer/