digichord

Digichord is my version of an omnichord. It is an interactive, browser based tool built for people who want to create music but do not have access to the physical tools for it. It is easy to use, with suggested chords and a simple interface, and lets the user experiment as much as they want to build a song from their imagination. It is created using p5.js and the Web Audio API. It integrates chord theory in a way that feels intuitive and easy to use. The interface has three main areas, the full chord grid, reminiscent of an actual omnichord, which cover every major, minor, and seventh chords for 12 root notes. The chords are played by clicking on them within the grid, and added to a “timeline” on the bottom. When the user clicks on a chord, the background color shifts to an associated color that feels responsive and interactive. The selected chord is also displayed in the center of the screen with its associated mood (bright, melancholic, or bluesy). To the right of the panel, a suggested chords box is also created which groups them into an easy to read list. The suggested chords are highlighted when the user selects a chord on the main grid, but this provides a secondary view. Below the suggestions panel is a section with an example song that is recognizable to many people, and has a main synth progression that is replicated with an ominchord. The bottom of the screen shows a progression panel for the chords, which users can edit by “removing” a chord by clicking on it, playing/pausing the progression, or clearing.