Online Virtual Music Instruments

What Are the Online Virtual Music Instruments?

The IndiPiano Virtual Music Instruments library is a free online collection of 13 realistic virtual instruments that you can play directly in your web browser: Piano, Harmonium, Trumpet, Church Organ, Melodica, Electric Guitar, Violin, Harp, Flute, Saxophone, Synth Drum Kit, Steel Drums and Synth Bass. Every instrument has its own beautifully drawn, interactive design, a grand piano with a felt strip, a wooden harmonium with moving bellows and stops, a church organ with glowing pipes, a six-string guitar neck with frets and inlays, a violin fingerboard with a bow, a 37-string concert harp, a silver flute, a golden trumpet whose pistons move, an alto saxophone whose keys press, a light-up drum pad grid, a round Caribbean steel pan and a glowing synth.

Each instrument plays real recorded sound samples for natural, expressive tone, with sustained notes for instruments that can hold a note, such as harmonium, organ, violin, flute, trumpet, saxophone and melodica. You can play with your mouse, with multi-touch on a phone or tablet, by gliding across keys or strings, or with your computer keyboard, which plays all 37 notes at once. Every instrument comes with a famous demo tune, from Für Elise on piano and Amazing Grace on harmonium to Smoke on the Water on guitar, Canon in D on violin and Jingle Bells on steel drums.

The library also includes 16 studio sound knobs and 9 sound presets, a sustain pedal, transpose by up to 12 semitones up or down, a volume boost up to 200 percent, and a full recorder with a timeline. You can record your playing, even switching instruments during a take, play it back, select a part, and download it as an MP3 or WAV audio file. It all runs online in your browser on phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers, with no download, no app and no sign-up.

How to Play the Virtual Instruments: Step by Step

Step 1: Choose an instrument

Tap any instrument in the row of instrument chips, such as Piano, Harmonium or Electric Guitar, or use the previous and next arrows beside the instrument name to move through all 13 instruments. The name, the family (Keyboard, Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion or Synth), the number of notes and the note range are shown at the top of the instrument, and the colour of the tool changes to match the instrument.

Step 2: Wait for the sounds to load

A progress ring shows the loading percentage while the instrument’s sound samples download. Playing unlocks as soon as all notes are loaded, and the status changes to Sounds ready. Only the instrument you choose is loaded, so it starts quickly even on mobile data.

Step 3: Play with your mouse or touch

Click or tap keys, strings, frets, pads or pan bumps to play notes. Hold a note to keep it sounding on sustained instruments, play chords with several fingers on touch screens, and drag across the instrument to glide, strum or play a glissando. On keyboard instruments, pressing lower on a key plays a louder note.

Step 4: Play with your computer keyboard

Every instrument maps its 37 notes to your computer keyboard. For melodic instruments, the bottom letter row Z X C V B N M , . / plays the low white notes with the black notes on the row above (S D G H J L ;), and the top letter row Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ] plays the high white notes with the black notes on the number row (2 3 4 6 7 9 0 -). For the Synth Drum Kit, every pad sits on the same key as its position on your keyboard. Computer keys work while your mouse is over the instrument or after you click it. Open the Play guide to see the exact key map for the instrument you are playing.

Step 5: Show or hide labels

Use the Notes button to show or hide note names such as C3 or F#4 on the instrument, and the Keys button to show or hide the computer keyboard letters. Turn both off for a clean look, or keep them on while learning.

Step 6: Use the pedal

The Pedal button sets whether notes ring out after you let go. When it is on, notes fade naturally, and when it is off, they stop as soon as you release them. Hold the Space bar to hold notes like a real sustain pedal.

Step 7: Transpose and set the volume

Use the minus and plus Transpose buttons to shift the pitch down or up by up to 12 semitones, and use the volume slider to set the level from 0 to 200 percent.

Step 8: Play the demo

Press Demo to hear a famous tune on the current instrument, with the keys, strings or pads lighting up as it plays. Press Stop demo to stop. If nothing is recorded yet, the demo is also added to the timeline so you can download it.

Step 9: Shape the sound

Open the Sound panel to choose a preset or turn the 16 knobs in the Notes, Space, Tone and Master groups. Your sound settings are remembered in your browser for your next visit.

Step 10: Record, play back and download

Open the Record panel and press Record, play your music, then press Stop recording. Press Play to listen, click the timeline to move the playhead, or drag on it to select a part. Open the Download panel to save your take, or the selected part, as an MP3 or WAV file.

The 13 Virtual Instruments in Detail

1. Piano

Specialities

The virtual piano is drawn as an IndiPiano concert grand with a polished case, a red felt strip and 37 full-size keys from C2 to C5, three full octaves. It plays real grand piano samples with a rich, warm tone, and it responds to how you play: click or tap lower on a key for a louder, brighter note, or higher on the key for a softer one.

A little history

The piano was invented in Italy around 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori, who called it the “gravicembalo col piano e forte”, a harpsichord that could play both soft and loud. Unlike the harpsichord, which plucks its strings, the piano strikes the strings with felt hammers, so the player can control the volume with the touch of the fingers. Over the next two centuries it became the most popular instrument for home music, concerts and composition.

Where it is used

The piano is used in classical music, film music, jazz, pop, rock, Bollywood songs, worship music and music teaching. It is the standard instrument for learning music theory, because all twelve notes are laid out clearly in front of you.

How to play it here

Play melodies with one hand and chords with several keys at once, drag across the keys to glide, and hold Space or keep the Pedal on to let notes ring together. Try the Für Elise demo to hear the piano’s expressive sound.

Instrument controls

The piano uses the common toolbar controls: Notes and Keys labels, Pedal, Transpose, Volume and Demo, plus the full Sound panel. The Concert hall and Bright studio presets suit the piano especially well.

2. Harmonium

Specialities

The virtual harmonium is a wooden Indian hand harmonium with a carved jali panel, animated bellows that pump as you play, and three stop buttons: Bass, Coupler and Drone. It plays real reed sounds that sustain for as long as you hold a key, just like a real harmonium.

A little history

The harmonium is a free-reed keyboard instrument developed in Europe in the 19th century as a foot-pumped reed organ. It reached India in the mid-1800s, where Indian makers created the portable hand-pumped harmonium that is played sitting on the floor. It quickly became one of the most loved instruments in India and the subcontinent, used for teaching sargam and accompanying singers.

Where it is used

The harmonium is used in Hindustani classical and light classical music, bhajans, kirtans, qawwali, ghazals, Sufi music, Sikh shabad kirtan, devotional singing, folk music, theatre and film music, and it is the most common instrument for teaching Indian vocal music.

How to play it here

Hold keys to play long, steady notes, and play melodies smoothly by moving from one key to the next before releasing the last one. Use the Drone for a steady background while you practise sargam or sing.

Instrument controls

Bass adds a reed one octave lower under every note for a fuller, deeper sound. Coupler adds a reed one octave higher, as the coupler on a real harmonium does, for a brighter, louder tone. Drone plays a continuous Sa and Pa (C and G, which move with Transpose) under your melody, like the drone reeds of a harmonium or a tanpura. Tap a stop to turn it on or off; you can use Bass and Coupler together for the fullest sound. The Amazing Grace demo shows the harmonium’s singing tone.

3. Trumpet

Specialities

The virtual trumpet is a shining golden trumpet with three valves. When you play a note, the pistons move down to show the real trumpet valve fingering for that note, so you can learn trumpet fingerings while you play. It plays real trumpet samples with a bright, sustained tone.

A little history

Trumpets have been used for thousands of years for signals and ceremonies, from ancient Egypt to medieval courts. Early trumpets had no valves and could play only a few notes. Valves were invented in the early 19th century in Germany, which allowed the trumpet to play every note of the chromatic scale and made it a full melodic instrument.

Where it is used

The trumpet leads in jazz, big band, brass bands, orchestras, marching bands, Latin music, salsa, pop and film music, and it is a favourite instrument in Indian wedding bands.

How to play it here

Hold a key for a long, bright note and watch the pistons change as you move between notes. Play short notes for fanfares and longer notes for melodies. The demo plays the famous trumpet intro of Hips Don’t Lie.

Instrument controls

The trumpet uses the common controls. Add a little Reverb for a concert sound, or use Echo for a dramatic effect.

4. Church Organ

Specialities

The virtual church organ has a row of 37 organ pipes above the keyboard that light up as you play, and three organ stops: 16′, 8′ and 4′. It plays real pipe organ samples, and every note sustains for as long as you hold the key.

A little history

The organ is one of the oldest keyboard instruments. Its ancestor, the hydraulis, was built in ancient Greece in the 3rd century BC. Pipe organs became part of European churches in the Middle Ages and grew into the largest instruments ever built, with thousands of pipes. Composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the greatest music in history for the organ.

Where it is used

The pipe organ is used in churches, cathedrals and concert halls, for hymns, weddings, classical organ music and film soundtracks that need a grand, powerful sound.

How to play it here

Hold chords for a full, majestic sound, and play slowly so the notes can blend. The demo plays the opening of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Instrument controls

The organ stops add extra ranks of pipes, as on a real organ, where the numbers come from the length of the pipes in feet. 8′ is the main rank at normal pitch and is always on. 16′ adds pipes one octave lower for a deep, powerful bass. 4′ adds pipes one octave higher for brightness. Combine 16′, 8′ and 4′ for a full organ sound. The Cathedral preset adds a long, spacious reverb.

5. Melodica

Specialities

The virtual melodica is a blue keyboard wind instrument with a mouthpiece that shows moving air as you play. Its reed sound sustains while you hold a key, and you can drag across the keys for a smooth glide.

A little history

The melodica, also called the pianica or blow organ, is a free-reed instrument with a small keyboard. It was developed by the German company Hohner in the 1950s. You blow air through a mouthpiece and press keys to open the reeds.

Where it is used

The melodica is very popular in schools for teaching music, and it is used in reggae, dub, jazz, indie and pop music, as well as by street musicians.

How to play it here

Hold a key to keep the breath going for a long note, and glide across keys for smooth melodies. The Happy Birthday demo is a fun way to start.

Instrument controls

The melodica uses the common controls. Try the Warm vintage or Lo-fi radio preset for a reggae or indie colour.

6. Electric Guitar

Specialities

The virtual electric guitar shows a real six-string guitar neck in standard tuning (E A D G B E) with 12 frets plus open strings, tuning pegs, fret position inlays at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets, and a pickup area. It covers 41 notes from E2 to E5. Each string plays its own notes, and a brighter dot shows the easiest position for each note while a dimmer dot shows the same note on another string. It plays clean electric guitar samples with a slight drive and a doubled sound for a full, modern tone.

A little history

The guitar developed from earlier stringed instruments such as the lute and the vihuela. The electric guitar was created in the 1930s, when musicians needed guitars loud enough to play with big bands, and solid-body electric guitars became famous in the 1950s. Since then, the electric guitar has become the defining sound of rock, blues and pop.

Where it is used

The electric guitar is used in rock, pop, blues, jazz, funk, metal, country, Bollywood and indie music, for both rhythm chords and lead solos.

How to play it here

Click or tap on a string at a fret to play that note. Drag your mouse or finger across the strings to strum, and drag along a string to slide between notes. Your computer keyboard starts at the low E string, so the bottom row of keys plays the lowest notes. The demo plays the famous riff of Smoke on the Water.

Instrument controls

Use Notes to see the note name on every fret, and Keys to see which computer key plays it. Add Echo for a delay effect, or Reverb for a spacious tone.

7. Violin

Specialities

The virtual violin shows a dark fingerboard with four strings tuned G, D, A and E, with no frets, as on a real violin, and a bow over the strings. It covers 56 notes from G3 to G6 across 15 positions on each string, and it plays real violin samples with a long, bowed, sustaining tone.

A little history

The violin appeared in northern Italy in the early 16th century. Makers such as Andrea Amati and later Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri in Cremona perfected its design, and their violins are still the most valued in the world. The violin also became an important instrument in Carnatic music in the 18th and 19th centuries, played sitting on the floor with the scroll resting on the foot.

Where it is used

The violin leads the orchestra and is used in chamber music, film scores, folk and fiddle music, jazz, Carnatic and Hindustani music, Bollywood song arrangements and pop ballads.

How to play it here

Hold a note for a long bowed tone, and drag along a string to slide smoothly between notes, a technique like the glides of Indian music. Your computer keyboard starts at the open G string. The demo plays Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

Instrument controls

Use Notes to see the positions of the notes on each string. The Concert hall preset gives the violin a beautiful orchestral space.

8. Harp

Specialities

The virtual harp is a 37-string concert harp, with strings from C2 to C5 that get shorter from the bass to the treble. As on a real harp, the C strings are red and the F strings are blue, which helps you find your way. It plays real orchestral harp samples with a sparkling, ringing tone.

A little history

The harp is one of the oldest instruments in the world, with harps pictured in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. The modern concert harp, with pedals that change the pitch of the strings, was developed in France in the early 19th century.

Where it is used

The harp is used in orchestras, film music, weddings, relaxation and meditation music, Celtic folk music, and in Latin American traditions such as the Paraguayan harp.

How to play it here

Pluck single strings for melodies, play several strings for chords, and drag your mouse or finger across the strings for a flowing glissando, the most famous harp effect. Keep the Pedal on so notes ring. The demo plays Greensleeves.

Instrument controls

The harp uses the common controls. The Ambient echo preset makes beautiful dreamy glissandos.

9. Flute

Specialities

The virtual flute shows a silver concert flute above a keyboard. Its keys light up as you play, and it plays real flute samples with a soft, breathy tone that sustains as long as you hold a note.

A little history

Flutes are among the oldest known instruments, with bone flutes found that are more than 40,000 years old. In India, the bamboo bansuri has been played for thousands of years and is linked with Lord Krishna. The modern Western metal flute with its key system was designed by Theobald Boehm in Germany in the 1840s.

Where it is used

The flute is used in orchestras, wind bands, film music, jazz, folk music, meditation music and Indian classical and film music, where its sweet sound is often used for melodies.

How to play it here

Hold a key for a steady breathy tone, and drag across keys for smooth glides. The demo plays Hedwig’s Theme from the Harry Potter films.

Instrument controls

The flute uses the common controls. Add Reverb for a floating, airy sound.

10. Saxophone

Specialities

The virtual saxophone is a golden alto saxophone with its keys, pearl buttons, octave key and palm keys drawn in detail. When you play, the keys press down to show the real saxophone fingering for each note, and the octave key and palm keys light up for higher notes, so you can learn saxophone fingerings by watching. It plays real alto sax samples with a warm, sustained tone.

A little history

The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. Although it is made of brass, it is a woodwind instrument, because its sound comes from a reed. It became the voice of jazz in the 20th century.

Where it is used

The saxophone is used in jazz, blues, soul, funk, rock and roll, pop, film music, military bands and Bollywood songs, and it is a popular instrument in Indian wedding and orchestra bands.

How to play it here

Hold a key for a warm sustained tone, glide across keys for smooth phrases, and watch the fingering change on the saxophone. The demo plays The Pink Panther theme.

Instrument controls

The saxophone uses the common controls. The Warm vintage preset gives it a classic jazz club colour.

11. Synth Drum Kit

Specialities

The Synth Drum Kit is an MPC-style pad controller with 37 coloured pads arranged in four rows. Each row of pads matches a row of keys on your computer keyboard, so the pad you see is the key under your finger: the number row 1 to 7, the Q row, the A row and the Z row. Every pad is a pitched electronic drum sound, from deep low drums to higher, snappier sounds.

A little history

Electronic drums appeared in the 1970s and 1980s with drum machines and synth drums, which created new sounds for disco, pop and electronic music. In 1988, Akai and Roger Linn introduced the MPC, a sampler with a grid of pads that became the classic tool for hip-hop and beat makers.

Where it is used

Synth drums and drum pads are used in electronic dance music, hip-hop, pop, film soundtracks, live performance and beat making.

How to play it here

Tap the pads with your fingers, or use your computer keyboard to finger-drum with both hands. Try playing a steady low pad as a kick and a higher pad as a snare. The demo plays the We Will Rock You beat.

Instrument controls

The pads light up as you play, and the LED strip at the top shows activity. Use Notes and Keys to show or hide the note and key labels on the pads, and the Compressor and Bass knobs for a punchier sound.

12. Steel Drums

Specialities

The virtual steel drum is a round steel pan with 37 note bumps in three rings and a centre note: 16 notes on the outer ring for low notes, 12 on the middle ring, 8 on the inner ring for high notes, and one in the centre. It plays real steel drum samples with a bright, ringing, tropical sound.

A little history

The steelpan was created in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s and 1940s, when musicians began hammering and tuning used oil drums into musical instruments. It is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the few acoustic instruments invented in the 20th century.

Where it is used

Steel drums are used in calypso and soca music, Caribbean carnival bands called steel bands, reggae, island and holiday music, film and advertising music.

How to play it here

Tap the bumps to strike them, remembering that the outer ring is low and the inner ring is high, and drag across bumps for a roll. The demo plays Jingle Bells.

Instrument controls

The steel pan uses the common controls. A little Reverb and Echo give it a lively outdoor feel.

13. Synth Bass

Specialities

The virtual Synth Bass is an INDI-SYNTH bass keyboard with a row of LEDs that light up as you play. It plays a deep, punchy electronic bass, and the lowest notes on the left are the heaviest.

A little history

Synth bass became popular in the 1970s and 1980s with analogue synthesizers such as the Minimoog and the Roland bass synths, which created powerful bass lines for disco, funk, new wave and electronic music.

Where it is used

Synth bass is used in pop, electronic dance music, funk, hip-hop, synthwave, film music and modern Bollywood productions.

How to play it here

Play bass lines with one finger on the low keys, using short notes for a tight groove and long notes for a sustained bass. The demo plays Take On Me.

Instrument controls

The Synth Bass uses the common controls. Raise the Bass knob for a heavier low end, or the Compressor for a tighter, more even bass.

Common Controls, Buttons and Knobs

Instrument chips and arrows

The row of instrument chips at the top lets you switch to any instrument with one tap, and the arrows beside the instrument name move to the previous or next instrument. The status pill shows Loading sounds, Sounds ready, or Built-in sound if the samples could not be loaded.

Notes and Keys buttons

Notes shows or hides note names on the instrument, and Keys shows or hides the computer keyboard letters.

Demo button

Demo plays a famous tune on the current instrument, and the instrument lights up as it plays.

Transpose

The minus and plus buttons shift every note down or up by one semitone at a time, up to 12 semitones in either direction.

Volume slider

The volume slider sets the overall level from 0 to 200 percent.

Pedal

The Pedal button turns sustain on or off, and holding Space works as a sustain pedal while held.

Sound panel: the Notes knobs

Speed (0.25× to 2×) sets the speed of demo and recording playback, Transpose (−12 to +12 semitones) shifts the pitch, Sustain (0.05 to 4 seconds) sets how long notes ring after you let go, and Dynamics (0 to 100 percent) sets how much your touch changes the volume and brightness.

Sound panel: the Space knobs

Reverb (0 to 100 percent) adds the sound of a room or hall, Room size (0.3 to 6 seconds) sets how long the reverb lasts, Echo (0 to 100 percent) adds repeats, Echo time (50 to 1,000 milliseconds) sets the gap between them, and Repeats (0 to 90 percent) sets how many times they repeat.

Sound panel: the Tone knobs

Bass, Mid and Treble (−12 to +12 dB) boost or cut the low, middle and high frequencies, and Warmth (0 to 100 percent) adds rich, soft saturation and softens harsh highs.

Sound panel: the Master knobs

Width (0 to 150 percent) makes the stereo sound narrower or wider, Compressor (0 to 100 percent) evens out loud and soft notes, and Volume (0 to 200 percent) sets the final level.

Using the knobs

Drag a knob up or down to turn it, double-click it to reset it to its default, or select it and use the arrow keys. Each knob group has a short explanation of what it does.

Sound presets

Choose Natural, Concert hall, Bright studio, Warm vintage, Cathedral, Small room, Ambient echo, Lo-fi radio or Dry and close for an instant sound character, and press Reset to return to Natural.

Record panel

Record starts and stops recording, Play plays back your take (or restarts it), Stop stops recording or playback, and Clear deletes the take. The timeline shows your notes; click to move the playhead, drag to select a part, and use Clear selection to remove the selection.

Download panel

Choose MP3 (96 to 320 kbps) or WAV (16-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit float), a sample rate of 44.1, 48, 32 or 22.05 kHz, and stereo or mono. Download the whole song or the selected part, and choose to normalise to −1 dB, let the last notes ring out, remove silence at the start, and fade in (up to 2 seconds) or fade out (up to 4 seconds). The panel shows the estimated file size before you download.

Play guide

The Play guide shows the full computer keyboard map for the current instrument, with low and high notes, plus tips for that instrument.

Theme and full screen

Switch between light and dark themes and use full screen for a larger instrument, especially on phones and tablets.

Understanding Instrument and Sound Terms

Sample-based instruments

A sample is a recording of a real instrument playing a single note. The virtual instruments use a set of samples for each instrument, so the sound you hear is the real instrument. Instruments that can hold a note, such as harmonium, organ, violin, flute and saxophone, loop their samples so the note continues while you hold it.

Sustain and release

Sustain is how long a note keeps sounding, and release is how the sound fades after you let go. The Pedal and the Sustain knob control both.

Velocity and dynamics

Velocity is how hard a note is played. On keyboard instruments, clicking lower on a key gives a stronger note, and touch screens that report pressure can make notes louder or softer. Dynamics controls how much velocity changes the sound.

Glissando and glide

A glissando is a fast slide across many notes, most famous on the harp and piano. Dragging your finger or mouse across the instrument creates a glissando or glide.

Strumming

Strumming means sweeping across the strings of a guitar to play several notes quickly, creating a chord sound.

Drone

A drone is a continuous note or notes held under a melody. In Indian music, the drone of Sa and Pa from a tanpura or harmonium gives the singer a steady reference.

Organ stops and footage

Organ stops turn sets of pipes on and off. The footage numbers, such as 16′, 8′ and 4′, describe the pitch: 8′ is normal pitch, 16′ is one octave lower and 4′ is one octave higher.

Coupler

On a harmonium, the coupler links each key to a reed one octave higher, making the sound fuller and brighter.

Valves and fingering

Brass instruments such as the trumpet use valves to change the length of the tubing and the pitch. Woodwinds such as the saxophone and flute use keys. The fingering of a note is the combination of valves or keys that produces it.

Key Features of the Virtual Instruments Library

13 instruments in one place

Keyboard, strings, wind, brass, percussion and synth instruments, each with its own detailed design and real sampled sound.

Realistic, interactive instrument designs

Play keys, guitar frets, violin strings, harp strings, drum pads and steel pan bumps that light up as you play, with moving harmonium bellows, glowing organ pipes, moving trumpet pistons and pressing saxophone keys.

Indian music friendly

The harmonium has Bass, Coupler and a Sa-Pa Drone, and the violin and other sustained instruments support smooth glides for Indian melodies.

Play with mouse, touch or computer keyboard

Multi-touch, glide, strum and glissando gestures, plus a full 37-note computer keyboard map for every instrument.

Famous demo tunes

A recognisable demo tune for every instrument, which can be added to the timeline and downloaded.

16 sound knobs and 9 presets

Studio-style controls for notes, space, tone and master output, with presets for concert halls, studios, vintage, cathedral, ambient and lo-fi sounds. Your settings are remembered on your device.

Recorder with timeline

Record with any instruments, switch instruments during a take, play back at different speeds, select parts and clear takes.

MP3 and WAV export

Download high quality audio with your choice of format, bitrate or bit depth, sample rate, channels, normalising, fades and silence trimming.

Fast, lightweight loading

Only the chosen instrument is loaded, with optimised samples, backup sources, and a built-in sound if samples cannot be loaded.

Responsive design for every device

The instruments adapt to phones, tablets and computers, with sideways swiping on small screens and full screen mode.

What You Can Do With the Virtual Instruments

Learn and practise instruments without buying them

Try harmonium, violin, trumpet, saxophone and more, and learn how their notes are laid out before you buy a real instrument.

Learn fingerings and note positions

Watch the trumpet valves and saxophone keys move, and see the note positions on the guitar and violin necks.

Practise Indian music with the harmonium

Use the Drone and Coupler to practise sargam, bhajans and songs with a traditional harmonium sound.

Compose and record ideas

Record melodies, bass lines and beats on different instruments and download them as audio.

Create music for videos and social media

Record a short tune with a preset such as Concert hall or Lo-fi radio and export a clean MP3 or WAV file.

Teach music in class

Show each instrument on a large screen, explain how it works, and play the demo tunes to introduce famous music.

Explore sounds for fun

Play glissandos on the harp, finger-drum on the pads, roll on the steel drums and experiment with echo and reverb.

Tips for Playing the Virtual Instruments

Use landscape on phones

Turn your phone to landscape and use full screen for wider keys and strings. On small screens, swipe sideways to reach every note.

Use the Play guide

Open the Play guide to learn the computer keyboard layout for each instrument quickly.

Hold notes on sustained instruments

For harmonium, organ, violin, flute, trumpet, saxophone and melodica, hold keys for long notes instead of tapping them.

Turn the pedal off for fast music

For fast melodies or drum patterns, turn the Pedal off or lower the Sustain knob so the notes stay clear.

Use headphones

Wired headphones give clear sound and the lowest delay. Bluetooth headphones may add a slight delay.

Try different presets for each instrument

A preset that suits the harp may not suit the synth bass. Experiment to find the best sound for each instrument.

Record in short takes

Record short sections, check them on the timeline, and select the best part before downloading.

Troubleshooting

The Virtual Music Instruments library is already well optimised and adjusts itself to all modern browsers, devices and operating systems, including Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox and Opera on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, iPad and Linux, so in most cases you will not face any issues. Still, every browser, device and system is a little different, so if something does not work as expected, please check the points below.

The instrument does not play while loading

Playing unlocks once all notes are loaded. Wait for the progress ring to reach 100 percent and the status to show Sounds ready. On slow connections this may take a few seconds.

The status shows Built-in sound

The sound files for this instrument could not be loaded, so a built-in synthesized sound is used. Check your internet connection and reload the page, or try another instrument.

There is no sound

Tap or click the instrument once, as browsers only start audio after you interact with the page. Check that the volume slider and the Volume knob are above zero, your device volume is up, and your phone is not in silent mode.

Computer keys do not play

Move your mouse over the instrument or click it first, and make sure you are not typing in a text box. Then try the keys again.

The sound is delayed

Use wired headphones or speakers instead of Bluetooth, and close other apps and tabs that use audio.

The instrument is too small on my phone

Turn your phone to landscape, use full screen, and swipe sideways on the instrument to reach every note.

The MP3 download does not start

MP3 export needs a small encoder that loads when you press Download. If your network or a browser extension blocks it, the MP3 cannot be created, so choose WAV in the Download panel and try again. Keep the tab open while the file is prepared, and allow downloads for the site in your browser settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the virtual instruments free?

Yes. All 13 instruments are free to play, record and download, with no account and no app.

Which instruments are included?

Piano, Harmonium, Trumpet, Church Organ, Melodica, Electric Guitar, Violin, Harp, Flute, Saxophone, Synth Drum Kit, Steel Drums and Synth Bass.

Can I play with my computer keyboard?

Yes. Every instrument maps 37 notes to your computer keyboard, and the Play guide shows the exact layout.

Do the instruments use real sounds?

Yes. Each instrument uses real recorded samples. If the samples cannot be loaded, a built-in synthesized sound is used so you can still play.

Can I record and download my music?

Yes. Record your playing, select a part if you like, and download it as MP3 or WAV.

Can I use more than one instrument in a recording?

Yes. You can switch instruments while recording, and each note is played back with the instrument it was recorded on.

What do the harmonium stops do?

Bass adds a lower octave reed, Coupler adds a higher octave reed, and Drone plays a continuous Sa and Pa under your melody.

What do the organ stops 16′, 8′ and 4′ mean?

8′ is the main pipe rank at normal pitch, 16′ adds pipes one octave lower, and 4′ adds pipes one octave higher.

Do the trumpet and saxophone show real fingerings?

Yes. The trumpet pistons and the saxophone keys move to show the fingering of each note you play.

Are my sound settings saved?

Yes. Your sound knob and preset settings are remembered in your browser on this device.

Do the instruments work on phones and tablets?

Yes. They work on Android phones, iPhones, iPads, tablets and computers, with multi-touch and responsive layouts.