Compose Mode · Piano Roll

Create Your First Composition

Draw notes, build chord progressions, and layer multiple tracks — all in a piano roll designed for touch.

ComposeiPhoneiPadMacv2.0.0+
1

Create a new composition

Tap Compose in the bottom nav, then tap the + button to create a new composition. Give it a name, choose a time signature (4/4 by default), and set the initial tempo.

Your composition opens in the piano roll editor with one empty track. All compositions are saved automatically and sync to iCloud if you have cross-device sync enabled.

Open in app

Compose
2

Understand the piano roll

The piano roll is a grid where:

• Horizontal axis (left → right) = time. Each column is one beat; bar lines divide the grid into measures.
• Vertical axis (top → bottom) = pitch. Higher keys are at the top, lower keys at the bottom. The keyboard strip on the left edge maps to the same layout.

Notes appear as horizontal blocks. A longer block = a longer note duration. Tap the keyboard strip at any time to hear a pitch and find its position in the grid.

3

Draw and edit notes

Tap the Edit button (pencil icon) to enter edit mode. In edit mode:

• Tap an empty cell to place a note at that pitch and beat
• Drag the right edge of a note to change its duration
• Drag the body of a note to move it in time or pitch
• Tap a note to select it; tap again to delete it

Pinch to zoom in for precise editing or zoom out to see the full arrangement. Double-tap the grid to fit all notes in view.

Tip Use a MIDI keyboard to record notes directly — arm the track (tap the record button), press play, and play your part. Recorded notes land on the grid quantised to the nearest beat.
4

Add tracks and instruments

Tap the + Track button in the track list on the left. Each track has its own instrument — choose from piano, electric piano, bass, strings, and more from the instrument picker.

Tracks are colour-coded. Mute or solo individual tracks with the M/S buttons on the track row. Adjust track volume with the fader in the track settings panel.

All tracks play back simultaneously, so you can layer a melody over a chord progression or add a bass line beneath your main part.

5

Import a chord progression

Tap the progression templates button (grid icon) to browse 14 built-in chord progressions across Pop, Jazz, Blues, and Classical styles. Tap any template to preview it, then tap Add to drop it into the current track at the playhead position.

Alternatively, switch to the Compose chord view and use the chord picker to build a progression manually — choose each chord root and quality, then drag slots to reorder.

Tip Set the key and tempo before importing a template — the template transposes to match your key automatically.
6

Play back and export

Tap the play button in the toolbar to hear your composition from the beginning, or tap anywhere on the timeline to start from that point. The metronome button in the toolbar toggles a click track.

When you're ready to export, tap the share button (top right) to export as a MIDI file or an audio recording. MIDI export preserves all track data; audio export renders a stereo mix you can share directly.

Tip Use the loop button to repeat a section while you refine it — set loop points by long-pressing the timeline ruler.

Practice in the app

Learn this on Tiny Instrument

Tiny Instrument teaches music theory through interactive lessons, ear training, and playful practice — all connected in one app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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Create Your First Composition | Tiny Instrument