# Freeware for remembering tunes/composing music?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 19, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568 "2011-07-19T12:33:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568/1 "2011-07-19T12:33:30Z")

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“Composing” is perhaps overblown, given that I can’t read music. I’m looking for something that can remember and play back little tunes I sometimes get in my head.

If I had a piano with a memory, or a guitar with a memory, that would be perfect.

Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568/2 "2011-07-19T13:52:26Z")

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You can try the [Google Les Paul logo](http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html), as long as the ditty is simple. It’s got a record button.

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**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568/3 "2011-07-19T17:17:48Z")

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Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.

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**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568/4 "2011-07-19T17:25:43Z")

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There are several [flash keyboards](http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/) online that you can use to play one note at a time with a mouse click. There is an [interactive guitar chord thingy](http://www.chordbook.com/guitarchords.php) that lets you save chords in progression and play them back. You can use those to pick out melody and harmony without having to read music. There is a chrome app called [Aviary Music Creator](http://www.aviary.com/online/music-creator) that is fun to play with. You can use the piano sounds mode to create melodies with rhythms.

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freeware-for-remembering-tunes-composing-music/589568/5 "2011-07-20T02:08:32Z")

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If I understand you correctly, **Anvil Studio 2011** has a free version.  
Too lazy to look up the link, tho.

Best wishes,  
hh