A camera music playground
Make music with hand gestures.
Gesture music turns movement into musical control. Choose individual piano notes, a continuous theremin tone, or the hand-shaped chords you can play here.
Notes, glides or chords?
| Instrument | What your hands do | Best starting task |
|---|---|---|
| Air piano | Lower either index fingertip onto virtual keys. | Play a short melody with separate notes. |
| Online theremin | Move the right palm for pitch and the left for volume. | Hold one tone and glide smoothly to another. |
| Gesture Synth chords | Choose a root with the left hand and a chord shape with the right. | Make a four-chord loop, then record 15 seconds. |
Browser instrument
Play chords with your hands
Turn your webcam into an instrument. Move left for a root; show a right-hand shape for a chord.
Loading the instrument…
Camera help
In Safari, open this website’s settings and allow Camera. In Chrome or Edge, use the permissions icon beside the address. Close other camera apps, then try again. Sound also needs a tap on this page.
Reload pagePlay the air piano without a camera
Camera is off
Click Start camera to begin
Root degree unavailable. Chord muted. Camera is off.
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
- VI
- VII
How to play 60-second quick start
- 1
Choose CKeep the key on C. Move your left palm to lane I at any comfortable height and hold briefly.
- 2
Show one fingerFace your right palm toward the camera. Extend only your index finger and tuck your thumb.
- 3
Raise for soundLift your right palm for more volume. The chord readout should change from Muted to C.
Right-hand fingersChord shape
- 0Mute
- 1Major
- 2Minor
- 3Dominant 7
- 4Major 7
- 5Sus4
Left handMove your palm across I–VII at any comfortable height and hold briefly.
Right handMove your palm up or down for volume; left or right for a darker or brighter tone.
Still muted?Keep both palms and fingertips visible, separate your hands, and stay inside the comfortable center of the camera view.
Play C → G → Am → F
Left handI → V → VI → IV
Right-hand fingers1 → 1 → 2 → 1
Private by design: camera frames and recordings stay in your browser and are never uploaded.
What is hand gesture music?
Instead of pressing a physical key, you move a hand or change its shape to control a musical parameter. A useful mapping makes that relationship predictable: position can choose a note, height can change volume, and finger count can select a chord.
This camera music app tracks hand landmarks in your browser and sends musical instructions to a local synthesizer. It generates sound from your movements; it does not listen to a microphone or turn a recorded video into a finished song.
A first hand-controlled chord loop
In the chord instrument above, keep the key on C. Start the camera and put your left hand in lane I. Show one extended finger on your right hand, then raise that palm until you hear C major.
ChordsC → G → Am → F
Left-hand lanesI → V → VI → IV
Right-hand fingers1 → 1 → 2 → 1
Pause briefly after each change so the tracker can settle. The left hand chooses the root; it does not automatically choose a major or minor chord. Keep the right-hand shape deliberate. Use the complete chord reference for other qualities and keys.
When the loop is comfortable, move the right palm up and down for volume and sideways for a darker or brighter filter. The optional recorder captures a 15-second performance when supported by your browser.
Make the camera work for your hands
Place the device on a stable surface and light your hands from the front. Keep fingers and palms within the picture, with space between your hands. A plain background and slower movements make the controls easier to learn.
The camera is requested only after you press Start camera, and microphone access is not requested. Camera frames are processed locally. Browser compatibility, device speed and lighting affect tracking; the recognition troubleshooting guide explains common problems.
If you prefer to play without a camera, the virtual piano keyboard and theremin touch pad and sliders provide direct controls. For a Spanish introduction to the chord instrument, visit el sintetizador con las manos.