Show HN: I made a tool for learning scales, chords, and how to combine them (opens in new tab)

(projects.alesh.com)

36 pointsaleshh4d ago24 comments

This started out when I vibe-coded a guitar scale fingering generator. It came out pretty good, and I started adding stuff to it: chords, then how chords and scales interact.

Then I added charts for other instruments I mess around with: piano, cello, alto recorder.

There's a complexity toggle to go from basic harmony to extended/experimental stuff.

It's honestly still mostly a toy, but I thought other people might be interested in playing with it. Source is on github, so it's easy enough to run locally and fork.

https://github.com/aleshh/gtr-scales

24 comments

sijourneyweezer4d ago

I have to ask. Do you seriously not mind your site looking like every other vibe coded site on the internet? Every project posted on hacker news these days has the same font and same rounded corners on everything.

Topology14d ago

What makes it look like AI to you? Not trying to be rude, just personally don't see it.

rdataguy4d ago

And you should add that it also teaches modes, which are counterintuitive and with dumb hard-to-remember names. Cool app, good job!

noman-land4d ago

Modes are easy once you realize they're all just major scales with a different starting note.

C Major starting and ending on D is D Dorian.

C Major starting and ending on E is E Phrygian.

Etc.

euroderf4d ago

Unfortunately, it's the kind of arbitrary jargon that put off n00bs.

aleshhOP4d ago

Yeah! I came across a book that was literally just fingering charts for all these scales in all the keys and I was like, wait a second, this is dumb...

altmanaltman4d ago

This is maybe good as a reference but its much better to just understand the basic shapes and you can play any scale from memory based on where you start the pattern on the fretboard. This seems a bit too intimidating compared to the tab pdf i used over a decade ago

aleshhOP4d ago

Agree, this is very much about where I am and not for beginners. But I think it helps learn the one “big pattern” when you see where the different scale degrees fit into it in each mode?

altmanaltman4d ago

No I mean even as someone who knows music theory and scales, this just seems to be too much info compared to a quick reference (basically UI seems to be a too cluttered shouldve been the feedback that i gave). I have been playing for over a decade now and mostly remember scales by muscle memory and ear.

I don't play anything other than guitar so maybe this helps in terms of if you want to learn overall music theory i guess.

MattRix4d ago

It’s a cool idea, but is there no way to hear the actual notes?

aleshhOP4d ago

I've thought about adding something that would vamp certain chords, say. But sounds like you mean something different... like, play the pitches in a scale?

I very much would like some way to preview what the sound and feel of certain combinations of chords and scales/tones is, but I haven't quite figured out how it might work.

lbreakjai4d ago

Perhaps something like alphatab could work?

https://www.alphatab.net/

MattRix4d ago

For now I just mean something simple like playing whichever note you press on the piano/fretboard.

aleshhOP4d ago

Ok, I took a stab at this!

- All the notes on fingering charts can be clicked and they play a sound

- Chords get a little playback button

- Compose mode gets its own playback controls

The sound is very basic, I'll see if I can fix that next.

Joscharb4d ago

I like this, have you thought of adding more instruments like banjo?

1 more reply

mike7414d ago

i love this idea but i wish there was a simple way to play the sounds of whatever is currently selected. perhaps a play button near the top of the page or a spacebar hotkey

aleshhOP4d ago

I added that after posting this. You can click any note on the scale, and there are play buttons on the chords. The sound will vaguely approximate the current instrument. On the Compose screen you can select the sound. I'm working on improving the sounds, this is just a first pass.

goestin4d ago

Very nice, thank you. Bookmarked.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

24 comments

sijourneyweezer4d ago

Topology14d ago

What makes it look like AI to you? Not trying to be rude, just personally don't see it.

rdataguy4d ago

And you should add that it also teaches modes, which are counterintuitive and with dumb hard-to-remember names. Cool app, good job!

noman-land4d ago

Modes are easy once you realize they're all just major scales with a different starting note.

C Major starting and ending on D is D Dorian.

C Major starting and ending on E is E Phrygian.

Etc.

euroderf4d ago

Unfortunately, it's the kind of arbitrary jargon that put off n00bs.

aleshhOP4d ago

Yeah! I came across a book that was literally just fingering charts for all these scales in all the keys and I was like, wait a second, this is dumb...

altmanaltman4d ago

aleshhOP4d ago

Agree, this is very much about where I am and not for beginners. But I think it helps learn the one “big pattern” when you see where the different scale degrees fit into it in each mode?

altmanaltman4d ago

I don't play anything other than guitar so maybe this helps in terms of if you want to learn overall music theory i guess.

MattRix4d ago

It’s a cool idea, but is there no way to hear the actual notes?

aleshhOP4d ago

I've thought about adding something that would vamp certain chords, say. But sounds like you mean something different... like, play the pitches in a scale?

I very much would like some way to preview what the sound and feel of certain combinations of chords and scales/tones is, but I haven't quite figured out how it might work.

lbreakjai4d ago

Perhaps something like alphatab could work?

https://www.alphatab.net/

MattRix4d ago

For now I just mean something simple like playing whichever note you press on the piano/fretboard.

aleshhOP4d ago

Ok, I took a stab at this!

- All the notes on fingering charts can be clicked and they play a sound

- Chords get a little playback button

- Compose mode gets its own playback controls

The sound is very basic, I'll see if I can fix that next.

Joscharb4d ago

I like this, have you thought of adding more instruments like banjo?

1 more reply

mike7414d ago

i love this idea but i wish there was a simple way to play the sounds of whatever is currently selected. perhaps a play button near the top of the page or a spacebar hotkey

aleshhOP4d ago

goestin4d ago

Very nice, thank you. Bookmarked.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse