mirror of
https://github.com/kennethreitz/pytheory.git
synced 2026-06-05 14:50:18 +00:00
kennethreitz
b396f42f84
Covers the prompt, theory commands, composition flow, effects, automation, LFOs, playback, export, and a full start-to-finish session. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
277 lines
6.3 KiB
ReStructuredText
277 lines
6.3 KiB
ReStructuredText
Interactive REPL
|
|
================
|
|
|
|
PyTheory includes an interactive scratchpad for exploring music theory,
|
|
hearing ideas instantly, and building arrangements — all without writing
|
|
a Python script.
|
|
|
|
::
|
|
|
|
$ pytheory repl
|
|
|
|
The REPL is two things at once: a **theory calculator** (what chords
|
|
are in this key? what's the interval between these notes?) and a
|
|
**composition sketchpad** (add drums, layer parts, tweak effects, hear
|
|
it, export MIDI). Use whichever side you need.
|
|
|
|
Getting Started
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
The welcome screen tells you everything you need::
|
|
|
|
♫ PyTheory REPL
|
|
════════════════════════════════════════
|
|
|
|
try: key Am — set a key
|
|
chords — see its chords
|
|
prog I V vi IV — hear a progression
|
|
drums bossa nova
|
|
play_score — hear it all
|
|
|
|
help for all commands, quit to exit
|
|
|
|
Type those five things in order and you'll have music playing in
|
|
30 seconds.
|
|
|
|
The Prompt
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
The prompt shows your current state — key, tempo, drums, active part,
|
|
and effects. It starts compact and grows as you add context::
|
|
|
|
pytheory[key=C | bpm=120]>
|
|
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=140]>
|
|
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=140 | drums=bossa nova]>
|
|
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=140 | drums=bossa nova | →lead(saw)]>
|
|
|
|
When it gets long, it stacks into two lines::
|
|
|
|
key=Am | bpm=140 | drums=bossa nova | →lead(saw) rev=0.3 lp=2000
|
|
♫>
|
|
|
|
You always know where you are.
|
|
|
|
Theory Commands
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
These work without any audio setup. Pure theory exploration.
|
|
|
|
Set a key and explore it::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> key Am
|
|
A minor: A B C D E F G A
|
|
|
|
pytheory> chords
|
|
i A minor
|
|
ii° B diminished
|
|
III C major
|
|
iv D minor
|
|
v E minor
|
|
VI F major
|
|
VII G major
|
|
|
|
pytheory> modes
|
|
ionian A B C# D E F# G# A
|
|
dorian A B C D E F# G A
|
|
phrygian A Bb C D E F G A
|
|
...
|
|
|
|
pytheory> scales
|
|
major A B C# D E F# G# A
|
|
minor A B C D E F G A
|
|
harmonic minor A B C D E F G# A
|
|
...
|
|
|
|
Build progressions::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> prog I V vi IV
|
|
Am → Em → F → Dm
|
|
|
|
pytheory> progression i iv V i
|
|
Am → Dm → E → Am
|
|
|
|
Explore intervals and chords::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> interval C4 G4
|
|
C4 → G4: perfect 5th
|
|
7 semitones
|
|
|
|
pytheory> identify C E G
|
|
C major
|
|
symbol: C
|
|
|
|
pytheory> identify F#m7b5
|
|
F# half-diminished 7th
|
|
symbol: F#m7b5
|
|
tones: F#4 A4 C5 E5
|
|
intervals: [3, 3, 4]
|
|
|
|
Circle of fifths::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> circle
|
|
fifths: A → E → B → F# → C# → G# → D# → A# → F → C → G → D
|
|
fourths: A → D → G → C → F → A# → D# → G# → C# → F# → B → E
|
|
|
|
Other musical systems::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> system indian
|
|
system: indian
|
|
scales: chromatic, bilawal, khamaj, kafi, ...
|
|
|
|
pytheory> system arabic
|
|
system: arabic
|
|
scales: chromatic, ajam, nahawand, kurd, hijaz, ...
|
|
|
|
Guitar::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> fingering Am
|
|
Am
|
|
E|--0--
|
|
B|--1--
|
|
G|--2--
|
|
D|--2--
|
|
A|--0--
|
|
E|--x--
|
|
|
|
pytheory> diagram minor 5
|
|
0 1 2 3 4 5
|
|
E| E | F | - | G | - | A |
|
|
...
|
|
|
|
Composition Commands
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
When you're ready to make sound, add drums and parts.
|
|
|
|
Drums::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> drums bossa nova
|
|
score.drums("bossa nova", repeats=4)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> drums
|
|
(lists all 58 presets)
|
|
|
|
Parts — each with its own synth and envelope::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> part lead saw pluck
|
|
score.part("lead", synth="saw", envelope="pluck")
|
|
|
|
pytheory> part chords fm pad
|
|
score.part("chords", synth="fm", envelope="pad")
|
|
|
|
pytheory> part bass sine pluck
|
|
score.part("bass", synth="sine", envelope="pluck")
|
|
|
|
pytheory> part
|
|
lead: synth=saw envelope=pluck vol=0.5 ←
|
|
chords: synth=fm envelope=pad vol=0.5
|
|
bass: synth=sine envelope=pluck vol=0.5
|
|
|
|
The arrow (``←``) shows which part is active. Switch with
|
|
``part <name>``.
|
|
|
|
Add notes, chords, arpeggios::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> add C5 1
|
|
.add("C5", 1.0)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> add Am 4
|
|
.add(Chord.from_symbol("Am"), 4.0)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> add E5 0.67 110
|
|
.add("E5", 0.67, velocity=110)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> rest 2
|
|
.rest(2.0)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> arp Am updown 2 2
|
|
.arpeggio("Am", pattern="updown", bars=2.0, octaves=2)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> prog i iv V i
|
|
Am → Dm → E → Am
|
|
|
|
Effects
|
|
-------
|
|
|
|
Set effects on the active part — mirrors the Python API::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> reverb 0.4
|
|
pytheory> delay 0.3 0.375
|
|
pytheory> lowpass 2000 3
|
|
pytheory> dist 0.5
|
|
pytheory> chorus 0.3
|
|
pytheory> sidechain 0.8
|
|
pytheory> humanize 0.3
|
|
pytheory> legato on
|
|
pytheory> glide 0.04
|
|
pytheory> volume 0.4
|
|
|
|
Automation — change effects mid-song::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> set lowpass 3000
|
|
.set(lowpass=3000)
|
|
|
|
LFO modulation::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> lfo lowpass 0.5 400 3000 8 sine
|
|
.lfo("lowpass", rate=0.5, min=400, max=3000, bars=8, shape="sine")
|
|
|
|
Playback and Export
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Hear your work::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> play_score
|
|
♫ play_score()
|
|
|
|
pytheory> play_pattern
|
|
♫ play_pattern("bossa nova")
|
|
|
|
Export::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> save_midi sketch.mid
|
|
save_midi("sketch.mid")
|
|
|
|
pytheory> render sketch.wav
|
|
saved: sketch.wav
|
|
|
|
Session management::
|
|
|
|
pytheory> show
|
|
<Score 4/4 140bpm 3 parts 8.0 measures>
|
|
lead: saw+pluck 32 notes reverb=0.3 delay=0.25 ←
|
|
chords: fm+pad 8 notes
|
|
drums: bossa nova (76 hits)
|
|
|
|
pytheory> status
|
|
key=A minor bpm=140 swing=0.0
|
|
drums=bossa nova parts=[lead, chords, bass] active=lead
|
|
|
|
pytheory> clear
|
|
cleared (C major, 120 bpm)
|
|
|
|
Complete Example
|
|
----------------
|
|
|
|
A full session from start to playable track::
|
|
|
|
pytheory[key=C | bpm=120]> key Am
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=120]> bpm 140
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=140]> drums bossa nova
|
|
pytheory[key=Am | bpm=140 | drums=bossa nova]> part chords fm pad
|
|
pytheory[...| →chords(fm)]> prog i iv V i
|
|
pytheory[...| →chords(fm)]> part lead saw pluck
|
|
pytheory[...| →lead(saw)]> reverb 0.3
|
|
pytheory[...| →lead(saw) rev=0.3]> delay 0.25
|
|
pytheory[...| →lead(saw) rev=0.3 del=0.25]> arp Am updown 4 2
|
|
pytheory[...]> play_score
|
|
♫ play_score()
|
|
pytheory[...]> save_midi my_bossa.mid
|
|
save_midi("my_bossa.mid")
|
|
|
|
Every command you typed maps 1:1 to the Python API. When you're
|
|
ready to move from the REPL to a script, the translation is direct.
|