Free Online MIDI Keyboard —8 Synth Timbres, Quick Play Songs & .mid Export

What this MIDI keyboard can record and export

Create an editable note sequence with your computer keyboard. You do not need a physical MIDI keyboard to use the on-screen instrument.

Inputs and outputs are different capabilities

Task	Current support
Computer keyboard, mouse or touch	Play notes in the browser, then record and replay the note sequence.
Download .mid	One track with note-on/note-off events and tempo. No recorded audio, synth patch, program-change or sustain events.
Web MIDI output	Send notes to a compatible external device or virtual MIDI port. Browser permission and a working connection are required.
External USB MIDI keyboard input	Not supported here. Use software with MIDI input recording for that workflow.
MP3 or WAV export	Not provided by this tool. A .mid file needs a synthesizer or music application to make sound.

Set the BPM before recording. Stop also ends recording and closes any unfinished recorded notes. Changing BPM afterward applies to the next recording; the existing file keeps its original tempo.

Different applications can interpret instrument choices differently. Choose the sound in your destination software and listen to the imported file before sharing it.

Check an actual exported file

This original practice file was recorded with ToolKnit: C4, E4 and G4 (MIDI notes 60, 64 and 67), three note-on/off pairs, one track and 120 BPM. It is 61 bytes, with a duration of about 1.25 seconds including the initial delay. It contains no customer performance.

Download the three-note MIDI example

You Already Have a Piano —It’s Your Computer Keyboard

Most people don’t realize that their QWERTY keyboard is already laid out like a piano. The bottom two rows map naturally to two octaves of white and black keys. Z is C, S is C#, X is D, D is D#, and so on up through M (B). The next row continues: Q is C, 2 is C#, W is D, and so on through U (B). Black keys sit between white keys, exactly like a real piano.

ToolKnit’s MIDI Keyboard takes this natural mapping and turns your browser into a full-featured virtual instrument. You don’t need to install anything, create an account, or pay a cent. Just open the page and start playing.

Once you've composed a melody, pair it with our free lyric visualizer to turn your words into animated typography synced to the music.

8 Synth Timbres —From Grand Piano to Pipa

Every great virtual instrument needs great sound. The MIDI Keyboard offers 8 distinct synth timbres, each built with advanced Web Audio API synthesis for a character that goes beyond generic sine waves:

1. Grand Piano

The default timbre. Rich harmonics with a natural decay envelope. Multiple partials simulate the complex overtone structure of a real grand piano string. The attack has a slight percussive transient that mimics the hammer strike.

2. Electric Organ

Inspired by the Hammond B3. Uses additive synthesis with drawbar-like harmonic mixing. Sustained tone with no natural decay —notes hold as long as you press the key, just like a real organ. The slight vibrato adds warmth.

3. Synth Lead

A classic sawtooth lead synth with resonant filter sweep. Bright, cutting tone that sits well in a mix. The filter envelope gives each note a distinctive “wow” attack. Perfect for electronic music, synth solos, and sound design.

4. String Ensemble

Lush, wide string pad sound. Multiple detuned oscillators create a chorus effect that simulates a section of violins, violas, and cellos. Slow attack envelope for a swelling, cinematic quality. Great for ambient backgrounds and emotional passages.

5. Pipa (琵琶)

A traditional Chinese lute with a distinctive metallic twang. The synthesis uses sawtooth + square waves with non-integer harmonics (5.04x, 7.01x) for that characteristic brightness. A high-Q resonant lowpass filter shapes the tone, and a pluck noise burst on attack simulates the finger-pick technique. The Pipa is one of the most expressive Chinese instruments, and this synth captures its essential character.

6. Guitar

Acoustic guitar simulation with body resonance. Triangle wave + 6 harmonics with bandpass filters at 105 Hz and 215 Hz simulate the acoustic cavity resonance of a real guitar body. Subtle pluck noise on attack, warm mid-range decay. The result is a surprisingly convincing nylon-string tone.

7. Flute (笛子)

Pure, airy flute tone. Built on a sine wave with a faint 2nd harmonic, plus a vibrato LFO (5.5 Hz, 8 cents depth) with delayed onset at 0.3 seconds —just like a real flutist who starts vibrato after the initial attack. Breath noise (highpass-filtered white noise at 3 kHz) adds the airy texture that distinguishes a flute from a pure oscillator.

8. Music Box (音乐盒)

Delicate, chiming tones with non-integer bell partials (2.756x, 5.404x, 8.933x) for that characteristic metallic ring. An octave-above overtone adds sparkle. A highpass filter at 400 Hz removes low rumble, and the long natural decay lets each note ring out like a tiny bell. Nostalgic and enchanting.

Quick Play Songs —Learn Famous Melodies Instantly

The Quick Play Songs panel (visible on desktop, ≥1280px) is a left-side floating sidebar that shows 6 famous pieces with their keyboard key sequences. Click a song and you’ll see exactly which keys to press to play the melody. The keyboard automatically shifts to the correct octave for each piece.

Für Elise —Beethoven

The most recognizable piano piece in the world. The opening motif E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A is one of those melodies that everyone knows but few can name. On your keyboard, that’s E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A in the upper row. The Quick Play panel shows you the full key sequence so you can follow along note by note.

Summer —Joe Hisaishi (Kikujiro)

The main theme from Takeshi Kitano’s film Kikujiro. Joe Hisaishi’s composition is deceptively simple —a repeating motif that builds in intensity. The famous chorus section alternates between high and low registers with a bittersweet quality that has made it one of the most popular piano pieces in East Asia.

Ode to Joy —Beethoven

The final movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, adapted for solo piano. The melody is so universally known that it’s the anthem of the European Union. Its stepwise motion (mostly adjacent scale degrees) makes it one of the easiest classical melodies to play, perfect for beginners.

Canon in D —Pachelbel

The most famous canon in Western music. Pachelbel’s layered melody over the D-A-Bm-F#m-G-D-G-A bass progression has been played at millions of weddings. The Quick Play sequence shows the famous upper melody that weaves over the repeating bass line.

Castle in the Sky —Joe Hisaishi (Laputa)

The main theme from Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky (Laputa). One of Hisaishi’s most haunting melodies —a descending line that conveys both wonder and melancholy. The chorus section is instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up with Studio Ghibli films.

Always With Me —Yumi Kimura (Spirited Away)

The ending theme from Spirited Away is associated with Yumi Kimura. Studio Ghibli’s official film credits list Joe Hisaishi for the score and Yumi Kimura for the theme song. Use the short keyboard sequence as a practice excerpt.

Keyboard Mapping —How Your QWERTY Becomes a Piano

The MIDI Keyboard maps two octaves across the bottom two rows of your keyboard. Here’s the complete layout (default octave 4):

Lower Octave (C4 – B4)

• Z = C4 (white key)
• S = C#4 (black key)
• X = D4 (white key)
• D = D#4 (black key)
• C = E4 (white key)
• V = F4 (white key)
• G = F#4 (black key)
• B = G4 (white key)
• H = G#4 (black key)
• N = A4 (white key)
• J = A#4 (black key)
• M = B4 (white key)

Upper Octave (C5 – B5)

• Q = C5 (white key)
• 2 = C#5 (black key)
• W = D5 (white key)
• 3 = D#5 (black key)
• E = E5 (white key)
• R = F5 (white key)
• 5 = F#5 (black key)
• T = G5 (white key)
• 6 = G#5 (black key)
• Y = A5 (white key)
• 7 = A#5 (black key)
• U = B5 (white key)

Special Controls

• Spacebar = toggle sustain on or off
• Left Arrow = Octave down
• Right Arrow = Octave up

The keyboard displays 2 octaves at a time (24 notes). The base octave can be shifted from 1 to 7, giving an overall selectable range from C1 to B8. This is a browser keyboard, not an exact replica of an 88-key piano.

Record Your Performance & Export .mid

The recorder captures note presses and releases using browser event timing and a 480-ticks-per-quarter-note grid. It does not capture microphone audio or an external MIDI keyboard.

How to Record

1. Click the Record button (red circle icon). A blinking indicator shows recording is active.
2. Play your performance —every note on, note off, and timing is captured.
3. Click Stop to end recording.
4. Click Play to hear your recording played back.
5. Click Export to download a standard .mid file.

The .mid File

The export is a Standard MIDI File, format 0, with one track. Import it into software that supports this format and choose an instrument there:

• Ableton Live —drag the .mid file into a MIDI track
• FL Studio —import into the Piano Roll
• GarageBand —drag into a Software Instrument track
• Logic Pro —import as a MIDI region
• Pro Tools —import as a MIDI track
• Reaper —insert as a MIDI item
• MuseScore —open directly for notation
• Other MIDI-compatible software — check Format 0 import support and instrument assignment.

The file stores note-on and note-off events and one tempo event. Notes use a fixed velocity of 100. It does not contain recorded audio, the browser synth sound, program changes or sustain-pedal events. The tempo is captured when recording begins and remains attached to that recording.

Sustain Pedal —Spacebar Magic

On a real piano, the sustain (damper) pedal lifts all the dampers, allowing notes to ring freely even after you release the keys. The MIDI Keyboard replicates this with the Spacebar:

• Press Spacebar once — enable sustain so released notes can continue through their decay.
• Press Spacebar again — disable sustain and release notes that are no longer held.

This is essential for playing legato passages, arpeggios, and any style that requires notes to blend into each other. Without the sustain pedal, each note cuts off the moment you release the key, which sounds mechanical and unnatural.

Web MIDI Output —Send Notes to External Devices

If you use Chrome or Edge, the MIDI Keyboard can send notes to external MIDI devices in real time via the Web MIDI API. This turns your computer keyboard into a MIDI controller for hardware synths, drum machines, or any device with a MIDI input.

1. Connect your MIDI device to your computer (USB or MIDI interface).
2. Open the MIDI Keyboard in Chrome or Edge.
3. Select your device from the MIDI Output dropdown.
4. Play —notes are sent to both the internal synth and your external device simultaneously.

Web MIDI output is one-way from this page to a selected output port. Connecting a USB keyboard does not make its played notes appear in this recorder. Browser support, device drivers and permissions vary; the on-screen instrument works without granting external MIDI access.

When a Browser Keyboard Is Useful

You might wonder: why use a browser piano instead of a DAW or a dedicated app? Here’s why:

• No dedicated piano app — the internal synth runs in a browser tab. External MIDI devices may still require an interface, driver and browser permission.
• Cross-platform —works on Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS. Any device with a browser.
• Free forever —no trial, no subscription, no premium tier. Full features, zero cost.
• No account needed —no email, no login, no cloud. Your music stays on your machine.
• Loaded-tab use — synthesis can continue in an already loaded page without a live connection. Reopening offline depends on available cached assets; test that on your own browser first.
• Quick access — bookmark the page for short practice sessions without opening a full production project.
• Device-dependent performance — synthesis uses CPU and audio resources. Large chords, Bluetooth output and background throttling can affect response.
• Local synthesis — sound is generated in the browser and the recorder stores note events. It does not upload a performance audio stream. Website analytics and resource requests are separate.

Tips for Getting the Best Sound

• Use headphones —the Web Audio synth sounds much better through headphones than laptop speakers, especially for the lower frequencies.
• Start with low volume — the slider ranges from 0 to 100. Raise it gradually to a comfortable level, especially with headphones.
• Try all 8 timbres —each sounds completely different. The Pipa and Music Box are especially fun for melodies.
• Use sustain intentionally — press Spacebar to toggle it on for blending notes, then toggle it off when the harmony changes.
• Set the right BPM —if you’re recording, set the BPM before you start. It affects the .mid file’s tempo mapping.
• Shift octaves as needed —use the arrow keys to quickly jump to the register you need. The Quick Play Songs auto-shift for you.
• Record in one take —the recorder captures everything, including mistakes. Play through and export. You can edit the .mid file in your DAW later.
• Try the Flute with vibrato —hold a note for more than 0.3 seconds and hear the vibrato kick in. It’s a subtle but realistic touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play piano on my computer keyboard?

Use the bottom two rows: Z-M for the lower octave (C4 to B4) and Q-U for the upper octave (C5 to B5). Black keys are on S, D, G, H, J (sharps) and 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 (upper sharps). The ToolKnit MIDI Keyboard maps these automatically.

Can I export my recording as a MIDI file?

Yes. Click Record, play your performance, click Stop, then click Export. The tool generates a standard .mid file you can open in any DAW —Ableton, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic Pro, etc.

What instruments are available?

8 synth timbres: Grand Piano, Electric Organ, Synth Lead, String Ensemble, Pipa (琵琶), Guitar, Flute (笛子), and Music Box (音乐盒). Each uses advanced Web Audio synthesis for a distinctive sound.

What are Quick Play Songs?

A left-side panel (desktop only, ≥1280px) with 6 famous pieces —Für Elise, Summer, Ode to Joy, Canon in D, Castle in the Sky, Always With Me. Click a song to see the keyboard key sequence; follow the keys to play the melody yourself.

Does this work with external MIDI devices?

Yes. In Chrome or Edge, the Web MIDI API can send notes to external MIDI devices (synths, drum machines, etc.) in real time. Select your device from the MIDI Output dropdown.

Can I use a sustain pedal?

Yes. Spacebar or the Sustain button toggles sustain on and off; releasing Spacebar alone does not turn it off. Plucked timbres still decay naturally. The current .mid exporter does not store pedal events.

Is this free? Do I need to sign up?

The tool is free and does not require a ToolKnit account. Open the page and interact once to enable browser audio. Offline reopening is conditional on the required assets being cached.

How do I change the octave?

Use the Octave - and Octave + buttons, or press the left and right arrow keys. The keyboard spans 2 octaves at a time; shift up or down to reach higher or lower notes.

Does this work on mobile?

On a compatible mobile browser you can tap keys and use recording and export controls. The Quick Play Songs sidebar appears only on wider desktop layouts. Browser audio activation, file-download behavior and MIDI support vary by device.

What is the Pipa timbre?

The Pipa (琵琶) is a traditional Chinese lute. The synth version uses sawtooth + square waves with non-integer harmonics (5.04x, 7.01x) for a metallic twang, a high-Q resonant lowpass filter, and a pluck noise burst for realistic finger-pick attack.