About Fretwell Music Lab

Fretwell Music Lab makes interactive music theory and ear-training tools for guitar and piano players. They run in a web browser on a computer, tablet or phone.

What we make

Each tool focuses on one part of musicianship — reading notes, hearing intervals, knowing scales and chords, feeling rhythm, understanding harmony — and turns it into short, repeatable practice with immediate feedback. Exercises are generated from music theory rules, so you never run out of new questions and never practise the same fixed list until you have memorised it.

The tools show the same idea in several ways at once: on the staff, on a guitar fretboard, on a piano keyboard and by ear. Seeing a chord on the keyboard, hearing it, and finding it on the neck all reinforce each other.

Why we make it this way

Theory and ear training are easier to practise little and often, and harder to fit in when they need books, apps that ask for an account, or a teacher sitting beside you. We wanted tools that open instantly, work offline once installed, and keep your progress private on your own device.

• Everything is generated. Questions, melodies and progressions are built from theory rules each time, and checked by automated tests for correct spelling, Roman numerals and voice leading.
• Everything is synthesized. Guitar, keyboard and metronome sounds are created in your browser rather than played from recordings.
• Nothing is tracked. No cookies, no analytics, no accounts. Your keys, progress and settings stay on your device.
• No borrowed music. There are no songs, lyrics or sheet music from anyone else anywhere in the tools.

What the tools are not

They are practice aids, not lessons, and they don’t replace a teacher. They describe and drill what each topic involves; how far you get depends on how you practise. See the Disclaimer for more.

Questions? Get in touch through the Contact page.