How to Create a Melody in JummBox
You create a melody in JummBox by clicking the gray rows at the top of the editor to place notes, which play back automatically as you work. Notes live inside patterns, and each numbered box at the bottom of the editor is a separate pattern you can edit and assign to different parts of the song. This workflow suits anyone sketching chiptune or instrumental music in a browser, and it requires no installation — all song data is stored in the page URL.
Adding and Hearing Notes
Click a gray row at the top of the editor to add a note at that pitch and time. Click an existing note to remove it. JummBox plays each note out loud as you add it, so you can hear the melody take shape without pressing play.
The vertical position of the row sets the pitch; the horizontal position sets when the note starts.
Working with Patterns
Notes are organized into patterns rather than placed on one long timeline.
- The numbered boxes at the bottom of the editor are your patterns.
- Click a box to jump to a different part of the song.
- Click the arrows on the currently selected box to swap which pattern plays during that part.
- JummBox can play several rows of patterns at once, and each row has its own set of patterns.
- Most rows handle melodies or harmonies; the bottom row is reserved for drums.
This means you can write a melody in one pattern, then reuse or replace it in different sections of the song by changing the pattern assigned to each numbered box.
Shaping Notes: Duration, Chords, and Selection
Once notes are placed, several gestures change how they sound.
| Goal | Action |
|---|---|
| Change note length | Click and drag horizontally on the note |
| Add a chord | Click above or below an existing note to add a simultaneously played note |
| Select a time range | Long-press in the pattern editor, then drag to move multiple notes at once |
| Mass copy/paste | Click and drag on the pattern grid to make a selection, then press C or V |
The chord trick works because notes stacked at the same time position play together, so clicking directly above or below an existing note adds harmony rather than replacing it.
Advanced: Pitch Bends and Volume
Two drag gestures go beyond note placement:
- Pitch bend — drag vertically from an existing note to bend its pitch.
- Volume — drag vertically from above or below the note to adjust its volume. Hold Control while dragging for fine volume adjustment.
These are labeled advanced in JummBox's own instructions, so expect to experiment before the results feel predictable.
Keyboard Shortcuts Worth Knowing
With JummBox focused (click its interface first):
- Spacebar — play or pause
- Shift + Spacebar — play from the mouse location
- Z — undo; Y or Shift + Z — redo
- C — copy pattern from selection; V — paste pattern into selection
- 0–9 — assign a pattern number to the selection
- Arrows — move selection; Ctrl + Arrows — rearrange channels
- [ ] — move the playhead backward or forward
- F / H — move to the first or highlighted pattern
- Shift + Drag — select part of a pattern
The edit menu lists additional shortcuts beyond these.
Saving and Sharing Your Melody
JummBox stores all song data in the URL at the top of your browser, and the URL updates every time you change the song. To save or share, copy that URL and paste it wherever you need it — the recipient opens the same link and gets your melody intact. There is no separate export or account step described in the tool's instructions.
Common Sticking Points
- Nothing plays when you click — make sure the interface has focus; keyboard shortcuts and some interactions depend on it.
- You can't find a feature — click the label next to each option on the right-side menus for a description of what it does.
- Modulator channels behave unexpectedly — if your song has any modulator channels, hold Ctrl or Shift while the song is playing to access related controls, as noted in JummBox's advanced tips.
- Edits seem lost — check the URL; if it changed, your edits are captured there, so copy it before navigating away.