Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#21

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:00 PM UTC

vr46 wrote: post #14

Signed up for mailing list but app is completely broken for me on Firefox, won't start at all, couple of errors in console, but nothing in Privacy badger or Ublock.

im sorry to hear that. I want to make sure this works for you. Could you give me a couple more details? 1. Desktop or Mobile? 2. Whats the exact behavior? Is there a button that doesnt respond? Would a screenshot help clarify? 3. If Desktop, Can you screenshot the web inspector console?

I know I'm asking for a lot but I'd really appreciate it Thank you

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#22

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:02 PM UTC

pstuart wrote: post #15

I like the idea but one small UI request -- allow inverting the string layout please. I visualize from the top down (EADGBE) and it would be easier (for me) to practice in that mode.

ooohh...thats a new one. Are you left handed? Have you tried the left handed mode? Would that help? Is there anything unusual about how you play the guitar?

Honestly, on first thought I'll keep this one on the backburner until more people ask for it

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#23

Post by i_c_b » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:04 PM UTC

I like the general idea - I would like a game tool like this.

(and before I give my feedback, I should say, I spent a year or two working on a solo indie Zelda/Diablo mishmash focused on teaching guitar fretboards and music theory back in 2006-2009. A video of that incomplete game is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6O32PFGZCE . It relied on players playing intervals and chords to cast spells, for both fighting and puzzle solving, in an ARPG real-time context. I had to pause development due to life, but I'm desperately hoping to find a way to finish and ship it.)

Anyway, I think that your game is... well, really, really hard. More specifically, it feels like it gives a lot of negative feedback right from the get go.

If it were me, I would probably add substantially more scaffolding early on - pull from a smaller section of the fretboard at first for the player to master and get more positive feedback, then expand from there in much more incremental steps. I also feel like the timer feels pretty harsh and negative at the beginning. I've played guitar for many years but have, myself, not really memorized all the higher notes on all the higher strings, so I'm actually receptive for what this tool is doing. But running out of time and then losing a life while I'm trying to count off notes feels frustrating, like it's actively interrupting me doing the learning activity I'm there to do.

Hope that helps! As I say, I like the general idea and would love to see a more fleshed out version.

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#24

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:06 PM UTC

fnord77 wrote: post #6

be nice if there was a "learning" mode where it shows you where things are and then quizzes you. like that game "Memory" or Simon says. Also this is training you visually. wouldn't it be better to train you by feel?

Absolutely, you're totally right about the learning mode. I've got that request a lot since I released it and I plan to build that in once I build some more modules: A spaced-repetition based module that teaches you the notes a few at a time. Kindof like Duolingo

The reason why I didnt make it is because I'm an intermediate player myself and I guess right now it resonates with intermediate players who mostly kindof know the notes but have a lot of blind spots. While the feature you requested is more targeted towards newer guitar players

Re: Visual vs feel, if by feel you mean sensory input like touch and how the guitar strings feel? yeah, I totally agree. Except I cant build software to replicate that so this is about as good as it gets . That said, I still find it very valuable for making visual connections for notes and intervals

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#25

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:10 PM UTC

i_c_b wrote: post #23

I like the general idea - I would like a game tool like this. (and before I give my feedback, I should say, I spent a year or two working on a solo indie Zelda/Diablo mishmash focused on teaching guitar fretboards and music theory back in 2006-2009. A video of that incomplete game is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6O32PFGZCE . It relied on players playing intervals and chords to cast spells, for both fighting…

your video of the game looks pretty awesome. I assume you're a game dev. Not being one myself, it looks very....elaborate and hard to build for someone with my skills.

Regarding your feedback...yeah, I've gotten that feedback a lot. Thats part of the reason why I built the practice mode. Did you get a chance to try it? It doesnt have the timer and you can take your time counting notes to get better. And my favorite part: You can pick and choose what frets and strings you want to focus on.

But your point still stands: There is a need for a gentler introduction and I do have that in mind: A Duolingo style Spaced repetition approach that starts off with 5-7 notes a day and builds up from there. Once you're done with the course, you can play the game to reinforce and test the concepts. What do you think?

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#26

Post by troupe » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:14 PM UTC

You might consider starting with learning the open strings, then the first fret, then second, etc. The way it works now requires a level of expertise beyond what beginners are likely to have.

But the idea looks great!

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#27

Post by aendruk » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:19 PM UTC

What I see when trying to play the game: https://0x0.st/Hqgk.png

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#28

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

troupe wrote: post #26

You might consider starting with learning the open strings, then the first fret, then second, etc. The way it works now requires a level of expertise beyond what beginners are likely to have. But the idea looks great!

you're totally right. I'm an intermediate player myself so I kindof built it with an intermediate bias. Did you try the practice mode? There's no timer there and you can filter it by strings and frets so you can focus on a small area of the fretboard at a time.

But yeah, as I mentioned in a couple other comments here, I plan to build a gradual learning module using spaced repetition that starts with a few notes at a time. Does that sound better?

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#29

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:21 PM UTC

soledades wrote: post #11

This is really cool, thanks for sharing. The Tenuto app has some similar exercises (also available here: https://www.musictheory.net/exercises ) you might take inspiration from, or others might find useful: - fretboard interval identification. shows two dots on the fretboard, you are supposed to indicate the interval between them. this is useful for bridging the gap between audio interval recognition and actually pla…

I loooove Tenuto, its awesome. I honestly never used it for guitar stuff, more like ear training. I'll check it out, thanks

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#30

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 5:22 PM UTC

batch12 wrote: post #17

Nice work. Other instruments like Banjo would be cool too.

Thank you! I have other instruments on my roadmap for sure....i just want to build out the full guitar version first before venturing out to other instruments.