Jam Run, the game to learn chords on your real instrument

How it works

A marked zone on the ground announces the obstacle, and the next chord appears with its diagram. Play the chord before the obstacle: Jam Jam listens, recognizes it, and the mascot jumps. A chord played right on time scores more, and a streak raises your multiplier.

A band plays along during the run, in the level’s music genre. With headphones the full music keeps playing; without them it gets lighter on your turn, so the microphone hears your instrument first. A first level, “First steps”, teaches you the idea with two chords and no lives to lose.

Guitar, ukulele, piano and ten more instruments

With guitar, ukulele, mandolin and piano, the run asks for chords. With melodic instruments and your voice, the same run asks for one note at a time, within a range that suits the instrument. On clarinet, trumpet and saxophone, the notes shown are the ones you read on your part, and Jam Jam checks the pitch it actually hears.

You play into the microphone. On piano you can also connect a MIDI keyboard to your computer, in a compatible browser: the microphone then stays off and only notes are read.

Beginner, comfortable or expert, with or without barre chords

Three difficulty levels change the chords you get, the pace and how much timing slack you have: Beginner (beginner chords only), Comfortable and Expert. Every run gives you 4 hearts, and tempo and chord density rise level after level.

On guitar, ukulele, mandolin and bass, the “No barre” option swaps barre chords for open shapes, across all 200 levels and at every difficulty. The challenge then comes from chord changes and speed, not from finger strength.

1. BeginnerBeginner chords, wide windows
2. ComfortableMore chords, medium windows
3. ExpertRich chords, tight windows

The chords you will practice

Each level takes its chords from a common key and progression: major and minor chords, then seventh chords (7, maj7, m7). The progressions are the ones real songs use, in folk, rock, funk or synthwave depending on the world.

Each chord’s diagram shows up when you need to play it, with the next chord right below, so your hand can get ready ahead of time.

Progress you can see

The 200 levels unlock one by one, chapter after chapter, each with its own world, genre and tempo. Cleared levels are counted per instrument, and your records per instrument, difficulty and input: clearing a level on guitar does not clear it on piano.

Clearing levels unlocks items to dress up the mascot.

Your own songbook songs

A song from your Jam Jam songbook can become a run: its chords become the game’s chords, at its tempo, with its capo. If the song has synced lyrics, they scroll next to the game while you play. With the original audio, wear headphones or play a MIDI keyboard; without audio, the Jam Run band plays the song from its chords.

A chord too rare for the game is reduced to its basic chord, and its original name stays on screen. Every time signature is supported, from 4/4 to 3/4, 6/8 or 7/8.

Discover the songbook

For teens aged 13 and up and adults

For teens aged 13 and up and adults, from beginners to experienced players. Beginner level and “No barre” mode leave time to place your fingers, while Expert remains a real rhythm challenge for seasoned players.

Right in your browser

Jam Run runs in your browser: open the page, allow the microphone, play. The game is free, with no Premium subscription.

Microphone audio is analyzed on your device, without recording or uploading. Pausing turns the microphone off.