Indian BGM Keyboard Docs

Start here

Quick Start

Choose a Raga, Instrument, and Root Shruti.
Click a script tab or create one with Add Script.
Single-click any saved tune to create a new script from it.
Type keys in Key Script, or play notes from your computer keyboard.
Adjust Pace ms for the gap between notes and Hold ms for note length.
Press Play to hear the selected script.
Add scripts to the Arrangement Timeline and place them like clips in a video editor.

Swaras

Keyboard Basics

The keyboard is arranged so every row starts with Sa. This keeps the layout easy to understand while composing Indian melodies.

Base rows

Q A Z start from Sa in different octaves.

W E R T Y U continue the swara movement on the upper row.

Komal and tivra notes

Use Shift on Re, Ga, Dha, and Ni to reach komal variants.

Use Alt or Option on Ma to reach tivra Ma.

Custom keys

Empty keys can be assigned with Set. Click Set, then press the key whose swara you want to duplicate.

Playback language

Writing Key Scripts

A key script is a text version of your melody. Each token is one note, rest, or timing command. Spaces separate notes.

Pattern	Meaning
`Q W E`	Play Q, then W, then E.
`-`	Add a rest or silence.
`Shift+E`	Play the shifted swara for that key.
`Alt+R`	Play the alternate swara where available.
`G*3`	Repeat G three times.
`A@600/400`	Play A with 600ms pace and 400ms hold.

Example:

P { I I*2 F O I F O I A I I - A@600 I A

For musicians

Western and Swara Notation

The app shows the selected script in three forms: keyboard script, Western notes, and swaras. You can edit Western or swara notation directly, and the app converts it back into playable key script.

Western notes

Use notes like C, Db, F, Ab, and octave marks like Db'.

Swaras

Use S r R g G m M P d D n N. Add ' for higher octave or , for lower octave.

Arrangement

Using the Timeline

The timeline works like a compact video editor. Add script clips, drag them in time, layer them vertically, and play the whole arrangement.

Use the sequence dropdown to switch between arrangements.
New creates a fresh empty timeline while keeping your global scripts available.
Save stores the current timeline layers, clip positions, and sequence name.
Add Active places the selected script onto the timeline.
Drag a clip left or right to change when it starts.
Drag a clip up or down to move it to another layer.
Use - / + zoom to stretch or compress the timeline view.
Use the triangle playhead and scrub bar to jump through the arrangement.
When Canvas is active, Space plays or pauses the timeline.

AI assistant workflow

Use AI to Generate Music for SCORING

The Prompt button helps you ask ChatGPT or Claude for music that SCORING can actually load. Use it when you know the scene emotion but do not know which notes, raga, or instruments to choose.

Generate an AI prompt

Open SCORING and click Prompt in the header.
Choose Generate.
Select one genre and 1 to 5 instruments.
Describe the scene in normal words, for example: his best friend is getting married to another guy.
Click Generate, then copy the generated prompt.
Paste it into ChatGPT or Claude.

Load the AI result

Ask the AI to return only JSON.
Copy the full JSON response.
Come back to SCORING and click Prompt.
Choose Load.
Paste the JSON and click Load Scripts.
SCORING creates the scripts, a new sequence, and arranged timeline clips.

AI JSON field	What it does in SCORING
`tunes`	Creates script lanes with raga, root shruti, instrument, pace, hold, and key script.
`sequence.clips`	Creates a timeline arrangement from the generated scripts.
`startMs`	Controls when a clip starts on the timeline.
`trackIndex`	Controls which vertical layer the clip appears on.
`repeat`, `gapMs`, `intervalMs`	Creates looped or repeated clips automatically.

Prompt tip

Be specific about the scene, not music theory. Write things like slow sad breakup, no drums, should feel empty or hero entry with village drums and mass impact. The clearer the emotion and situation, the better the AI can choose instruments and arrange clips.

Choosing sounds

Instrument and Mood Suggestions

If you are not from a music background, start with the scene feeling first. Pick one lead instrument, one support layer, and one optional texture. Too many layers can make the cue feel less emotional.

Sad breakup / heart melting

Lead: Santoor, Veena, Bansuri, or Sarangi.

Support: Harmonium or Film Strings with long holds.

Try: Keeravani or Natabhairavi, root C or D, pace 340-520, hold 500-1200.

Lonely memory / flashback

Lead: Bansuri, Santoor, or soft Piano.

Support: Synth Pad or Film Strings very low in the background.

Try: Hindolam, Keeravani, or Mohanam, pace 420-700, more rests.

Suspense / hidden danger

Lead: Synth Pad, Film Strings, or low Bansuri.

Support: Cinematic Drums as sparse hits, not continuous rhythm.

Try: Keeravani, Charukesi, or Natabhairavi, pace 500-900, long silences.

Devotional / spiritual

Lead: Veena, Bansuri, Harmonium, or Sitar.

Support: Tanpura Drone, soft Tabla, or String Ensemble.

Try: Mohanam, Hamsadhwani, Kalyani, root C or G, steady pace 320-520.

Romantic / gentle warmth

Lead: Bansuri, Santoor, Piano, or Violin.

Support: String Ensemble or Synth Pad with slow movement.

Try: Kalyani, Mohanam, or Shankarabharanam, hold 400-900.

Mass / hero entry

Lead: Sitar, Veena, or Film Strings for the hook.

Support: Cinematic Drums, Dholak, or Mridangam.

Try: Shankarabharanam, Kalyani, or Mohanam, pace 180-360, strong repeats.

Instrument	Best for	Avoid when
Santoor	Soft sadness, memory, emotional sparkle, delicate love.	The scene needs heavy power or aggressive rhythm.
Bansuri	Loneliness, innocence, village feel, spiritual calm.	You need sharp attack or very dense fast notes.
Veena	Classical emotion, devotion, mature sadness, graceful lead motifs.	The cue should feel modern, cold, or sci-fi.
Sitar	Drama, reply phrases, tension, heroic or traditional color.	The scene needs very soft background only.
Harmonium	Long emotional bed, devotional base, old-memory feeling.	You use it too loud; it can cover the lead melody.
Film Strings	Cinematic lift, pain under dialogue, wide emotional support.	The cue should feel intimate and small.
Synth Pad	Suspense, dream, night scenes, background atmosphere.	You need a natural Indian acoustic sound.
Tabla / Mridangam / Dholak	Movement, devotional pulse, folk feel, build-up.	Sad scenes where silence is carrying the emotion.
Cinematic Drums	Mass moments, shock hits, tension rise, trailer-like impact.	Romantic or tender scenes.

Simple starting recipe

For most emotional short-film scenes, start with Santoor + Keeravani + C, pace around 360, hold around 500. Add Film Strings only after the melody works. If it feels too bright, try Natabhairavi. If it feels too heavy, try Mohanam.

Layered cue example

Build a Space-Drama Bansuri Cue

This cue uses Kalyani, Bansuri, and root C. Combine one repeating motif with slower support notes, then add each saved tune to the timeline.

Layer	Saved tune	Timing
Main motif	`Orbital Piano 1`	Pace 270, hold 460
Pulse variation	`Orbital Piano 2`	Pace 260, hold 360
Low support	`Orbital Long F`, `Orbital Long G`, `Orbital Long A`	Pace 470, hold 670

Place long support notes on lower tracks and stagger them under the main motif. Keep the Bansuri clear, then add another layer only if the scene needs more emotional weight.

Creative workflow

Create Your Own Music

Pick an emotional goal: sad, devotional, suspense, mass, romantic, or heroic.
Choose a raga that matches the mood. For darker emotion, try Keeravani or Natabhairavi. For bright emotion, try Mohanam or Hamsadhwani.
Find a root shruti that feels close to the scene or reference track.
Start with a short 4 to 8 note motif. Repeat it with small changes.
Use rests. Silence makes sad and suspense cues feel more natural.
Layer a second script with a slower instrument such as Film Strings, Sarangi, or Synth Pad.
Save strong ideas as tunes so you can reload them later.
Record and export when the cue feels ready.