How do you play Tap the Keys?
It is a rhythm game where you tap only the black keys, always the lowest one first, as they come down four lanes. Every tap plays the next note of the song you picked, so a clean run plays the whole tune. Tapping a white square or letting a black key slide off the bottom ends the round.
The first key says START, and the clock begins the moment you tap it. White squares tapped before that do not count against you.
What are the three modes?
| Mode | Goal | Ends when | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Tap 50 keys as fast as you can | All 50 are done or you hit a white square | Fastest time |
| Arcade | Survive keys that keep speeding up | You hit a white square or miss a key | High score |
| Zen | Tap as many keys as you can in 30 seconds | Time runs out or you hit a white square | Most keys |
In Classic and Zen the board only moves down when you tap. In Arcade it scrolls by itself and gets faster with every key, up to more than three times the starting speed.
How do long keys work?
Tall keys fill up with blue while you keep your finger down, and when they fill to the top you get a 1 point bonus. Long held notes in the song become long keys.
- Letting go early is fine: the round goes on, you just miss the bonus.
- Next key while holding: tapping the next key with another finger finishes the long key right there.
- Classic mode: only time counts, so there is no bonus. Bonuses apply in Arcade and Zen.
Which songs are included?
Eight public domain classics and folk songs, entered note by note by ormgames. The piano sound is synthesized live in your browser, with no recordings.
- Beethoven: Ode to Joy, Für Elise
- Pachelbel: Canon in D. Petzold: Minuet in G
- Brahms: Lullaby. Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King
- Greensleeves (English folk song), Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpont)
Tips
- Watch only the bottom key. The next one to tap is always the lowest black key.
- Alternate two fingers. Use both thumbs on a phone, or rest two hands on D F and J K on a keyboard.
- Feel the beat in Arcade. Keys come one row at a time at an even pace, so a steady rhythm prevents slips.
- Accuracy first in Classic. One mistake means no time at all, so clean beats fast.
The lanes are shuffled again every round, even on the same song. Your best record for each mode and your song choice are saved in this browser.