Chordify introduces self-playing guitar with Guitarmation AI

Press release Groningen / Utrecht March 25, 2019. Updated April 1.

Chordify - the music service that automatically puts tunes into chords - releases a new technology that enables guitars to play on their own. The Chordify algorithm is now training to be able to play music fully automatic. This way live music is going to be available for everyone and it is a great solution for anyone who doesn't have the time to practice for hours. The release of Guitarmation AI is scheduled for the end of the year.

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Guitarmation AI

The new Guitarmation AI technology enables every guitar to reach its full potential, without being dependent on the skills of the guitarist. The name Guitarmation AI is a contraction of "guitar" and "automation." The existing technology behind Chordify automatically generates the chords for each song based on real-time music recognition. Self-playing pianos have been around for more than a hundred years, so the step to the self-playing guitar was an obvious one.

Free live music for everyone

For years, Chordify worked on the self-playing guitar. The company hopes that this innovation provides guitarists worldwide with an extra creative impulse. Not all cafe owners have room in their budget to pay a fair price to musicians. Moreover not every guitarist has the time to practice everyday. CEO Bas de Haas is pleased that they can finally let out the news about Guitarmation.

“When we started Chordify we never thought the technology could be applied this way, but after just a few brainstorm sessions it became clear that this was a realistic possibility. At Chordify we are always looking for ways to work on technological innovations at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and music. At the moment we are talking to partners in music education and the entertainment industry.” Says Bas de Haas, CEO Chordify.

Head of research Jonathan Driedger trained the AI ​​for years to perfect the automatic guitar. Traditionally, an AI contains only the brains, but Chordify pushed it ​​one step further to also mimic the physical aspects of natural strumming of the strings.

Driedger stresses that guitarists do not have to be afraid that they will be replaced by an algorithm. “Of course we don't want to make the real guitarist superfluous. Guitarmation is purely intended as an addition to what is already possible. For example, you no longer have to cancel a performance if the guitarist is sick, but Guitarmation can also mean a lot as an extra band member."

How does it work?

Guitarmation AI sends a signal to the selected guitar via the Chordify app. Bluetooth, magnets and power shocks make sure the correct tones are played, real time and fully automatic. André Dodde, editor in chief at the trade magazine Musicmaker, saw the beta version and is amazed: "Guitarmation is the future. It's that simple.'

For the time being, the technology is only available for electric guitars with steel strings. In the future, Chordify wants to make programmable solo styles available alongside chords. Playing together gets a whole new dimension.

Beta testers wanted

With a simple update of the Chordify app, the Guitarmation AI innovation will soon be available for everyone. It is expected that it will be released at the end of the year. Until then, a beta version is available. For those who are interested, you can now register as a beta tester.

Update April 1: Test our new Guitarmation AI technology now

The self-playing guitar is almost ready to release. The Guitarmation technology will enable any guitar to play unassisted. Chordify received a lot of reactions and many registrations for beta testing. Follow the link below to enter the test environment:

Test Guitarmation AI with this song!     

About Chordify

[Dutch version below]


🇬🇧

Chordify is an online music service, made for and by music enthusiasts, that transforms music from YouTube, Deezer, SoundCloud, or your private collection into chords. The service automatically recognizes chords from the audio signal, and aligns them to the music in a simple and intuitive player for guitar, piano, and ukulele.

The Chordify web app has been up and running since January 2013. Since then, the company has grown steadily and organically, in total welcoming over 300 million unique visitors to the platform. To date, 25 million songs have been chordified by users and over 6.4 million people have registered to the service.

Over the course of its existence Chordify received a lot of international acclaim, winning the Dutch Pitch Session at the Northside Festival in New York in 2014 and the San Francisco MusicTech Summit Startup competition in 2015. They were also selected to pitch during The Next Web Conference in New York and were showcased during the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.


🇳🇱

Chordify is een online muziekservice, die muziek van YouTube, Deezer, SoundCloud of jouw privé collectie omzet in akkoorden. De service herkent de akkoorden uit de muziek automatisch en zet ze op muziek in een simpele en intuïtieve muziekspeler.

De Chordify WebApp is al sinds januari 2013 online. Sindsdien is het bedrijf gestaag en organisch gegroeid, en heeft het meer dan 300 miljoen unieke bezoekers mogen verwelkomen. Tot op de dag van vandaag zijn er al 25 miljoen liedjes gechordified door de gebruikers en hebben zich meer dan 6.4 miljoen mensen geregistreerd bij de service.

In de jaren dat Chordify bestaat heeft het bedrijf veel internationale waardering gekregen, wat resulteerde in het winnen van de Dutch Pitch Session bij het Northside Festival in New York in 2014 en de San Francisco MusicTech Summit Startup competitie in 2015. Chordify was ook geselecteerd om te pitchen tijdens de Next Web Conference in New York en presenteerde zichzelf tijdens de SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.

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