The new Code-a-Key Backpack! Bringing the Makey Makey and the BBC micro:bit together for more invention fun!

Apps for Plug and Play

Wanna plug Makey Makey in and start playing and connecting everyday stuff with no coding involved? Check out these apps that use key presses. When you are ready to start making your own apps and games, head on over to Scratch to code your own projects!

Makey Makey Apps

 We've got new apps! Learn more about each app in this blog postTo celebrate the launch of our new Craft + Code Booster Kit and Get Up + Go Booster Kit, we have also launched new apps that will let you have a full plug-and-play Makey Makey experience!

Check out our plug and play apps page!

Legacy and Community Apps

BongosPlay some bongo drums with the space bar and left arrow. Turn anything into a drum!

 

Piano
A piano designed for Makey Makey. Play a melody with the arrow keys and space bar (and click, too).

MK-1
A sampling synth made by Eric Rosenbaum for Makey Makey. Record your own sound, use preset scales, and set the keys to play just the notes you want.

Makey Makey Music Sampler

We know that kids (and adults!) love our piano and bongo app. So we wanted to make a sampler to get more kids interested in sound engineering and using digital audio workstations like Garageband and Ableton.

 

Scratch Piano
This is a piano you can play with the arrow keys. It was created using Scratch, an easy-to-use graphical programming language, so you can remix it and make your own version.

Patatap

Patatap is a portable animation and sound kit. This app works with all the letter keys, so you'll have to use the back of your Makey Makey or remap the arrow keys to use with this app.  Warning: contains flashing images.

Makey Makey Midi Player

This awesome midi app was created by Makey Makey Ambassador Liam Baum (aka MrBombMusic.) He built this app with p5.js & Soundfont-Player.  Plug in your Makey Makey, and choose an instrument from the dropdown and begin playing a full scale with the instrument of your choice! (Note: you will need to remap a few pins on the back of the board for keys h and j.)

 

 

Virtual Musical Makey Makey

This app was created by Johnny Tal as a way to easily upload any sound you want for any input, or choose an instrument from the list and easily monitor what's being triggered on the virtual Makey Makey.

 

 

Dot Piano

Dot Piano is a visual musical instrument that lives on the web. Use your computer keys or MIDI keyboard to record a song, then share it simply by sending a link. To use with Makey Makey, use WASDFG on the back of your board or reprogram your arrow keys to letter key presses.

Dot Piano

Piano Genie

Another great piano app! Click the Settings wheel to change the piano keys to Makey Makey keypresses and start playing! 

 

Sound Effects
This page turns your keyboard into a sound effects machine. By connecting to the letters on the back of your Makey Makey, you can create your own way to trigger sounds. (Flash Player is no longer supported)

Chamber Music Piano
You can play 10 different notes on this piano (using w, a, s, d, f, left, up, right, down and space). Play along with the video for a piano duet!

Soundplant 

This downloadable app is great if you just want to drag and drop sounds onto keys on a keyboard, then press the keys to play them. Try it with the example keymap we made with drum and marimba sounds for mac or windows.

Makey Makey OneClick Drum

 

1 Button Piano

Makey Makey Harp

 

Games and Fun Apps

Owlie Boo (For Younger Students- Prek)

This is a series of very simple computer games that could be handled by toddlers and young children: by just pressing any key whatsoever, something happens on the computer screen. There are also games with mouse control!

 

Tetris
You can play this Tetris game with the arrow keys... or make your own custom controller.

 

Makey Makey Counter While Touching With Sound

Flappy Bird!

Makey Makey Spinner

Makey Makey Billie Jean (One-Key)

 

Create your own in Scratch!

Create your own apps, games, and animations in Scratch

Here are some great guides for getting started!

 

  

Time Investment
Up to 1 hour
Grades:
Pre-K - 12+

Supplies

  • Makey Makey
  • Computer

EDU Standards

N/A

Download

Download PDF copy of this Guide

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Welcome

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