Free · Your file stays on your device
Slow down music without changing the pitch
Load a song, slow it to a speed you can follow, and loop the part you are learning. Made for working out guitar, bass, and ukulele parts by ear.
Drop a song here
MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, or FLAC. It plays in your browser and never leaves your device.
How to learn a song with the player
- 1
Load the song
Drop an MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, or FLAC file on the player. It plays in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
- 2
Loop the hard part
Drag across the waveform over the section you are learning. Start the loop a beat early so you can count yourself in.
- 3
Slow it down
Drop the speed to 60 or 75%. The pitch stays the same, so you can play along in tune.
- 4
Play along until it is clean
Repeat the loop until you can play it three times in a row without a mistake.
- 5
Speed it back up
Raise the speed 5 to 10% at a time until you reach 100%, then move the loop to the next section.
How it slows a song without changing the pitch
Playing a recording more slowly usually lowers its pitch, like a record spinning too slowly. The player uses time-stretching instead, which modern browsers have built in: the sound is cut into tiny slices that are played back further apart, so the song gets longer while every note keeps its pitch. Between 50 and 90% it sounds natural; much slower than that, drums and fast notes start to smear.
Practice tips
- Keep loops short
- Two to four bars is enough. A short loop comes round often, and repetition is what makes a part stick.
- Speed up before it feels perfect
- Practising only at a slow speed trains a slow version of the part. Push the speed up a little as soon as it is mostly clean.
- Listen before you play
- Loop the part a few times just listening, and hum or sing it. Notes you can already hear in your head are easier to find on the neck.
- Check it against the tab
- Once you have a section, compare it with a tab, or turn the recording into tab with the converter to see where each note sits.
Rather have the tab?
Upload the same recording to the converter, and Tabtify writes the tab, so you can see where each note sits while you practise.
Turn the recording into tabSlow down music FAQ
Is my song uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is played and analysed in your browser and never leaves your device.
Which audio files can I use?
MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, FLAC, and Opus, as long as your browser can play them. Video files are not supported.
Does slowing down change the pitch?
No. The pitch stays the same at any speed. Below about 50%, drums and fast notes start to sound a little smeared.
Can I change the key of the song?
Not yet: the player changes speed only. To play along in another key, retune with the tuner or use a capo.
Can I use a song from YouTube?
The player works with audio files on your device. To get the tab of a song on YouTube, paste the link into the converter instead.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in current versions of Safari and Chrome. Set the loop with the buttons, or drag across the waveform.