Qwerty Relativity

QWERTY Relativity is an experimental instrument which changes pitch by interval rather than fixed note placement. It is available online here: relativity.toneflow.io

Pitches are controlled by keys of a computer (qwerty) keyboard. There are two synthesizers, and a "split keyboard" layout allows each hand to control a different synth. When the app first loads up, the layout is as follow:

Left-Hand

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
2	-tritone	3	-perfect 5th	4	+perfect 4th	5	+tritone
q	-major 3rd	w	-minor 3rd	e	+minor 3rd	r	+major 3rd
a	-whole-step	s	-half-step	d	+half-step	f	+whole-step
z	-octave	x	-perfect 5th	c	+perfect 5th	v	+octave

Left-Hand Combos

in combination with "t" or the tab button:

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
q	-major 6th	w	-minor 6th	e	+minor 6th	r	+major 6th

in combination with "g" or the tab button:

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
a	-major 7th	s	-minor 7th	d	+minor 7th	f	+major 7th

Left-Hand current note

The "b" key, or the spacebar, plays the current note.

Right-Hand

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
8	-tritone	9	-perfect 5th	0	+perfect 4th	-	+tritone
u	-major 3rd	i	-minor 3rd	o	+minor 3rd	p	+major 3rd
j	-whole-step	k	-half-step	l	+half-step	;	+whole-step
m	-octave	,	-perfect 5th	.	+perfect 5th	/	+octave

Right-Hand Combos

in combination with "y" or "["

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
u	-major 6th	i	-minor 6th	o	+minor 6th	p	+major 6th

in combination with "h" or "'"

Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval	Key	Interval
j	-major 7th	k	-minor 7th	l	+minor 7th	;	+major 7th

Right-hand current note

The "n" key plays the current note.

Quiet travel

Using the "shift" key in combination with any of the above will change the current note without changing the sound.

Play Modes

Each synth has three different possible "play modes"

• Pluck: The node plays and fades as a harp string would
• Press: The node sounds until the key is released
• Hold: The node sounds continuously even when released. Press

The "backtick" key (`) changes the "play mode" for whichever synth is assigned to the left hand The backspace/delete key changes the "play mode" for whichever synth is assigned to the right hand

Settings

It is also possible to change the layout, so the spacebar and instruments can be swapped, or one hand can control pitch which another modulates parameters (vibrato or portamento "note glide"):

Combo	Effect
ctrl-spacebar	switch which hand the spacebar applies to
ctrl-z	switch which hand the spacebar applies to
ctrl-z	switch the instruments between hands
ctrl-x	switch the synth type for synth1
ctrl-c	switch the synth type for synth2
ctrl-a	toggle left-hand between synth1 and synth2
ctrl-s	toggle left-hand between synth1-params1 and synth2-params2
ctrl-;	toggle right-hand between synth1-params1 and synth2-params2
ctrl-'	toggle right-hand between synth1 and synth2

Params

When synth parameters are chosen for a given hand, you update either vibrato or portamento (note-glide) for the given synth. (Unlike pitches, parameters correspond to absolute rather than relative values.)

Left-Hand

Key	Effect
c	Adjust vibrato settings for selected left-hand synth
v	Adjust portamento (glide) settings for left-hand synth

Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato
2	15	3	20	4	30	5	40
q	5	w	7	e	9	r	11
a	0	s	1	d	2	f	3

Key	Glide	Key	Glide	Key	Glide	Key	Glide
2	1.28	3	2.5	4	5	5	10
q	0.08	w	0.16	e	0.32	r	0.64
a	0	s	0.01	d	0.02	f	0.04

Right-Hand

Key	Effect
m	Adjust vibrato settings for selected left-hand synth
,	Adjust portamento (glide) settings for left-hand synth

Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato	Key	Vibrato
8	15	9	20	0	30	-	40
u	5	i	7	o	9	p	11
j	0	k	1	l	2	;	3

Key	Glide	Key	Glide	Key	Glide	Key	Glide
8	1.28	9	2.5	0	5	-	10
u	0.08	i	0.16	o	0.32	p	0.64
j	0	k	0.01	k	0.02	l	0.04