The Triadex Muse, An Interactive Simulation

This is an interactive simulation of the Triadex Muse invented by Marvin Minsky and Edward Fredkin in 1969. The Muse uses digital logic circuitry to implement algorithms that compose musical melodies.

Tap on an example below to load it into the Muse.

Major Scale: 1 Octave
Major Scale: 2 Octaves, C is repeated
Major Scale: 2 Octaves, split
48-note Pattern: Combining binary and divide-by-3 counters
15-note Pattern: 4 bits of the shift register
240 Note Pattern: Binary counter and 4-bit shift register, 16 x 15
Michael's Tune: By (then) 8 year old Michael Fredkin
Muser's Waltz: B1 B2 on the shift register generate the 3 pattern
Dorian Scale: Adds a constant 1 for Dorian mode, D to D
Dorian Muse: A melody in the Dorian mode
Theme and Variations: From the 8-4-2-1 shift register taps
Starts So Simple: Variations on 4 notes
Ed's Rhythm Piece: By Ed Fredkin, play it fast and pretend it's drums
Marvin's Yodel: By Marvin Minsky
Rhyming Couplets: Four measures climb up, each time a different way
The Crazy Cuckoo: Playing with a 6 note down, 6 note up theme
Polka: Uses the C1/2 row to hop up an octave
Meditiation: Slow, lots of whole notes, so you can see what's happening