The Doh Sharp applet is a computer program which will teach you about music — click on the ‘Show Applet’ button at the top right of this page and see what it looks like. Then click on ‘Play’ to see what it sounds like. Try selecting another instrument using the ‘Instrument’ button

Learn to use your PC keyboard to enter tunes (your own, or a tune you know) — and then to make changes to the tune or rhythm. Change the notes, the rhythm, the pitch, the key, the instrument, the speed — all easy to do — no difficult techniques to learn.

After learning about tunes you can go onto learning about chords and bass lines which form accompaniments. You can also learn to read music and how notes on the music staff translate into the music you listen to.

The ‘Quick Start’ sections of this site will give you more information to help you to start using the Applet. In the ‘Tutorial’ there are some music lessons to teach you about music — more lessons are be added later.

After using the Applet you may want to go onto using a larger version of the program which will help you create your own compositions. Useful for the professional as well as the beginner - quickly see and hear your arrangements — the program will output music scores and Midi files.

You may well have come across Midi files on the internet.Midi is a digital format used for synthesized backing tracks - it can sound pretty good when played on your own PC too.

Does the box at top right remain gray? This site needs the Java JRE to work - download it from here.