It’s a virtual kazoo that you can hum a tune into in your browser. A 3D model of a shiny brass instrument appear on the screen; you can zoom in and turn it round to reveal the open cap and the diaphragm that vibrates when played. Recorded kazoo sounds is used for each note rather than basic electronic ones, so you hear a real hummed voice.
There is no installation or download required; just use your fingers, mouse or keyboard to play. No start button here. You just tap on the first note and it starts playing. Once the files has been recorded, the text at the bottom switch to say: “Recorded instrument sound”. The question mark in the top corner reveal a brief guide that includes a list of the sound credits.
How to Use the Virtual Kazoo
Below the model are 13 note pads. Each of these cover one half step from C3. C4. Tap the pad for a brief sound or hold it down and hum the note. Alternatively, you can tap on the 3D kazoo’s diaphragm. This then plays the note with the word “PLAYING” beside it, which is always the last note you selected. The diaphragm illuminate as it makes its sound.
The keyboard is marked out with the 13 notes in sequence (A, W, S, E, D, F, T, G, Y, H, U, J, K) which are played as though they were written on a computer keyboard. From the bottom note of A, each key is a semi-tone above the previous note until you reach the highest note of K on C4. The letter for each pad is display on the pad itself. The kazoo has its own frame too. Just click on this once, then start playing based off the keyboard.
When you press the chosen letter or Play button, that note sounds until you release the key. Then there’s “Keep humming,” which will continue playing the note even if you’re not pressing anything. When it’s activated, a quick tap on any other letter or pad switch the note without stopping the hum. Tap it again to turn it off. To silence everything instantly, use the Stop button or the Esc key.
Humming strength is controlled by the Expression slider. This goes from 10-100. As it’s turned up the notes is played louder. If you hold down on a note then move the expression slider the sound will change instanty.
There are three tone shaping presets. Classic is the default setting. Mellow is drier and darker. Bright is more open with a hint of extra room. All these presets will also move the Room slider for you. That goes from 0-50 and adds some echo of a room. Overall level is set using the Volume slider in the bottom corner.
The “PLAY A LITTLE” menu has options for First steps, Call & answer, and A little journey that let you practice a short tune. Click on Listen to have the kazoo play the tune at a tempo of one note per beat, then click again to stop early. The Tempo slider goes from 40 to 180 and determines how fast it will go. Stopping what’s playing happens when you choose another pattern.
Click on Game mode when you’re ready to go. You’ll get boxes that say “play now,” “NEXT” (and they tell you the letter of each note), and a panel that says “play the green note,” then the following note becomes green on the pads. There’s also a counter showing how far along you are. As soon as you hit the correct note, the game continues. You can tap the 3D kazoo and it always plays the green note in Game mode; just hum along. At the end of Game mode, you’ll see “Complete.”
Tap the Record button to capture what you’ve been playing directly from the instrument, no microphone required. It will say “Finish take” while it’s doing its thing. Tap again to stop, and then there’s a “Save take” link where you can download your recording.
To explore the virtual kazoo in its entirety, click on “Rotate 3D.” You can then zoom around the model by scrolling or pinching (the instrument continues to be playable as you move it). To return to the front view, either switch off “Rotate 3D” or hit the home button.
If you are a beginner, select “Classic” and press the keys A, S, D for the notes C3, D3, E3 respectively. Hold the keys down at once to play those notes together. Try out Game mode with “First steps” enabled. You should of tried it earlier.
