Gesture Synth Songs
Learn real songs with hand signs. Each lesson shows you which chord to make next, in Follow mode or Play-along mode. Free, in your browser.
Making chords with your hands is fun on its own, but it gets much better when you can play a song you know. These gesture synth songs are arranged for Gestune, so every chord is a simple hand sign: count fingers on your left hand, tilt when a chord needs to flip between major and minor, and the song comes together.
Each lesson loads the song’s key for you, shows a picture of the hand sign for the current chord and the next one, and lets you choose whether the song waits for you or runs at its real tempo. No lyrics are shown anywhere on the site; you only see chord numbers, chord names and hand signs.
New to the instrument? Read the guide to the hand signs first, or just open the player on the home page and press Start Playing. The four-step tutorial will teach you the basics in a minute.
Songs you can learn now
Pick a song to see its chords, key, tempo and hand signs. More songs are added regularly.
How song lessons work
Open Learn a song in the panel above the camera and pick a title. Gestune switches to the song’s key straight away, so the chord numbers line up with the real song. Then choose one of two modes.
Follow mode
Follow mode waits for you. The lesson shows the chord you need, and it only moves on once you play it. There is no clock and no pressure, so you can take as long as you like to find each shape.
This is the best way to start any new song. Use it until you can switch between the chords without looking at the pictures.
Play-along mode
Play-along mode runs at the song’s tempo. You hear four count-in clicks, then the chords move on by themselves at the song’s BPM. Each chord you play on time turns green. You may change up to half a beat early, which gives you a moment to get your hand ready.
At the end you get a score as a percentage. Try to beat it on your next run.
What counts as a hit
A chord counts when it has the same number and the same major or minor quality as the target. Inversions and seventh chords from your right hand do not matter, so feel free to add color while you play.
Any input counts: hand signs, keys 1 to 7 on your keyboard, or the on-screen chord pads. If your camera is not available, you can still take every lesson.
How to choose your first song
The number of different chords, and how many of them need a tilt, are the best guide to difficulty.
Duvet by bôa (easy)
In B minor at 93 BPM. Only three chords, and none of them need a tilt: they are all the natural chords of the key. A very friendly first song.
Bags by Clairo (easy)
In Db major at 105 BPM. Three chords with no tilts. The tempo is the fastest of the five, so start in Follow mode.
Creep by Radiohead (easy)
In G major at 92 BPM. Four chords in a loop that repeats through the whole song. Two of them need a tilt, which makes it great practice for flipping major and minor.
Let It Be by The Beatles (medium)
In C major at a slow 73 BPM. Four chords with no tilts, but the order changes between the verse and the chorus, so there is more to remember.
Open Arms by SZA (medium)
In A major at 78 BPM. Four chords, including a minor four that needs a left tilt. A good next step once the easy songs feel comfortable.
What the Roman numerals mean
Every lesson writes chords as Roman numerals, like I, IV, V and vi. This might look like music theory homework, but on Gestune it is mostly just counting fingers.
The number is the hand sign
The number tells you which chord of the key to play, and that maps straight to your left hand: one finger for I, two for II, three for III, four for IV, an open hand for V, the rock sign (index and pinky) for VI, and thumb, index and pinky for VII.
Upper case and lower case
An upper-case numeral means a major chord and a lower-case numeral means a minor chord. In C major, for example, I is C, ii is Dm, iii is Em, IV is F, V is G and vi is Am.
When you hold your hand upright, Gestune plays the natural chord of the key. If a song asks for a different quality, the lesson tells you to tilt left (minor) or tilt right (major). In Creep, for example, III is a major chord where the key would normally give a minor one, so you tilt right.
Why numerals instead of chord names
Numerals stay the same in every key. Once you know a song as I, III, IV, iv, you can play it in any of the 12 keys with the same hand signs. The lesson also shows the actual chord names so you can match them to other chord charts.
Tips for learning songs faster
- Practice the chord changes slowly in Follow mode before you try Play-along.
- Look at the next-chord picture while you hold the current chord, so your hand is ready to move.
- Use the half-beat early window in Play-along mode. Starting the change a little early often scores better than being late.
- If chords flicker, set Response to Stable in the settings and hold each shape firmly.
- Keep your left hand in the left half of the picture and your right hand in the right half. Hands are assigned by where they are on screen.
- Try the same song with a different sound. Chord Harp and Warm Pad feel very different under the same chords.
- Want to share your progress? Press Record and see the recording guide for tips on a clean clip.
Song lesson FAQ
Which gesture synth songs can I learn?
Right now: Creep by Radiohead, Let It Be by The Beatles, Duvet by bôa, Bags by Clairo and Open Arms by SZA. More songs are added regularly.
Which song should I learn first?
Duvet or Bags are the easiest, with three chords and no tilts. Creep is also easy and teaches you to flip between major and minor. Let It Be and Open Arms are a good next step.
Are the song lessons free?
Yes. All lessons are free, with no sign-up or account. They run in your browser like the rest of Gestune.
Do the lessons show lyrics?
No. There are no lyrics anywhere on the site. Lessons show chord numbers, chord names and hand-sign pictures only.
What is the difference between Follow and Play-along?
Follow waits until you play the right chord before moving on. Play-along gives you four count-in clicks and then runs at the song’s tempo, marks each chord you hit on time in green, and gives you a final score.
Can I take a lesson without a webcam?
Yes. Any input counts, including keys 1 to 7 on your keyboard and the on-screen chord pads. Hold Shift on the keyboard to flip a chord between major and minor.
Why does a song change the key?
Loading a song switches Gestune to that song’s key so the chord numbers match the real song.
Do inversions or seventh chords count as wrong?
No. A hit only needs the same chord number and the same major or minor quality. Right-hand voicings like inversions and seventh chords are fine.
How accurate are the chords?
Chords are checked against several public sources and then simplified so each one can be played with a single hand sign. They are learning arrangements, not exact transcriptions.
Pick a song, raise your hands and play along. Your first lesson takes less than a minute to start.
Open the player