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Contrapunctus
What it is
Contrapunctus is a free web platform for music theory, composition, and counterpoint study. Its real-time editor shows Roman-numeral and chord analysis while you write, and identifies part-writing errors and non-chord tones. You can compose for several voices, choose major, minor, or modal settings, and play pieces with sampled instruments. The platform includes an interactive edition of Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum, with species-counterpoint lessons, an AI tutor, and English and Latin text. Community members can create and solve exercises, share solutions, vote, and earn points toward a 15-rank ladder. Educators can create classes, assign lessons, review submissions, and track scores and averages in a gradebook. Accounts use email or Google and synchronize projects and activity across devices. The editor imports plain and compressed MusicXML, but MusicXML and MIDI export is not yet shipped. Some imported notation details may be simplified or dropped, and tutor questions are limited to 25 per account per rolling hour.
For and against
For
- Real-time harmony and error analysis
- Interactive Gradus counterpoint curriculum
- Community exercises and rank ladder
- Class gradebook and submission review
- Free beta access without credit card
Against
- MusicXML and MIDI export unavailable
- Some MusicXML details may be dropped
- Tutor questions capped at 25 hourly
The verdict
Contrapunctus combines composition tools, guided counterpoint study, community exercises, and classroom features. Import and tutor limits are important considerations for intensive workflows.
Who it suits
It suits learners, composers, and educators wanting browser-based notation analysis, counterpoint lessons, or classroom tracking. Community participation and synchronized accounts support ongoing practice.
Plans and prices
Beta access
Free during beta · no credit card
Read 9 Oct 2026 · contrapunctus.app
On the record
- Account access
- Accounts can be created with email or Google, and user profiles sync projects and activity across devices.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- AI tutor limit
- Free-form questions to the Gradus tutor are limited to 25 per account per rolling hour.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Analysis
- The editor displays Roman numeral and chord analysis while users write and detects part-writing errors and non-chord tones.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Classroom
- Educators can create classes, assign lessons, review submissions, and track scores and class averages in a gradebook.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Community
- Users can create and solve exercises, share solutions, vote, and earn points toward a 15-rank ladder.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Composition
- Users can compose for multiple voices, set major, minor, or modal contexts, and play compositions with sampled instruments.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Counterpoint tutor
- Gradus provides an interactive species-counterpoint curriculum with an AI tutor and English and Latin text.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Import compatibility
- Tuplets, mid-piece tempo, key, or time changes, ornaments, and explicit voice tagging are not fully modeled on MusicXML import and may be dropped or simplified.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Import limit
- The editor imports plain and compressed MusicXML, but export to MusicXML or MIDI is listed as not yet shipped.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy setting
- Google Analytics is on by default outside the EU and UK, and users can turn it off in settings; EU and UK visitors receive a consent banner.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Contrapunctus is a music theory platform with a real-time editor, community exercises, and an interactive edition of Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can submit bug reports through a button available at the bottom of every page and feature requests through the user menu.contrapunctus.app · read 9 Oct 2026
