Kora

About this game

A music game for the kora, the 21-string harp-lute of West Africa. Pluck the strings as glowing beads reach the bridge, with two thumbs or more. Learn six original pieces by call and response, then play them while a quiet accompaniment grows fuller as you play cleanly. Watch and Learn shows the four plucking fingers and explains what each hand does and why. Free play with strumming, a click and an echo partner. Calabash, cow hide and a warm evening courtyard, synthesised sound, no ads, works offline.

How to play

1. Pick a piece, then start with Learn the pattern: the accompanist plays a phrase and you echo it back.
2. Each lane is one string. Glowing beads slide down toward the bridge: amber for the left hand, teal for the right.
3. Tap the string when the bead reaches the bridge. Closer to the beat scores more. Use two thumbs, or more fingers.
4. Play cleanly and more voices join the accompaniment. Miss and one drops out.
5. Watch and Learn plays a whole piece, shows the four fingers and explains what each hand is doing and why.
6. Free play gives you all 21 strings: tap, or slide a finger across to strum, with a click and an echo partner.
7. Notes early or late? Settings, then Calibrate, and tap along with the pulse.
8. On a keyboard: A S D F G H pluck the lanes from left to right, Space pauses.