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A 100 DOLLARS LED STRIP TEACHES YOU PIANO — FALLING LIGHTS SHOW EVERY NOTE

An LED strip above the keys that falls notes onto them before you press — Synthesia on a real keyboard for about 100 dollars.

by Aleksander Evening

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

AudioDisplays

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend
license
MIT
repo
repo ACTIVE753 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
  • Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware

Partner

Reach your Pi from anywhere — Remote desktop to the machine running this build — no port forwarding, works right from the browser.Try Getscreen.me
Videos
1

COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a Raspberry Pi running a Python app that listens to a USB-MIDI keyboard and drives a WS281x LED strip mounted above the keys. When you play, lights follow. In learning mode, it loads a MIDI file and drops notes onto the exact key before you press it — the falling-note game from Synthesia, but on a real instrument. The README says 75-100 dollars total, and the parts list is specific: a Pi (3B or better), a 5V power supply rated for the strip length, and addressable LEDs cut to match your keyboard — one LED per key, or two if you want more glow. The repo includes a script that asks how many keys you have and calculates the strip length for you. The single hardest part is mounting the strip so it stays put and looks clean — the project does not tell you how, because every keyboard is different. Most people use aluminium channel or 3D-printed brackets, and that is where you will spend Saturday afternoon problem-solving. The software install is straightforward if you have flashed a Pi before; if you have not, expect an evening of following the README and fixing Python dependencies. The learning mode only works if you have MIDI files of the songs you want to learn, and the project does not host any — you find them yourself or rip them from Synthesia. The single thing most likely to go wrong: buying a 12V strip when the code expects 5V, or underestimating the current draw and having the strip flicker or reset the Pi. The README warns you, but people still do it. If you have a MIDI keyboard already and want to see what you are playing, or you are learning and want falling notes on the real keys instead of a screen, this works. If you do not have the keyboard yet, the entire cost goes up by however much a second-hand 61-key USB-MIDI board is in your area.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —MIT licence — free to use commercially.
  • —Python app for the Raspberry Pi is in the repo, with install scripts and a web UI for configuration.
  • —Parts list and supplier links are in the README, including strip length calculations.
  • —No PCB or enclosure files — the Pi and strip mount however you decide.
  • —MIDI files for learning mode are not included; you provide your own or find them online.
  • —Active project: 753 stars, last push recent, issues get responses.

Can I build this?

PrintNothing required — 3D-printed LED channel mounts are optional and design is up to you.
BuyRaspberry Pi 3B or newer, WS281x addressable LED strip (5V, one LED per key or two per key depending on glow preference), 5V power supply rated for the strip, USB-MIDI keyboard if you do not already own one.
ToolsSoldering iron for strip connections, wire strippers, microSD card and a way to flash it, basic hand tools for mounting the strip.
SkillsComfortable flashing a Raspberry Pi and running install scripts. Basic soldering. Problem-solving the physical mount without a guide. No PCB assembly or firmware compilation.
TimeAn evening for the Pi setup and first test. A Saturday afternoon for mounting the strip cleanly. Longer if you are learning both the software and the physical build at once.
Cost$$ — dominated by the Pi and LED strip. If you already have a Pi and a MIDI keyboard, it drops to $ for the strip and power supply. If you are buying the keyboard too, add another $100-200 for a decent second-hand 61-key board.
Safety5V DC only — no mains risk if you use a plug-pack power supply. WS281x strips can draw several amps at full white; underrating the supply can cause flicker, resets, or a hot adapter. No other hazards.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

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Videos

Piano LED Visualizer - Features Showcase

No official video from the creator. Community walkthroughs exist but were not provided in the payload.

Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the README and check the parts list (The repo includes a script that calculates strip length based on your keyboard's key count.)
  2. 2.Flash the Pi and run the install script (Install instructions are in the README. The script sets up dependencies and the web UI.)
  3. 3.Connect the keyboard and strip, then test(The web UI lets you configure MIDI input, strip length, and visualizer mode before you mount anything.)
  4. 4.Mount the strip above the keys(No standard design — most use aluminium channel or 3D-printed brackets. Test placement before fixing it permanently.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • Buying a 12V LED strip when the code expects 5V WS281x, or buying a non-addressable strip — both are incompatible and the README will not catch it until you wire it up.
  • Underrating the power supply — a 144-LED strip at full white can pull 8+ amps, and a 2A adapter will cause flicker or reset the Pi mid-song.
  • Assuming MIDI files for learning mode are included — they are not. You provide your own or download from MIDI archives, and licensing varies.
  • Mounting the strip before testing it — if the wiring is wrong or the Pi cannot see the keyboard, you will be unsoldering a fixed strip.
  • Skipping the key-count calculation and cutting the strip by eye — one LED too short and the last key has no light; one too long and the alignment drifts across the keyboard.
  • Expecting plug-and-play on a brand-new Pi image — the install script handles most dependencies, but older Pi models or non-Raspberry Pi OS images can need manual Python library fixes.

Does this work with any keyboard?

Any keyboard that shows up as a USB-MIDI device. Most modern digital pianos and MIDI controllers do. If your keyboard only has 5-pin MIDI out, you will need a USB-MIDI adapter.

Can I use a different single-board computer instead of a Raspberry Pi?

The code is written for the Pi's GPIO and the rpi_ws281x library. Other boards would need code changes and are not tested by the creator.

Where do I get MIDI files for learning mode?

The project does not host any. You can rip them from Synthesia, download from free MIDI sites, or buy them. Check licensing if you plan to share videos of yourself playing.

How long does the strip need to be?

The repo includes a script that calculates it based on your keyboard's key count and whether you want one or two LEDs per key. Most 61-key boards need about 120-144 LEDs.

Does it make sound, or just lights?

Just lights. The Pi listens to the MIDI signal but does not produce audio. The keyboard itself makes the sound.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

753 stars, MIT-licensed, and the README calculates strip length for you — but you still have to figure out how to mount it cleanly on your specific keyboard. What did you use: aluminium channel, 3D-printed brackets, or something else?

CompareeTEAM23d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the project is actively maintained, the install script works on a fresh Pi OS image, and the web UI is clean enough that you can test visualizer modes before mounting anything. The single biggest time-sink is not the code — it is deciding how to mount the strip so it stays aligned with the keys and does not look like it was taped on in the dark. Most people land on aluminium LED channel or custom 3D-printed clips, but the repo does not provide STLs because every keyboard is different. The other thing that surprised us: the learning mode MIDI file has to come from you — the project does not host a library, and some MIDI sites have unclear licensing if you plan to post videos of yourself playing. If you already have a MIDI keyboard and a Pi, this is a weekend well spent. If you are buying both, check second-hand prices first — a used 61-key board and a Pi 3B can add $150-200 to the $75 strip-and-power estimate.

Aleksander Evening

Aleksander Evening (GitHub: onlaj) built this to make learning piano on a real keyboard more like the falling-note games people already know. The project is active, with regular updates and community contributions.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo