Contrapunctus

What Contrapunctus is

Contrapunctus is a free web platform for studying music theory, writing multi-voice compositions, and practicing counterpoint. Its editor provides Roman numeral and chord analysis as you work, and flags part-writing errors and non-chord tones. You can set a major, minor, or modal context and play a composition using sampled instruments. The platform also includes an interactive version of Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum. Its species-counterpoint lessons include an AI tutor and text in English and Latin; free-form questions to the tutor are capped at 25 per account in each rolling hour.

Community exercises let members create and solve tasks, share solutions, vote, and collect points toward a 15-rank ladder. For teaching, educators can set up classes, assign lessons, review submissions, and follow scores and class averages in a gradebook. Accounts use email or Google, with profiles syncing projects and activity across devices. The editor accepts plain and compressed MusicXML imports. Some notation details on import, including tuplets, ornaments, explicit voice tags, and changes to tempo, key, or time within a piece, may be simplified or dropped. Exporting to MusicXML or MIDI is not yet available.

Who it suits

Contrapunctus suits music students and composers who want theory analysis alongside a multi-voice editor and counterpoint lessons. Its exercises, class assignments, and gradebook also make it relevant to educators and learners who want shared practice and progress tracking.

Limits

The Beta access plan is free during beta and requires no credit card. Free-form Gradus tutor questions are limited to 25 per account per rolling hour; MusicXML and MIDI export are not yet available.

Getting started

1. Open the Contrapunctus website in a web browser.
2. Create an account with email or Google.
3. Start composing in the editor or explore the Gradus counterpoint curriculum.
4. Create or solve community exercises, or set up a class if you teach.

Verdict

Choose Contrapunctus for web-based theory analysis, counterpoint practice, and classroom exercises in one platform. Look elsewhere if exporting compositions to MusicXML or MIDI is essential, or if your MusicXML files depend on details the importer may simplify.