Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t worry, there’s no bug. What you’re seeing is the new Explore view, which works as a preview before downloading content.

When you browse playlists in the Explore tab, the songs are still online, meaning they live on our server and can’t be opened yet.

To access the songs:
1. While you’re in the playlist in Explore, tap the download button at the top right.
2. Once the download is complete, go to the Library tab (bottom left), or tap the X button at the top right.
3. There you’ll find the downloaded playlist, and from there the song titles will be clickable and the lead sheets will open normally.

After updating, you’ll be guided to create an account or sign in. Once you’re in, you’ll arrive at Explore, where you can browse official Genius Jamtracks playlists and start downloading content.

Yes. An account is needed to unlock syncing, access official content, and keep your library safely backed up across your devices.

Only what’s necessary for the app to work. Your email is used to create your account and sync your content across devices. No marketing emails, no newsletters, and no spam.

With an account, you can access official playlists and songs, sync your library across devices, share playlists with other users, and keep everything backed up automatically.

The sign up screen appears automatically. It’s a quick two step process, and once it’s done, you’re ready to go.

Sync uses timestamps to keep everything aligned. The most recent change you make is the one that updates across your devices.

Everything is right where you left it. All your existing content is automatically placed in Private playlists, so nothing is lost.

Explore is where you discover official Genius Jamtracks playlists and songs hosted on our server. You’ll need an internet connection to browse and download, and new content is added regularly.

You can download content from Explore or from the Search tab. Anything you download is saved to your Private Library and available offline.

Yes. All your playlists and settings are preserved exactly as they were.

Your Library is split into two sections. Private playlists are visible only to you and store your downloads by default. Public playlists are ones you choose to share, making them visible to other users and discoverable through Search.

The Library is your personal space. It’s where everything you download or create lives, organized into Private playlists and Public playlists that you choose to share.

The + button is where new things start. You can use it to create a new playlist or add a new song.

Tap the + button on the top right and choose Create playlist. Your new playlist will appear in your Library, ready to use.

No. Everything you create or download starts as private. It only becomes visible to others if you choose to move the playlist to Public.

If you’re inside a playlist, you can use the search bar at the top to find a song there. To search more broadly, head to the Search tab. If a song exists in other users’ libraries or official playlists, you can download it and choose where to save it.

Yes. You can download songs from Explore or from the Search tab. Just find what you want, tap download, and choose the playlist where it should live.

Press and hold on the playlist title to open the options menu, then select Share playlist. A link is created that you can share through email, social media, or any app on your device.

Press and hold on the playlist title and choose Delete. This permanently removes the playlist if it’s one you created.

No. If it’s a playlist you created, deletion is permanent, so it’s worth double checking. Public or official playlists can usually be found again through Search.

Press and hold on the playlist title, select Rename, enter a new name, and save it.

Press and hold on the playlist title and select Duplicate. A copy will appear in your Library, ready for editing.

Making a playlist Public allows other users to see it and find it through Search.

When you make a playlist Private, it stays in your Library and in your account, but it’s no longer visible or discoverable by other users.

Tap the + button on the top right and choose Create playlist. Your new playlist will be added to your Library.

You can add songs by tapping the download or add button next to a song and selecting the playlist you want. This works from Explore, Search, or other users’ public playlists.

Open the playlist info by tapping the “i” icon and turn off alphabetical order. Then use the custom order icon at the bottom right to drag songs into the order you want. Your custom order is saved and synced to your account.

Press and hold on the song inside the playlist and choose Remove from playlist. This only removes it from that playlist.

You can rename a playlist by pressing and holding on its title or by using the info screen, then entering a new name.

Press and hold on the playlist title and select Delete. If it’s one you created, it will be permanently removed.

No. Deleting a playlist doesn’t delete the songs themselves. They remain available elsewhere in the app.

Playlists are private by default. You decide if and when they become public.

Press and hold on the playlist title and choose Share playlist. You’ll get a link you can share however you like.

The info icon opens playlist settings, where you can rename the playlist, edit its description, and control how songs are ordered.

Not yet. Playlist icons aren’t supported at the moment, but this may change in a future update.

Sync keeps your Library, playlists, and settings consistent across devices. The most recent change you make is the one that gets applied everywhere.

Your playlists, playlist order, public and private status, and basic settings are synced to your account.

Sync happens automatically whenever you’re signed in and connected to the internet.

The latest change takes priority. Sync uses timestamps to decide which version to keep.

Yes. You’ll need an internet connection to sync changes, but you can still use downloaded content offline.

Yes. Your Library and playlists are backed up to your account automatically.

Signing out pauses syncing. Your local downloads remain on the device until you sign back in.

“New Standards” is a monumental publication and effort led by Terri Lyne Carrington — multi-Grammy-winning artist, NEA Jazz Master, and founder/artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. We added this not only because of its value in highlighting the historical omission of women composers in jazz, but also because the music is simply amazing.

“New Standards” is a monumental publication curated by Terri Lyne Carrington. The book includes compositions spanning nearly a century — from Lil Hardin Armstrong’s work in 1922 to pieces written in 2021 by recent Berklee graduates. It features 101 compositions by a remarkable range of acknowledged titans, young visionaries, and unsung heroes of jazz. These pieces serve as powerful alternatives to the traditional jazz standard canon. Genius Jamtracks is proud to include this playlist as part of our mission to offer students and musicians meaningful, high-quality practice tools. This is not just a beautiful collection of music — it’s a timely and essential statement.

To change a song’s style, long press anywhere on the chart and the editing tools will appear. Tap the pencil icon to enter edit mode, then tap Style and choose what you want. The style is applied to the selected bar. If you want it applied to the entire song, make sure the first bar is selected. You can add style changes anywhere in the song, not only at section starts.

Tap the Mixer icon at the bottom right and raise the metronome volume slider until it reaches a comfortable level.

Tap the Mixer icon at the bottom right and use the sliders to balance the volume of each instrument however you like.

Open the Mixer, then tap the instrument name shown above its volume slider. A list of available sound options will appear, and you can select the one you want.

You can set instrument transposition from the Account tab at the bottom right. Tap Instrument Transpose and choose your instrument. This is a global setting, so once it’s set, all charts will appear transposed automatically.

Polyrhythms are at the heart of Genius Jamtracks. From subtle rhythmic shifts to complex layered phrases, this is where you explore rhythm in a deeper, more intentional way.

The Rhythm button opens the Level, Groupings, and Ratios tabs. These controls let you shape how rhythmic complexity is introduced, from simple and familiar patterns to advanced and challenging polyrhythms.

A polyrhythm happens when two or more rhythms share the same pulse but divide it differently. For example, in 4/4 time, one layer might play four beats while another fits three evenly spaced beats into the same space, creating a 3:4 feel. Together, they form a single, unified rhythmic phrase.

All three introduce polyrhythms in different ways. Level controls overall complexity without choosing specific patterns. Level 1 has no polyrhythms, Level 2 introduces basic ideas like dotted rhythms and 3:4, and higher levels bring in more complex phrases, such as long tuplets. Groupings let you choose a note value and how many of those notes form a cycle. Ratios describe the relationship between the main rhythm and the added rhythm, such as 3 against 4.

In Groupings mode, use the left wheel to choose the note value, such as eighth notes, and the right wheel to choose how many of those notes complete the cycle. Available options change with tempo, since not every grouping works musically at every speed.

Ratios describe how two rhythmic layers relate to each other. For example, in 4/4 time, placing three evenly spaced beats over four creates a 3:4 ratio, one of the most common polyrhythmic feels.

No. You decide which instruments apply the selected rhythm. Below the wheel pickers, you can enable or disable polyrhythmic phrasing for drums, piano, and bass independently.

Not every polyrhythm works well at every tempo. Some patterns sound unnatural if played too fast or too slow, so certain options are automatically disabled depending on tempo, similar to how swing feel changes with speed.

Yes. On our website you’ll find videos showing polyrhythms in real musical contexts, including a detailed series by Sami Amiris focused on practicing and applying these ideas.

https://geniusjamtracks.com/videos

The Harmony button lets you control how harmonically complex the playback is. At lower levels, the music stays simple and direct. As you move up, the harmony becomes richer and more adventurous. Level 1 plays basic triads, Level 2 plays exactly what’s written on the chart, Level 3 introduces jazz piano voicings, Level 4 adds light substitutions, and Level 5 brings more advanced reharmonizations. No matter the level, the piano and bass always respond musically, with voice-led comping and melodic movement.

Level 1 plays simple triads. Level 2 plays exactly what’s written on the chart. Level 3 introduces jazz harmony with standard voicings. Level 4 adds basic harmonic substitutions. Level 5 explores more advanced substitutions and reharmonizations.

Yes. Set the Harmony Level to 2 to hear the harmony exactly as it’s written on the chart, without substitutions.

Piano voicings determine how a chord is shaped on the keyboard. They affect which notes are included, how close or spread out they are, and the overall color of the harmony. Changing voicings can make the same progression feel traditional, modern, open, dense, or experimental.

You can change the piano voicing from the Harmony screen. Open Harmony and use the voicing selector to choose the sound you want to hear.

You can choose from Root/Shell, Shell, Rootless Voicings, Closed Voicings, Spread Voicings, Upper Structure, Root/Upper, Modern Jazz, Cluster Voicings, and Avant Garde.

Root/Shell voicings include the root note along with essential chord tones. They provide a clear harmonic foundation and work well in more traditional or minimal settings.

Shell voicings focus on the most important chord tones, usually the third and seventh. They leave more space in the harmony and work especially well when the bass clearly defines the root.

Rootless voicings leave out the root note and emphasize color tones instead. They’re common in modern jazz contexts, especially when a bass instrument is present.

Closed voicings keep chord tones close together for a compact sound. Spread voicings space the notes out across the keyboard, creating a wider and more open texture.

Upper Structure voicings focus on tensions and extensions above the basic chord. Root/Upper combines a clear root with upper structure colors, offering both clarity and richness.

Modern Jazz voicings blend traditional harmony with contemporary spacing and color tones. They’re designed to sound flexible, expressive, and adaptable across styles.

Cluster voicings use closely spaced notes to create dense, colorful textures. Avant Garde voicings push harmony further, favoring tension, abstraction, and experimental sounds.

At the moment, voicing selection is global and applies to all songs. Per-song voicing control is planned for a future update.

Time Placement lets you shift the feel of each player relative to the beat. You can experiment with instruments playing slightly ahead of the beat, behind it, or directly on it, shaping the groove in subtle but powerful ways.

Playing behind the beat creates a relaxed, laid-back feel. Playing in front of the beat adds energy and forward motion. These settings control how early or late notes are placed relative to the pulse.

Yes. Time Placement settings are saved automatically and apply globally across all songs.

Tap the metronome icon at the bottom left, then adjust the tempo using the arrows, the slider, or by tapping the tempo value. Changing tempo also influences phrasing, feel, and available polyrhythms.

Tap the Key label and select the key you want to practice in. Your choice is saved and remembered the next time you return to the song.

Yes. You can set the number of choruses, from a single pass to infinite looping.

Yes. Set Harmony Level to 2 to hear exactly what’s written on the chart.

Yes. Tempo doesn’t just change speed, it also affects feel, phrasing, and which polyrhythmic ideas are used. The trio adapts musically to each tempo range.

Yes. Tap the Mixer icon at the bottom right to control the volume of each instrument, including the metronome.

To access editing tools, long press anywhere on the chart. A new view will appear with all available editing options.

You can add up to four chords per bar in most time signatures. In 3/4, you can add up to three chords per bar.

Enter the chord normally, then tap the slash button and choose the bass note to complete the slash chord.

A slash chord shows a chord with a specific bass note or inversion, written after a slash, such as C/E. Use the slash button to access bass note options.

Genius Jamtracks includes 27 styles: Swing, Open Swing, Two Feel, Ballad, Ballad Even, Open Ballad, Even 8ths, Open Even 16ths, Even 16ths, Open Even 8ths, Open Swing Brushes, Free, Mambo, Bossa Nova, Choro, Baiao, Afro Beat, Afro-Cuban, Samba, Samba Brushes, Funky Samba, Simple, Half-Time Shuffle, and Half-Time.

Tap the + button in the Library and follow the steps to define the song’s form, time signature, key, and style. When you’re done, tap Done and start building the chart by adding chords.

Yes. Long press anywhere on the chart to access the editing tools and adjust the form, time signature, key, or style at any time.

These buttons let you control how bars connect. Use the left Barline button to edit the start of a bar and the right Barline button to edit the end.

In Edit mode, open the Song Form tab and use the Add bar or Delete bar buttons to adjust the form.

In Edit mode, go to the Song Form tab and tap Add Intro or Add Coda to insert those sections.

The Coda symbol marks a special section of the song. During playback, the musicians jump to the Coda when they reach the symbol earlier in the chart.

To add a new section, enter Edit mode, open the Song Form tab, and tap Add Section. The new section is added instantly to the form.

No. You’re free to add as many sections as you need, which makes it easy to build complex or unconventional song forms.

The Solo section is designed to loop. It repeats for as many times as you’ve set in the repeat count, making it ideal for extended practice or improvisation.

Yes. In Edit mode, go to the Song Form tab and tap Style. You can choose from 27 styles and apply a different one to any bar, giving you full control over how the song evolves.

In Edit mode, use the Ending button in the Song Form tab to create alternate endings. Just remember to place a repeat end barline after the endings so the form plays correctly.

Open Edit mode, go to the Song Form tab, and tap Time Signature. You can choose from 3/4 up to 17/4 and even apply different time signatures to individual bars.

Accents emphasize specific beats using coordinated hits from drums, piano, and bass. You can choose between downbeat and upbeat accents for different rhythmic effects.

Open the Account tab and tap Instrument Transposition. Choose your instrument once, and all charts will appear transposed automatically.

This toggle controls the orange bar that follows playback. Turning it off removes the visual guide, making practice more challenging and helping you rely more on your ears and internal time.

The app version is shown in the Account tab, so you can quickly check if you’re up to date.

Logging out stops syncing. Your downloaded content stays on the device, but new changes won’t sync until you sign back in.

Deleting your account permanently removes your synced data from our servers. This includes playlists and settings and cannot be undone.

If you’re enjoying the app, you can leave a review on the App Store. It genuinely helps us improve and grow. Thank you for the support.