The Singing Saw Simulator

The Singing Saw Simulator puts you in the role of a musical saw soloist, playing a single 15-minute composition with mouse controls. The saw has no traditional markers or keys, so you shape each note through subtle changes in breath, posture and movement. The game responds dynamically and does not lock in a note when you reach the right pitch, leaving you to judge whether you are in tune.

The performance

Points are awarded for “correct” notes, but scores bring no extra rewards. The game encourages you to focus on the music as an experience and to relax and experiment in a safe space. Several sections invite you to improvise across the saw’s range of more than three octaves; you can also replace the written melody with one you prefer.

The accompanying composition, “The Masterpiece,” moves through classical string quartet, New York soft jazz, contemporary house, country and western, horror soundtrack, 1960s psychedelia and a dedicated metal segment. The singing saw takes the lead across these styles.

Sounds and challenges

Each playthrough unlocks a new spectrum of sounds for the saw, including distortions and vocal effects. You can switch sounds during a performance with the mouse wheel. Mid-song challenges include rating your performance and mini-games such as whack-a-mole and tic-tac-toe.

Freeplay mode

In Freeplay mode, you can play in windowed mode alongside music in your media player, jam to your favorite tunes and experiment with different sounds.