Change your Nintendo DSi into an Instrument

The Nintendo DSi is able to do many things: it can take pictures, surf the internet, and play music! However, not only can the DSi play music from the music files in your SD card, it can also act as an instrument, allowing you to perform your own songs! Surprisingly, you won't be using the music channel at all in order to do this. Everything is done from the camera channel.

Here's How:

First, use your DSi and snap a picture of the image provided. Then, visit your album and select the image for editing. You will want to select graffiti mode.

Clear away any distracting graffiti and select the heart stamp on the top menu. Pick the music note stamp from the menu and start touching the different boxes in the photo. You will notice that the alphabet letter in each box is the musical key that the stamp plays. Try brushing your stylus across the touch screen from left to right and you will play the C-scale!

Playing the Instrument

This hidden instrument in the DSi has only three octaves. Think of each box as a white piano key. You will note that the rightmost C is the same note as the leftmost C in the row above it. You can use this as a reference for your songs. If you need a sharp or flat (the black keys on a piano), you can simply hold up on the control pad for sharps and down on the control pad for flats.

There is no limit to how many notes you can play with the DSi, but the stamps will start disappearing after awhile.If the screen gets too cluttered, you can always just clear away the notes. And if the menu starts getting in the way, just press the Y button to make it hide away. You can press Y again to bring it back if you need to clear the screen again.

Practice with these Songs!

Here are some songs you can play to show off to your friends and family. Letters with a "b" or "#" next to it indicate a flat or sharp respectively while those with a "2" next to it indicate a higher octave, or row.

Mary Had a Little Lamb - E, D, C, D, E, E, E, D, D, D, E, G, G. E, D, C, D, E, E, E, C, D, D, E, D, C.

Happy Birthday - C, C, D, C, F, E. C, C, D, C, G, F. C, C, C2, A, F, E, C. B, B, A, F, G, F.

Zelda's Lullaby - B, D2, A. B, D2, A. B, D2, A2, G2, D2.

Epona's Song - D2, B, A. D2, B, A. D2, B, A, B, A.

Mario Theme - E2, E2, E2, C2, E2, G2, G. C2, G, E, A, B, Bb, A, G, E2, G2, A2, F2, G2, E2, C2, D2, B. C2, G, E, A, B, Bb, A, G, E2, G2, A2, F2, G2, E2, C2, D2, B. G2, G2b, F2, D2#, E2, G#, A, C2, A, C2, D2. G2, G2b, F2, D2#, E2, C3, C3, C3. G2, G2b, F2, D2#, E2, G#, A, C2, A, C2, D2, E2b, D2, C2.

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