---
key: mechanic/phone-touch--family-03
type: mechanic
id: phone-touch--family-03
lang: en
title: 'Tempo, rhythm and sequences'
summary: >-
Taps set a sequence’s rhythm and tempo. In Magic Piano illuminated notes guide
the player through a musical phrase.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-touch--family-03/'
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-touch--family-03.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-touch--family-03.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Phone touchscreen interactions
- Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
- source-752bebf64f9d623a
sources:
- id: source-752bebf64f9d623a
title: 'Magic Piano: game by Smule'
url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: phone-touch
id: family-03
title: Phone touchscreen interactions
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-touch/#family-03'
categoryIds:
- section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: 'Tempo, rhythm and sequences'
description: >-
Taps set a sequence’s rhythm and tempo. In Magic Piano illuminated notes
guide the player through a musical phrase.
image:
src: images/mechanics/input-magic-piano-2.webp
width: 720
height: 1280
crop:
x: 0
'y': 734
width: 720
height: 500
game: 'Magic Piano: game by Smule'
sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4'
originalUrl: >-
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple124/v4/ab/37/53/ab3753d1-1c11-ed8d-46f3-2cae69c9ef48/mzl.poqlffyd.jpg/720x1560bb.jpg
credit: Smule
rights: >-
Imagery © Smule. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights
reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
caption: 'Magic Piano: a note sequence and performance keys'
alt: 'Magic Piano: a note sequence and performance keys'
markers:
- x: 53
'y': 87
label: Illuminated notes connect the sequence to touch input
tips:
- Distinguish free performance tempo from a strict timing-window test.
examples:
- title: 'Magic Piano: game by Smule'
url: >-
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-touch
---
# Tempo, rhythm and sequences
id: phone-touch--family-03
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-touch--family-03
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-touch--family-03/
Taps set a sequence’s rhythm and tempo. In Magic Piano illuminated notes guide the player through a musical phrase.
## At a glance
[Magic Piano: game by Smule](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4) · Imagery © Smule. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
1. Illuminated notes connect the sequence to touch input
- Distinguish free performance tempo from a strict timing-window test.
- [Magic Piano: game by Smule](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4)
## How it works
The number and intervals of touches form a sequence, rhythm, or check for timely action.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Getting into the rhythm. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: The touch is compared with the moment of the expected event. Application: Musical notes, repelling attacks, rhythmic operation of the instrument.
- Maintain frequency. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: Stable touch frequency is important, not maximum speed. Application: Maintain engine running, rowing, spell pulse.
- Accumulation by a series of touches. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: Each correct touch adds resource or effort. Application: Inflate the pump, get out of the grip, accelerate the flywheel.
- Alternation of zones. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: Only alternating touches of two or more areas are counted. Application: Running, swimming, drumming, hand drive.
- Sequence of goals. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: You need to touch objects in a certain order. Application: Repeat the code, play a melody, activate a chain of runes.
- Code of short and long contacts. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: The value is set by a combination of durations and pauses. Application: Transmit a signal, hack a terminal, communicate with a character using a code.
- Synchronized chord. Type: multi. Fingers: 2+. Rule: Multiple contacts must start within the same time window. Application: Press multiple plates, play a chord, synchronize locks. Need multi-touch.
- The rhythm of letting go. Type: Touch. Fingers: 1+. Rule: The moments of completion of holds or the intervals between them are compared. Application: Remove your fingers from several keys in turn, play a note with the required duration.
## Context and limits
Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.
- [Magic Piano: game by Smule](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-piano-game-by-smule/id421254504?uo=4) (id: source-752bebf64f9d623a)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors