Feature Guide
Everything you can do with Slow Down, in one place
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Getting Started
Four ways to add content to your library:
Paste a YouTube URL
Copy any YouTube link — regular videos, Shorts, or embeds — and paste it into the input on your dashboard or videos page
Search YouTube
Use the search bar to find videos directly without leaving the app
Import a YouTube playlist
Paste a YouTube playlist URL on the Playlists page to import all its videos at once. Sync anytime to pick up new additions
Upload an audio file
Upload MP3, WAV, or other audio files to practice with your own recordings, backing tracks, or any audio
Tip: The smart input auto-detects whether you're pasting a URL or typing a search query — just paste or type and hit enter.
Core Practice Tools
Markers
- Press V to add a marker at the current time
- Drag markers on the timeline to reposition
- Press 1-9 to jump to a marker
- Click any marker to jump to its timestamp
Loops
- Set start and end points to create a loop
- Save loops with names for quick access
- Add notes to loops for practice reminders
- Press R to restart the current loop
Speed Control
Use the speed slider to go from 0.25x to 2x. Preset buttons give you quick access to common speeds. The Gradual Speed Trainer automatically increases speed over time as you practice — set a start speed, target speed, and increment, and it ramps up hands-free.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Playlists
Create a playlist
Go to Playlists and click "New Playlist" — give it a name and optional description
Add videos
Add from the video page dropdown menu, or search YouTube directly from the playlist
Import from YouTube
Paste a YouTube playlist URL to import all its videos at once. Hit the sync button anytime to pull in new additions
Organize and share
Drag videos to reorder. Toggle sharing to make the playlist public with a shareable link
Metronome & Practice Tools
Tap Tempo
Tap to set BPM. Supports 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, and 7/8 time signatures
Subdivisions & Sounds
Choose click sounds and subdivisions (eighth notes, triplets, sixteenths)
Gradual Tempo Trainer
Automatically increases BPM over time so you build speed gradually
Tip: Access the metronome from the Practice Tools page, or use the embedded metronome on any video page.
Notes & Attachments
Rich-Text Notes
Add formatted notes to any video or playlist. Great for writing out chord charts, practice instructions, or technique reminders.
File Uploads
Attach PDFs, sheet music, images, or any reference files to videos and playlists. Keep everything in one place.
Tip: Toggle the public switch to share your notes and attachments with anyone who views your shared video or playlist.
Chrome Extension
The free browser extension unlocks extra features for YouTube videos:
Install the extension
Get it from the Chrome Web Store — works with Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, and other Chromium browsers
Navigate to a YouTube video on Slow Down
The extension activates automatically on Slow Down pages
Enable pitch shifting from the extension popup
Turn on "Auto-enable on Slow Down" so it activates automatically
Extension Features
- Pitch shift +/- 12 semitones with fine-tune cents
- Vocal separation — basic stereo and AI-powered ML mode
- Re-sample audio for higher quality at slow speeds
- BPM and key detection for YouTube videos
Audio Analysis
Slow Down can detect the BPM and musical key of your videos:
YouTube Videos
Requires the Chrome extension. Open a video, click "Analyze" in the song info panel, and the extension captures audio for server-side analysis.
Uploaded Audio
BPM and key are detected automatically when you upload an audio file — no extension needed.
Note: BPM display syncs with speed controls — when you slow a track to 75%, the displayed BPM updates to show the effective tempo.
Audio File Features
Pitch Transpose
Shift pitch up or down by semitones directly in the browser. Use Shift + ↑ / Shift + ↓ for quick adjustments.
Vocal Reduce / Enhance
Use the vocal slider to reduce or enhance vocals in real time. AI-powered ML model runs entirely in your browser.
Tip: No extension needed for uploaded audio — pitch shifting and vocal controls work directly in the browser.
Practice Tracking
Calendar Heatmap
See your practice history at a glance on a GitHub-style heatmap. Darker colors mean more practice that day.
Daily Breakdowns
Click any day to see what you practiced — which videos, at what speed, and for how long.
Practice Notes
Add notes to any practice session to track what you worked on and what to focus on next.
Streak Counter
Track your current practice streak and your all-time longest streak to stay motivated.
Tip: Sessions are logged automatically while you play — no manual tracking needed. Visit your Practice Log to see your history.
Achievements & Leaderboards
Badges & Tiers
Earn badges for practice milestones — each badge has multiple tiers (bronze, silver, gold) with progress tracking so you always know how close you are to the next level.
Leaderboards
Compare your practice time with others on weekly, monthly, and all-time leaderboards. See where you rank among fellow musicians.
Note: Achievements unlock automatically as you practice — just keep playing and they'll appear in your Achievements page.
Courses
Learn music theory and other topics at your own pace with built-in courses.
Structured Lessons
Each course is broken into sections you can work through in order. Sections include explanations, notation examples, and exercises to try.
Track Your Progress
Mark sections complete as you go. Your progress is saved and shown on the course overview so you can pick up where you left off.
Sheet Music & Tablature
Notation examples render as interactive sheet music. Choose your instrument to see tablature for guitar, mandolin, violin, or banjo.
Earn Achievements
Completing sections and courses unlocks achievements — from your first section all the way to finishing every course.
Get started: Head to the Courses page to browse available courses and start learning.
Profile & Settings
- Customize your username, bio, location, and website
- Set default visibility for new videos and playlists
- Switch between dark and light mode
- Manage your subscription and support settings
Have a question not covered here? Contact support