bFaaaP Pro & Switch

Play the piano sustain pedal foot-free, using only head movements. An open-source, barrier-free accessibility project. Learn more and contribute at bfaaap.com.

bFaaaP Pro & Switch turns head movements into piano sustain-pedal control, so you can play the pedal completely foot-free.

It is the companion app for the bFaaaP barrier-free assist pedals — one app that drives two devices, depending on your instrument:

• bFaaaP Pro (acoustic pianos): a motorized device that physically presses the real sustain pedal. It anchors with an inflatable "airback" — non-destructive, no bolting — and self-calibrates.
• bFaaaP Switch (digital pianos): switches the sustain electronically through the pedal jack. Small, light and motor-free.

Using the front camera, the app detects the angle of your head and converts it into pedal ON/OFF signals, sent over Bluetooth Low Energy to the bFaaaP device on your instrument. The same head-angle control works for both devices. This lets people who cannot use a foot pedal — including wheelchair users and players with limited leg mobility — enjoy expressive, pedal-based performance.

WHO IT IS FOR

• Pianists who cannot operate a foot pedal
• Music therapy, special-needs and inclusive music education
• Anyone exploring accessible, barrier-free music making

HOW IT WORKS

• Detects head angle with the front TrueDepth camera (ARKit face tracking)
• Converts the angle into sustain pedal ON/OFF
• Sends the signal over Bluetooth Low Energy to bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch

PRIVACY

• The camera is used ONLY to read your head/face angle.
• That value is processed on-device, used to generate the pedal signal, then discarded.
• No face data, image or video is stored or shared with anyone.

AN OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT bFaaaP is an open-source, open-hardware barrier-free project by Shishido & Associates. The source code, hardware build details, the story behind it, and ways to contribute are public:

• Project & community: https://bfaaap.com
• Source code (open source): https://github.com/bfaaap/bfaaap_opensource
• Developer & related services: https://saaipf.com

SEE IT IN ACTION Watch bFaaaP being played in real concerts and recitals, with setup and how-to guides:

• How the system works (overview): https://youtu.be/iyRqPa8TLgE
• Live concert — grand piano + bFaaaP Pro: https://youtu.be/V3cXeNW9jXY
• How to use bFaaaP Switch (electronic piano): https://youtu.be/XOVENtBsOp4
• Full performance & demo collection (English): https://saaipf.com/en/bfaaap/#videos
• Build & set up your own — step-by-step guide (English): https://bfaaap.com/en/build/
• All videos (YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAvTy1k8rHs2WrEKPx1amg

The app's source code is open and free on GitHub, so anyone can build and run it themselves. This App Store version is free, too — just install it and start playing. If you would like to help keep bFaaaP free and open for everyone, donations and support are always welcome (see the links above and at saaipf.com). Thank you for your support.

You will need a bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch device to control a real pedal. Both are open hardware — visit bfaaap.com to learn how they are built and how to take part.