# Motif Detection

> motif-detection

- Skill: `lamm-mit/motif-detection` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lamm-mit/motif-detection`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lamm-mit/motif-detection/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: lamm-mit (https://skillmd.com/u/lamm-mit)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lamm-mit/motif-detection

---

# motif-detection

Extracts repeated melodic and rhythmic motifs from a music corpus using sliding-window interval encoding. Returns motifs with interval sequences, occurrence counts, and piece references.

## Usage

```bash
python3 skills/motif-detection/scripts/motif_detection.py --query "bach" --min-length 4 --min-occurrences 3
```

## Output

```json
{
  "query": "bach",
  "motifs": [
    {
      "motif_id": "m_0001",
      "intervals": [2, -2, 1, -1],
      "interval_str": "+2,-2,+1,-1",
      "occurrences": 14,
      "pieces": ["BWV 253", "BWV 281"],
      "genre": "baroque"
    }
  ],
  "n_motifs": 47,
  "min_length": 4,
  "min_occurrences": 3
}
```

## Dependencies

- music21