← Create and edit a song

Build a strumming pattern

Click the guitar “Strumming” icon to open the builder. It generates the code automatically, so you do not need to know the syntax. First place the cursor where the pattern should appear, usually near the beginning of the song after its metadata.

1. Choose the time signature

   Use 4/4 for most songs, 3/4 for a waltz, or 6/8 and 12/8 for a compound feel. The top number determines how many beats are displayed.

2. Enter the tempo

   BPM is optional. When you know it, enter it and the value is also added to the song metadata. For example, 96 BPM means 96 beats per minute.

3. Choose measures and subdivisions

   Build 1 to 4 measures. Choose quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets or sixteenth notes depending on the detail you need. Eighth notes are a good starting point for a common 4/4 pattern.

4. Fill the cells

   Each click cycles a cell through rest, down stroke, up stroke and muted stroke. Click once more to return to a rest. The notation preview below the grid updates immediately.

5. Insert and check

   Choose “Insert” when the pattern is ready. It appears in the source and song preview. “Clear” empties all cells; “Cancel” closes the builder without adding anything.

{tempo: 96}
{strum: 4/4 | D.DU.UDU}

Reading the example: D is a down stroke, U is an up stroke and a dot is a cell without a stroke. The visual editor shows the ↓ and ↑ arrows instead. A public suggestion remains pending until a moderator decides on it.