Strudel cheat sheet

The parts of Strudel code you reach for most, on one page. Rows that start with a dot are functions you add to a pattern, and they chain: s("bd*4").gain(.8).room(.3). New to the code? Start with the tutorial.

Mini-notation

The text inside the quotes. Everything in one pair of quotes plays in one cycle.

You write	What it does	Listen
`s("bd sd hh sd")`	Steps separated by spaces share the cycle equally.
`s("bd ~ sd -")`	A rest. ~ and - both mean silence for that step.
`s("bd [sd sd] hh")`	Square brackets fit several steps into one.
`s("bd <sd cp>")`	Angle brackets play one item per cycle, in turn.
`s("bd4, hh8")`	A comma plays patterns at the same time.
`s("hh*8")`	Repeat a step, faster: eight hats in the space of one.
`s("[bd sd hh cp]/2")`	Slow a group down: it takes two cycles, bd sd and then hh cp.
`s("bd!3 sd")`	Repeat a step without squeezing it: same as bd bd bd sd.
`s("bd@3 sd")`	Make a step longer: bd takes three quarters of the cycle.
`s("hh*16?")`	Drop each step at random, half the time.
`s("bd(3,8)")`	Euclidean rhythm: 3 hits spread over 8 steps.
`s("bd(3,8,2)")`	The same, rotated by 2 steps.
`s("hh:2")`	Pick another recording of a sound, counting from 0.
`n("0 .. 7").scale("C4:major").s("piano")`	A range of numbers: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
`s("{bd sd hh}%4")`	Polymeter: loop 3 steps over a grid of 4 per cycle.
`s("bd [sd\|cp\|rim]")`	Pick one of the options at random each cycle.

Sounds and notes

You write	What it does	Listen
`s("bd sd")`	Play sounds by name. `sound()` is the same function.
`note("c3 e3 g3")`	Play notes by name and octave (c3 is the C below middle C).
`note("48 52 55")`	Notes as MIDI numbers: 60 is middle C.
`note("[c3,e3,g3]")`	A chord: notes separated by commas inside brackets.
`n("0 2 4").scale("D4:dorian")`	Steps of a scale, counted from 0.
`.s("piano")`	Choose the instrument that plays the notes.
`.s("sawtooth")`	Built-in synths: sawtooth, square, triangle, sine, supersaw.
`.n("<0 1 2>")`	Pick a recording of a sample by number.

Combining patterns

You write	What it does	Listen
`stack(a, b)`	Play patterns at the same time.
`cat(a, b)`	One pattern per cycle, in turn.
`seq(a, b)`	Fit the patterns into one cycle, one after another.
`arrange([4, a], [8, b])`	A song form: a for 4 cycles, then b for 8.
`.struct("x ~ x x")`	Play the pattern on the x steps only.
`.euclid(3, 8)`	Play on a Euclidean rhythm.
`.mask("1 0 1 1")`	Silence the steps under a 0.

Time

You write	What it does	Listen
`setcpm(30)`	Tempo in cycles per minute. With 4 beats to a cycle, cycles = BPM / 4.
`setcps(0.5)`	Tempo in cycles per second. 0.5 is the default (120 BPM in 4/4).
`.fast(2)`	Play twice as fast.
`.slow(2)`	Play half as fast.
`.rev()`	Play each cycle backwards.
`.ply(2)`	Play every step twice.
`.swing(4)`	Swing: delay every second event in each quarter.
`.off(1/8, x => x.add(note(12)))`	Add a copy, shifted later and changed.
`.iter(4)`	Each cycle, start one quarter further into the pattern.
`.palindrome()`	Play forwards, then backwards, every other cycle.

Variation

You write	What it does	Listen
`.lastOf(4, x => x.fast(2))`	Change the last of every 4 cycles.
`.firstOf(4, x => x.rev())`	Change the first of every 4 cycles. `every()` is the same.
`.sometimes(x => x.speed(2))`	Change about half the events, at random.
`.often(...) / .rarely(...)`	The same, for about 75% or 25% of events.
`.degradeBy(.3)`	Drop about 30% of events at random.
`.jux(rev)`	Play the pattern on the left, a changed copy on the right.

Sound shaping

You write	What it does	Listen
`.gain(.8)`	Volume. 1 is full; keep layers below it.
`.lpf(800)`	Low-pass filter: cut highs above 800 Hz. `.lpq()` adds resonance.
`.hpf(300)`	High-pass filter: cut lows below 300 Hz.
`.room(.5)`	Reverb amount. `.size()` sets the room size.
`.delay(.3)`	Echo amount. `.delaytime()` and `.delayfeedback()` shape it.
`.pan("0 1")`	Stereo position, 0 left to 1 right.
`.speed(2)`	Sample playback speed: 2 is an octave up, -1 plays backwards.
`.crush(4)`	Bit crusher: lower is grittier.
`.shape(.5)`	Distortion, 0 to 1.
`.vowel("a")`	A vowel filter: a e i o u.
`.attack(.1).release(.5)`	Envelope: fade in and out. Also `.decay()` and `.sustain()`.

Movement

Signals change smoothly over a cycle. Use them anywhere a number goes.

You write	What it does	Listen
`sine`	A smooth wave from 0 to 1 and back. Also cosine.
`saw`	Rises from 0 to 1, then jumps back.
`tri / square`	Triangle and square waves.
`rand / perlin`	Random values, jumpy or smooth.
`.range(300, 2000)`	Scale a signal to a range.
`.slow(8)`	Make the movement take 8 cycles.
`.segment(16)`	Turn a signal into 16 steps per cycle.

Sound names

Use these with s(). Many drums and instruments have several recordings, and a number picks one: hh:2.

Drums: bd sd hh oh cp rim lt mt ht cr rd cb sh
Synths: sawtooth square triangle sine supersaw white pink brown
Recorded instruments: piano darbuka kalimba marimba vibraphone glockenspiel harp conga bongo tambourine framedrum cajon
General MIDI: gm_epiano1 gm_acoustic_guitar_nylon gm_electric_bass_finger gm_synth_bass_1 gm_string_ensemble_1 gm_choir_aahs gm_trumpet gm_flute gm_pad_warm gm_lead_2_sawtooth gm_sitar gm_koto

For worked examples of these, see drum patterns and the example songs.

Try it in Shawarma

Shawarma is a music editor where every song is code. Your song plays on a loop; ask the assistant for a change in plain words, listen to it, and keep it only if you like it. Or edit the code yourself, as in this guide. The editor is free, with 5 assistant replies to try it; Pro starts with 7 days free.

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More guides

New for HalloweenHalloween party musicA spooky dance track for your party, ready to play, then changed by asking. Open the Halloween page

TutorialFrom an empty page to a short song: sounds, rests, layers, notes, scales, tempo and effects.
Drum patternsKicks, snares and hats in mini-notation: house, rock, boom bap, breakbeats, Euclidean rhythms and fills.
Example songsFive complete songs with their code and notes on how each one works.
Chat commandsThe / shortcuts in the chat: listen and fix the mix, vary, arrange, export and more.