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Rhythm & Groove

Interactive Lab · ~15 MIN · FREE · LOCAL ONLY

Beats, subdivision and variation: the rhythmic backbone under almost every demo soundtrack.

Program a drum pattern and one variation that keeps energy moving.

  • steps and subdivision
  • kick and snare relationship
  • hi-hat density
  • variation
  • groove as repetition plus change

Lessons

  1. Sixteen steps

    One bar split into sixteen steps is the standard grid. The kick usually anchors step 1; the snare usually answers on step 5 and 13.

    TRY THIS BELOW · Press Play below and watch the playhead cross the bar you programmed.

  2. Density sets energy

    Hi-hats fill the space between kick and snare. More hats feels faster without changing the tempo at all.

    TRY THIS BELOW · Add hats on every other step and watch the preview report the density change.

  3. A pattern needs a sibling

    Repeating one bar forever goes flat. A second bar that differs in only a few steps is enough to keep attention.

    TRY THIS BELOW · Switch between Pattern and Variation while playing and count where they differ.

Pattern and variation

Program a main bar and a variation bar. Anchor the kick, answer with a snare, and make the variation genuinely different.

Main bar

  • Kick
  • Snare
  • Hat

Variation bar

  • Kick
  • Snare
  • Hat

Click a square to fill it. Click again to cycle colours and clear.

See what changed

The preview is generated from your choices above.

kick
snare
hat

Main pattern at step 1 of 16. 0 hits in this bar; the variation differs on 0 steps.

WHAT CHANGED · The main bar is empty. A groove needs an anchor before it can have a variation.

0/5 REQUIREMENTS MET

  • Kick on step 1
  • At least one snare hit
  • Four or more hits in the main bar
  • Variation bar exists and differs
  • Pattern and variation both played

COMPLETION RULE · A kick on step 1, at least one snare, four or more hits in total, a variation bar that differs from the main bar, and both bars played in the preview.

Your plan

Everything above stays on this device. Take a copy with you.

Rhythm & Groove — SceneStart


Completion: 0/5 — A kick on step 1, at least one snare, four or more hits in total, a variation bar that differs from the main bar, and both bars played in the preview.

SceneStart is not affiliated with any demoparty and cannot certify compliance. The party's published rules always take precedence.

Where to do the real work

  • Any tracker or DAWStep grids translate one to one into pattern editors.
  • Hydrogen ↗Free drum machine built around exactly this grid.

SCOPE · Drum sounds are synthesised in the browser after you press Play — no sample files and no network. The pattern plays visually with sound muted, so audio is never required.

FREE FOREVER · A future paid tier could audition patterns with sampled kits. The grid stays free.