pattern-design

name	Pattern Design
description	Use this skill when structuring tracker songs - pattern layout, song structure, efficiency, and loop design. **Trigger phrases:** "song structure", "pattern layout", "order table", "loop point", "how many patterns", "verse chorus", "song form" **Load references when:** - Genre-specific templates → `references/genre-templates.md` - Loop point techniques → `references/loop-techniques.md` For effect usage, use `tracker-fundamentals`. For format-specific details, use `xm-format` or `it-format`.
version	1.1.0

Pattern Design

Core Concepts

Pattern vs Order Table

Patterns: Unique musical content (A, B, C, D)
Order Table: Sequence of pattern playback

Order: [0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 0]
       [A, B, B, C, B, B, C, D, A]  ← Song structure

Result: A plays once, B twice, C once, B twice again, etc.

Key insight: Reuse patterns via order table. Never duplicate pattern content.

Standard Lengths

Length	Rows	Use Case
Short	32	Fills, transitions
Standard	64	Verses, choruses (default)
Extended	128	Long sections (rare)

Rows per beat: At speed 6, BPM 125: 4 rows = 1 beat, 16 rows = 1 bar

Song Structures

Loop-Based (Game Background Music)

Order: [0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3]
        ↓  ↓←loop back←←←←↓

Pattern 0: Intro (plays once)
Pattern 1: Main A (verse)
Pattern 2: Main B (chorus/variation)
Pattern 3: Transition (leads back to 1)

Restart Position: 1 (skip intro on loop)

Linear (Cutscenes, Jingles)

Order: [0, 1, 2]  (End command at pattern 2's end)
No restart - one-shot playback

Pattern Budget

Song Length	Patterns	Order Length
30s loop	2-3	4-6
1min loop	4-5	8-12
2min loop	6-8	16-24

The 4-Pattern Song: Most simple tracks need only 4 patterns:

• Pattern 0: Intro
• Pattern 1: Verse/Main
• Pattern 2: Chorus/Variation
• Pattern 3: Bridge/Breakdown

Section Templates

Intro Pattern

Rows 0-15:  Sparse (drums only, or ambient pad)
Rows 16-31: Add bass
Rows 32-47: Add melody fragment
Rows 48-63: Build to full groove

Main/Verse Pattern

Rows 0-15:  Full groove established
Rows 16-31: Groove continues
Rows 32-47: Melodic content
Rows 48-63: Lead into next section

Chorus Pattern

Rows 0-15:  Impact! Full energy
Rows 16-31: Hook melody prominent
Rows 32-47: Hook develops
Rows 48-63: Prepare transition

Loop Point Design

Seamless Loop Requirements

1. Harmonic continuity - Last chord leads to first
2. Rhythmic continuity - Beat doesn't skip
3. Timbral continuity - Same instruments active
4. Dynamic continuity - Similar volume levels

Last 8 Rows Preparation

Row 56: Start volume fades (A08)
Row 58: Drum fill or transition start
Row 60: Clear held notes
Row 63: Clean state for loop

Setting Restart Position

module = XmModule(
    # ...
    restart_position=1,  # Skip pattern 0 (intro) on loop
)

64-Row Grid Reference

Rows    | Bar | Beat | Content
--------|-----|------|--------
0-15    | 1   | 1-4  | Phrase A
16-31   | 2   | 1-4  | Phrase A (variation)
32-47   | 3   | 1-4  | Phrase B
48-63   | 4   | 1-4  | Phrase B + transition

Drum Grid (4-on-floor)

Row | Beat | Kick | Snare | HH
----|------|------|-------|----
0   | 1.1  | X    |       | X
4   | 1.2  |      |       | X
8   | 1.3  |      | X     | X
12  | 1.4  |      |       | X
16  | 2.1  | X    |       | X
...

Anti-Patterns

Bad	Good
20 near-identical patterns	5 patterns with order repetition
Duplicate pattern to change 2 notes	Use sub-patterns or effects
Song just cuts and restarts	Fade out, fill, harmonic resolution
256-row sparse patterns	64-row patterns, order for length

Reference Files

• references/genre-templates.md - Complete templates for dance, ambient, boss battle, etc.
• references/loop-techniques.md - Advanced loop point techniques, fills, transitions