Tracker Music Fundamentals

Core Philosophy

Tracker music is constraint-driven art. Limited channels, limited polyphony, limited effects - but these constraints create a distinctive aesthetic. The goal isn't to simulate an orchestra; it's to create music that sounds intentional within tracker limitations.

Three Pillars:

1. Economy - Maximum musical impact with minimum resources
2. Expression - Effects as musical expression, not decoration
3. Flow - Seamless playback with intentional dynamics

Amateur vs Polished

Amateur	Polished
Flat velocity throughout	Velocity variation on repeating notes
Effects used randomly	Effects serve musical purpose
Copy-paste patterns	Pattern variations with small changes
Abrupt note endings	Volume fades and release tails
Mechanical timing	Slight groove variations

Effect Quick Reference

Effects aren't decoration - they're musical expression encoded as data.

Effect	When to Use	When NOT to Use
Vibrato (H/4)	Sustained leads 8+ rows	Drums, bass, short notes
Portamento (G/3)	Melodic transitions, emphasis	Drums, staccato
Arpeggio (J/0)	Chords on limited channels	When spare channels exist
Volume Slide (D/A)	Fades, swells, dynamics	Steady bass lines
Pitch Slide (E-F/1-2)	Kick punch, synth attacks	Acoustic instruments
Retrigger (Q/E9x)	Snare rolls, builds	Sustained passages

Effect Application Patterns

# Vibrato for warmth (delay entry for natural feel)
row 0:  C-4 01 -- ---   # Clean attack
row 4:  --- -- -- H24   # Vibrato enters (speed 2, depth 4)

# Portamento for emphasis (slide INTO important notes)
row 0:  C-4 01 40 ---   # Setup note
row 8:  E-4 01 40 G10   # Slide UP to target

# Punchy kick with pitch drop
row 0:  C-5 01 40 E40   # Start high, slide down fast

Human Feel Techniques

Velocity Variation

Never use the same velocity for repeating notes:

# Pattern for natural feel
velocities = [48, 40, 44, 36, 48, 38, 46, 40]
for i, row in enumerate(range(0, 64, 4)):
    vol = velocities[i % len(velocities)]
    pattern.set_note(row, ch, ItNote.play("C-4", inst, vol))

Ghost Notes

Quiet notes between main hits add life:

for row in range(0, 64, 2):
    if row % 4 == 0:
        pattern.set_note(row, ch, note.with_volume(48))  # Main
    else:
        pattern.set_note(row, ch, note.with_volume(24))  # Ghost

Groove/Swing

Use note delay (SDx) for swing feel:

for row in range(0, 64, 4):
    if (row // 4) % 2 == 1:
        note = note.with_effect(19, 0xD2)  # SD2: delay odd hits
    pattern.set_note(row, ch, note)

Pattern Variation Principles

The 4-Bar Rule

Never loop the same 4 bars more than twice without variation.

Variation techniques:

1. Add/remove a note - Same pattern, one element different
2. Velocity change - Same notes, different emphasis
3. Fill on 4th bar - Drum fill every 4th repetition
4. Effect variation - Add vibrato/slide on repeat
5. Octave shift - Same melody, different register

Typical 8-Channel Layout

Ch	Role	Character
1	Kick	Low, punchy
2	Snare	Mid, snappy
3	Hi-hat	High, short
4	Bass	Low synth
5-6	Leads	Main melody
7	Pad/Chord	Harmony
8	FX	Risers, impacts

Reference Files

• references/effect-philosophy.md - Deep dive on effect combinations, mood mapping
• references/sample-economy.md - Loop points, sample sharing, size optimization
• references/channel-allocation.md - Detailed channel strategies by genre
• references/quality-checklist.md - Pre-release validation checklist