Sound & Production

Sequencer

The short version

The grid where you place hits in time.

A little more

Rows are instruments, columns are time. Switch a box on and that sound plays at that moment. Every BDT step grid is a sequencer.

See it

Kickx..x..x...x.x...

Snare....x.......x...

Hatx.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

16-step sequencer, one bar

Why you'd careIt's the fastest way to write rhythm without playing an instrument — and you can see the rhythm, which teaches your eye and ear together.

Where you'll see this in BDT

Finish a Beat →Add to It →

Learn next

Sixteenth NoteFour notes per beat — count "1 e and a".MIDIInstructions for notes — not sound itself.QuantizationSnapping notes onto the timing grid so they're perfectly in time.LoopA short section that repeats seamlessly.

88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide