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Ashes To Ashes cover art

Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

Ashes To Ashes

David Bowie

KeyB♭ minorTempo120 bpm
0:00/0:00
// Ashes To Ashes — BOWIE DAVID
// 120 bpm, 4/4, key A# minor. Source: midi.
// Generated by strudelify. One cycle = one bar.
// note: ch 4 "Strings 1" named as a string part, played on string ensemble 1 (its pad sweep patch is not one); ch 8 "Strings 2" named as a string part, played on string ensemble 1 (its pad warm patch is not one)
// note: Full arrangement: all 135 bars on a 16-step grid, each part at one level; ghost notes are separate "_soft" parts. Source detail keeps the original performance.
// note: The whole transcription plays 40 ms behind the beat; the grid follows it, so its parts stay together.
setcpm(120/4)

// Notation: c3@3 lasts 3 steps · ~ is a rest · [c3,e3] is a chord · [...]/2 spreads a riff over 2 bars.
// A part's distinct bars are riffs (A, B, C...) played in order, A@4 for four bars: edit a riff to change every repeat.

// bass · fretless bass · "Bass"
const bass = note(`<
  A B C D E C D E C D E C A B C D F E G H I J K L M N O P M Q F R S T G U F V W X Y Q Z AA AB AC AD AE AF AG A B C AH E
  C D E C D E C A B C D F E G H I J K L M N O P M Q F R S T AI U F V W X Y Q Z AA AB AC AD AE AF AG A B C AH E C D E C D
  E C A B C AH E C D E C D E C D E C D E C D E C D ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "bb1 ~ bb1@2 ~@2 bb2@2 ~@6 gb1@2", B: "ab1 ~ ab1@2 ~@2 ab2 ~@7 db2@2", C: "eb2 ~ eb2 ~@3 eb3 ~@3 gb1@2 ~@2 ab1@2",
  D: "bb1 ~ bb1@2 ~@2 bb2 ~@9", E: "ab1 ~ ab1@2 ~@2 ab2 ~@9", F: "ab1 ~ ab1@2 ~@2 ab2 ~@3 ab1@2 ~@4",
  G: "f1 ~ f1 ~@3 f2 ~@3 f1@2 ~@4", H: "f1 ~ f1@2 ~@2 f2@2 ~@6 c2@2", I: "db2@2 db2 ~@3 db3 ~@3 db2@2 ~@2 ab1 ~",
  J: "db2 ~ db2@2 ~@2 db3 ~@9", K: "eb2@2 eb2 ~@3 eb3 ~@3 eb2@2 ~@2 bb1@2", L: "eb2 ~ eb2 ~@3 eb2@2 ~@8",
  M: "gb1 ~ gb1@2 ~@2 gb2 ~@3 f2 ~@3 db2@2", N: "gb2 f2 db2 gb1@2 ~@2 c2", O: "db2 ~ db2@2 ~@2 db3 ~@3 c3 ~@3 ab2@2",
  P: "f2@2 ~@2 eb2@2 ~@2 c2@2 f1@5 ~", Q: "gb1 ~ gb1@2 ~@2 gb2@6 ~@4", R: "a1 ~ a1@2 ~@2 a2@2 ~@2 a1@2 ~@4",
  S: "bb1 ~ bb1@2 ~@2 bb2 ~@3 bb1 ~@5", T: "bb1 ~ bb1 ~@3 bb2 ~@9", U: "f1 ~ f1@2 ~@2 f2 ~@9",
  V: "ab1 ~ ab1@2 ~@2 ab2@2 ~@6 db2@2", W: "eb2 ~ eb2 ~@3 eb3 ~@3 eb2 ~@5", X: "eb2 ~ eb2 ~@3 eb3 ~@9",
  Y: "gb1!2 ~ gb2 ~ f2 ~ db2", Z: "db2 ~ db2@2 ~@2 db3 ~@3 db2@2 ~@4", AA: "f2 ~ f2@2 ~@2 f1@6 ~@4",
  AB: "gb1 ~ gb1@2 ~@2 gb2@2 ~@2 gb1@2 ~@2 gb1 ~", AC: "ab1 ~ ab1@2 ~@2 ab2@2 ~@2 ab1@2 ~@2 ab1@2",
  AD: "db2 ~ db2@2 ~@2 db3@2 ~@2 db2@2 ~@2 db2 ~", AE: "bb1 ~ bb1@2 ~@2 bb2@2 ~@2 bb1@2 ~@2 bb1 ~",
  AF: "gb1@2 ~@2 gb1@3 ~ gb1@2 ~@2 gb1@3 ~", AG: "ab1@3 ~ ab1@3 ~ ab1@3 ~ ab1@2 ~@2", AH: "bb1 ~ bb1@2 ~@2 bb2@2 ~@8",
  AI: "f1 ~ f1@2 ~@2 f2 ~@3 f1@2 ~@4",
})).s("gm_fretless_bass").gain(0.36)

// chords · epiano2 · "E Piano"
const epiano2 = note("<~@16 A B C D E F G H I J K D I J L M ~@34 A B C D E F G H I J K D I J L M ~@53>".pickRestart({
  A: "[eb3,ab3,c4] ~ [eb3,ab3,c4] ~ [eb3,ab3,db4] ~@3 [eb3,ab3,c4] ~@3 [eb3,ab3,db4] ~ [eb3,ab3,c4] ~", // Ab Dbsus2 Ab Dbsus2 Ab
  B: "~@2 [eb3,ab3,c4] ~ [eb3,ab3,db4] ~@3 [eb3,ab3,c4] ~ [eb3,ab3,c4] ~ [eb3,ab3,db4] ~@3", // Ab Dbsus2 Ab Dbsus2
  C: "[f3,ab3,c4] ~ [f3,ab3,c4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,c4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,eb4] ~ [f3,ab3,c4] ~", // Fm Fm7 Fm Fm7 Fm
  D: "~@2 [f3,ab3,c4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,c4] ~ [f3,ab3,c4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3", // Fm Fm7 Fm Fm7
  E: "[f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,db4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,eb4] ~ [f3,ab3,db4] ~", // Db Fm7 Db Fm7 Db
  F: "~@2 [f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3", // Db Fm7 Db Fm7
  G: "[g3,bb3,eb4] ~ [g3,bb3,eb4] ~ [ab3,bb3,eb4] ~@3 [g3,bb3,eb4] ~@3 [ab3,bb3,eb4] ~ [g3,bb3,eb4] ~", // Eb Absus2 Eb Absus2 Eb
  H: "~@2 [g3,bb3,eb4] ~ [ab3,bb3,eb4] ~@3 [g3,bb3,eb4] ~ [g3,bb3,eb4] ~ [ab3,bb3,eb4] ~@3", // Eb Absus2 Eb Absus2
  I: "[db3,gb3,bb3] ~ [db3,gb3,bb3] ~ [db3,gb3,c4] ~@3 [db3,gb3,bb3] ~@3 [db3,gb3,c4] ~ [db3,gb3,bb3] ~", // Gb
  J: "~@2 [db3,gb3,bb3] ~ [db3,gb3,c4] ~@3 [db3,gb3,bb3] ~ [db3,gb3,bb3] ~ [db3,gb3,c4] ~@3", // Gb
  K: "[f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,db4] ~ [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,db4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,eb4] ~ [f3,ab3,c4] ~", // Db Fm7 Db Fm7 Fm
  L: "[f3,ab3,c4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,eb4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,c4] ~@3 [f3,ab3,eb4] ~ [a3,c4,eb4] ~", // Fm Fm7 Fm Fm7 Adim
  M: "~@2 [a3,c4,eb4] ~ [a3,c4,f4] ~@3 [a3,c4,eb4] ~ [a3,c4,eb4] ~ [a3,c4,f4] ~@3", // Adim F Adim F
})).s("gm_epiano2").gain(0.36)

// chords · string ensemble 1 · "Strings 1"
const string_ensemble_1 = note(`<
  ~@32 A@2 B@2 C@2 D@2 E@2 F G H I J K H I ~@32 A@2 B@2 C@2 D@2 E@2 F G H I J K H I ~@35
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[f4,bb4,d5]/2", B: "[f4,a4,c5]/2", C: "[eb4,ab4,c5]/2", D: "[eb4,g4,bb4]/2", E: "[db4,gb4,bb4]/2",
  F: "[db4,f4,ab4]", G: "[c4,f4,ab4]", H: "[db4,gb4,bb4]", I: "[eb4,ab4,c5]", J: "[f4,ab4,db5]", K: "[db4,f4,bb4]",
})).s("gm_string_ensemble_1").gain(0.2)

// other · ocarina · "Flutey"
const ocarina = note("<~@109 A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C ~@2>".pickRestart({
  A: "f5", B: "eb5", C: "bb4",
})).s("gm_ocarina").gain(0.31)

// bass · lead 2 sawtooth · "Synth Bass"
const bass_2 = note("<~@103 A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C ~@5>".pickRestart({
  A: "bb2", B: "ab2", C: "eb2",
})).s("gm_lead_2_sawtooth").gain(0.41)

// chords · string ensemble 1 · "Strings 2"
const string_ensemble_1_2 = note(`<
  ~@32 A@2 B@2 C@2 D@2 E@2 F G H I J K H I ~@32 A@2 B@2 C@2 D@2 E@2 F G H I J K H I ~@35
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[f3,bb3,d4]/2", B: "[f3,a3,c4]/2", C: "[eb3,ab3,c4]/2", D: "[eb3,g3,bb3]/2", E: "[db3,gb3,bb3]/2",
  F: "[db3,f3,ab3]", G: "[c3,f3,ab3]", H: "[db3,gb3,bb3]", I: "[eb3,ab3,c4]", J: "[f3,ab3,db4]", K: "[db3,f3,bb3]",
})).s("gm_string_ensemble_1").gain(0.2)

// chords · synth brass 1 · "Brass"
const synth_brass_1 = note("<~@113 A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C ~>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@3 [ab4,c5]@5", B: "~@3 [gb4,bb4]@5", C: "~@3 [bb4,db5]@5",
})).s("gm_synth_brass_1").gain(0.31)

// chords · acoustic guitar steel · "Guitar"
const acoustic_guitar_steel = note(`<
  A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B@2 D@2 E@2 F@2 G H I J G@2 J K ~@18 A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B@2 D@2 E@2 F@2 G
  H I J G@2 J K ~@18 A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C A ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@4 [db4,f4,bb4] ~@5 [db4,f4,bb4]@6", B: "~@4 [c4,eb4,ab4] ~@5 [c4,eb4,ab4]@6",
  C: "~@4 [bb3,eb4,gb4] ~@5 [bb3,eb4,gb4]@6", // Ebm
  D: "[~@4 [eb4,ab4,c5] ~@5 [eb4,ab4,c5]@8 ~@2 [eb4,ab4,c5] ~@5 [eb4,ab4,c5]@6]/2", // Ab
  E: "~@4 [db4,f4,ab4] ~@5 [db4,f4,ab4]@6", // Db
  F: "[~@4 [eb4,g4,bb4] ~@5 [eb4,g4,bb4]@8 ~@2 [eb4,g4,bb4] ~@5 [eb4,g4,bb4]@5 ~]/2", G: "[db4,gb4,bb4]@15 ~",
  H: "[db4,gb4,bb4]@13 ~@3", I: "[db4,f4,ab4]@13 ~@3", J: "[eb4,ab4,c5]@7 ~", K: "[f4,a4,c5]@15 ~",
})).s("gm_acoustic_guitar_steel").gain(0.36)

// drums · kick
const kick = s("bd").struct(`<
  A@24 B C B C B C B C A@8 B C B C B C B C D@2 A@24 B C B C B C B C A@8 B C B C B C B C D@2 A@34 ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "x!2 ~@2 x ~@3", B: "x!2 ~@2 x!2 ~@2", C: "x!2 ~ x ~ x ~@2", D: "x!4",
})).gain(0.2)

// drums · snare
const snare = s("sd").struct("<A@24 B@8 A@8 B@8 C@2 A@24 B@8 A@8 B@8 C@2 A@34 ~>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@2 x ~@2 x ~@2", B: "~ x ~ x", C: "x!4",
})).gain(0.31)

// drums · hihat
const hihat = s("hh").struct(`<
  A@4 B A@10 C B@4 A@3 B@8 C B@7 A B@9 C B A@6 C B A@6 C A@8 B@7 C B A B A B A@2 B@10 D E F@3 A@30 ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "x!7 ~", B: "x!8", C: "x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~@3 x!2", D: "x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x!6",
  E: "x!5 ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x!2", F: "x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x!2",
})).gain(0.2)

// drums · open hat
const open_hat = s("oh").struct(`<
  A@4 ~ A@10 ~@5 A@3 ~@16 A ~@11 A@6 ~@2 A@6 ~ A@8 ~@9 A ~ A ~ A@2 ~@15 A@30 ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 x",
})).gain(0.15)

// drums · cabasa
const cabasa = s("cabasa:4").struct("<[x!4]!16 ~@16 [x!4]!34 ~@16 [x!4]!52 ~>").gain(0.78)

// drums · cabasa · soft notes
const cabasa_soft = s("cabasa:4").struct("<[~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x]!16 ~@16 [~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x]!34 ~@16 [~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x]!52 ~>")
  .gain(0.52)

stack(
  bass, epiano2, string_ensemble_1, ocarina, bass_2, string_ensemble_1_2, synth_brass_1, acoustic_guitar_steel, kick,
  snare, hihat, open_hat, cabasa, cabasa_soft
)

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