0:00/0:00
// This Is Not America — David Bowie
// 118 bpm, 4/4, key F minor. Source: midi.
// Generated by strudelify. One cycle = one bar.
// note: pitch bends are ignored
// note: Full arrangement: all 117 bars on a 16-step grid, each part at one level; ghost notes are separate "_soft" parts. Source detail keeps the original performance.
setcpm(118/4)
// Notation: c3@3 lasts 3 steps · ~ is a rest · [c3,e3] is a chord · "a, b" plays two voices at once · [...]/2 spreads a riff over 2 bars.
// A part's distinct bars are riffs (A, B, C...) played in order: edit a riff to change every repeat.
// bass · fretless bass
const bass = note(`<
~ A B C D E B F B G B F B G B F H I J C B K H L M N E O P Q@3 R S@2 F T G B F B G D F B K B F B K B F B K B F U A B S
M V W X P Q@3 Y Z@2 F AA K B F B E B F B E B F B G B F B E B AB B G B F B G B F B G B C B G B F B G B AC B AD@4
>`.pickRestart({
A: "f2@5 ~ f2 ~ f2@7 ~", B: "eb2@4 ~@2 eb2 ~ eb2@7 ~", C: "db2@5 ~ db2 ~ db2@7 ~", D: "eb2@5 ~ eb2 ~ eb2@7 ~",
E: "f2@5 ~ f2 ~ f2@8", F: "db2@4 ~@2 db2 ~ db2@7 ~", G: "f2@4 ~@2 f2 ~ f2@8", H: "eb2@4 ~@2 eb2 ~ eb2@6 ~@2",
I: "f2@5 ~ f2 ~ f2@6 ~@2, e2 ~@15", J: "eb2@5 ~ eb2 ~ eb2@6 ~@2", K: "f2@4 ~@2 f2 ~ f2@7 ~",
L: "d2@4 ~@2 d2 ~ d2@7 ~, ~@8 b2 ~@7", M: "g2@4 ~@2 g2 ~ g2@7 ~", N: "ab2@3 eb2 ab2@2 g2@2", O: "db3@5 ~ db3 ~ db3@8",
P: "bb2@6 f2@2 bb2@7 ~", Q: "c3@6 g2@2 c3@7 ~", R: "c3@6 g2@2 c3@4 g2@3 ~", S: "d2@4 ~@2 d2 ~ d2@7 ~",
T: "db2@3 ~ db2@3 ~ c3@3 ~ c3@3 ~", U: "eb2@4 ~@2 eb2 ~ eb2@8", V: "ab2@6 eb2@2 ab2@3 ~ g2@4", W: "f2@3 c2 f2@4",
X: "db3@6 ab2 ~ db3@8", Y: "c3@6 g2 ~ c3@3 ~ c3@4", Z: "d2@4 ~@2 d2 ~ d2@6 ~@2", AA: "db2@3 ~ db2@3 ~ c2@3 ~ c2@3 ~",
AB: "db2@4 ~@2 db2 ~ db2@6 ~@2", AC: "db2@4 ~@2 db2 ~ db2@8", AD: "[f2@59 ~@5]/4",
})).s("gm_fretless_bass").gain(0.76).pan(0.6)
// chords · pad warm
const pad_warm = note(`<
~ A@4 B@4 C@2 D@2 E@4 F@2 G H I@2 J@2 K@3 L M@3 N@7 O@6 P@4 Q@4 R@3 S T@2 U@2 V@8 W@5 X D@2 Y@4 Z@4 AA@4 AB@2 D@2 AC@4
AD@4 AE@8 AF@4 AG@3 ~
>`.pickRestart({
A: "[f3@16 bb3@16 f3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, ab3@14 ~@2 g3@15 ~ ab3@14 ~@18]/4", // Gm
B: "[f3@16 bb3@16 [f3,ab3]@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, ab3@7 ~ g3@7 ~@17]/4", C: "[[f3,ab3] [g3,bb3], c4]/2",
D: "[[f3,ab3]@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@31 ~]/2", E: "[f3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@31 ~, ab3@7 ~@9]/2",
F: "[[f3,ab3]@16 ~@10 db4@3 c4@3, c4@29 ~@3, ~ [g3,bb3]]/2", G: "[ab3,eb4]@7 db4, [f3,c4]", H: "bb3@7 bb3, [g3,c4]",
I: "[[f3,ab3,c4]@15 ~ [g3,bb3,c4]@15 ~, ~@15 f3@17]/2", // Fm C7
J: "[[f3,ab3]@15 ~ [g3,bb3]@11 bb3@5, c4@7 ~, ~@16 f3@15 ~]/2", // Fm Gm
K: "[~@9 bb3@2 ~@21 g4@4 f4@8 g4@4, c4@47 ~, ab3@11 ab3@36 ~, ~@7 ab4@9 ~@8, ~@16 f3@31 ~]/3",
L: "f4@11 ab4@5, [f3,ab3,bb3,db4]@15 ~", M: "[g4 eb4 c4, [g3,bb3], c4@2 ~, ab3 ~@47]/3",
N: "[eb4@8 ~@5 ab4@2 ~ c5@6 bb4@2 ab4@48 [g3,bb3,g4]@8 [f3,ab3]@16 ~@8 eb4@8, ~@8 [g3,g4]@6 ~ f3@57 ~@24 [g3,bb3]@16, ~@12 bb3@3 c4@97, ~@15 ab3@55 ~@10 f4@25 ~@7]/7", // Gm Fm G Gm
O: "[ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@16 ab3@16 bb3@16 ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@95 ~, f3@7 ~@9 f3@7 ~ g3@7 ~ f3@7 ~@9]/6", // Gm
P: "[[f3,ab3] bb3 [f3,ab3] [g3,bb3], c4@63 ~, ~@8 g3@7 ~@17]/4", // Fm Gm
Q: "[ab3@16 bb3@16 ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, f3@14 ~@2 g3@15 ~ f3@14 ~@18]/4", // Gm
R: "[[f3,ab3]@16 ~@10 db4@3 ~@3 f3@14 db4@2, c4@29 c4@19, ~@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~ [ab3,eb4]@16]/3", S: "[g3,bb3,c4]@7 bb3",
T: "[ab3 [f3,g3,bb3], c4, f3@7 ~@9]/2", U: "[ab3@7 ~ [g3,bb3]@6 bb3@2, f3, c4@7 ~]/2",
V: "[~@4 ab4@4 g4 f4@2 g4 f4@3 ab4 g4@4 eb4@4 ~ eb4 g4 ab4 c5 bb4 ab4 f4, ab3@32 g3@31 ~, c4@48 bb3@79 ~, ~@8 f3@23 ~ c4@16 c4@15 ~]/8",
W: "[c5@3 bb4 ab4@4 f4@3 g4 ab4@11 bb4 ab4@2 g4@2 ~@2 eb4@2 [f3,ab3,f4]@8, c4, f3@28 [g3,f4]@3 ~@9, ab3@27 ~ bb3@4 ~@8]/5", // Fm G7
X: "bb3@3 bb3, c4, g3@7 ~", Y: "[[f3,ab3]@16 bb3@16 ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4, ~@16 g3@14 ~@2 f3@15 ~@17]/4",
Z: "[ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@16 [f3,ab3]@15 ~ [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, f3@7 ~@25]/4", // Gm Fm Gm
AA: "[[f3,ab3] bb3 ab3 [g3,bb3], c4, ~@8 g3@7 ~ f3@7 ~@9]/4", AB: "[ab3 [g3,bb3], c4, f3@7 ~@9]/2",
AC: "[ab3@16 bb3@16 [f3,ab3]@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, f3@7 ~ g3@7 ~@17]/4", // Fm Gm
AD: "[ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~ [f3,ab3]@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, f3@7 ~@25]/4", // Gm Fm Gm
AE: "[[f3,ab3]@16 bb3@16 ab3@16 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4@63 ~, ~@8 g3@7 ~ f3@7 ~@9]/4", // Fm Gm
AF: "[ab3@16 bb3@15 ~ f3@14 ~@2 [g3,bb3]@15 ~, c4, f3@14 ~@2 g3@14 ~ ab3@17 ~@16]/4", AG: "[[f3,ab3,c4]@47 ~]/3",
})).s("gm_pad_warm").gain(0.57)
// other · electric guitar muted
const electric_guitar_muted = note("<~@32 A B ~ C D E@8 ~@23 A B ~ C D E@35 F E G@2 E ~@4>".pickRestart({
A: "eb4 ~@3 f4 ~@3 ab4 ~@3 bb4 ~@3", B: "c5 ~@5 bb4 ~ ab4 ~@7", C: "~@14 bb4 ~", D: "ab4 ~@3 g4 ~@3 f4 ~@3 eb4 ~@3",
E: "f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 ~ f3 ~", F: "f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 ~ f3!2",
G: "f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f4 f3 ~ f3 ~ f4 ~@3",
})).s("gm_electric_guitar_muted").gain(0.36).pan(0.7)
// other · pad new age
const pad_new_age = note("<~@28 A B C D E@3 ~@2 F@8 ~@19 A B C G H@2 I@3 J@8 ~@36>".pickRestart({
A: "~@3 ab4", B: "g4", C: "eb4", D: "c4", E: "[eb4@8 ab4@4 bb4@3 c5@7 bb4@2 ab4@22 ~@2]/3", F: "[ab4@31 ~]/8",
G: "c4 eb4", H: "[g4 ab4 bb4 c5@3 ab4@2]/2", I: "[f4@5 g4]/3", J: "f4/8",
})).s("gm_pad_new_age").gain(0.39).pan(0.7)
// drums · kick
const kick = s("bd").struct("<~ A@24 B@8 A@7 C A@20 B@8 A@43 C D ~@3>".pickRestart({
A: "x ~@2 x!2 ~@2 x", B: "x ~@6 x", C: "x ~@2 x!2 ~ x!2", D: "x",
})).gain(0.7)
// drums · rim
const rim = s("rim").struct("<~ [~ x ~ x]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.7)
// drums · rim · soft notes
const rim_soft = s("rim").struct("<~ [~@13 x ~@2]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.14)
// drums · pedal hat
const pedal_hat = s("hh").struct("<[x!4] ~@16 x ~@99>").gain(0.7)
// drums · open hat
const open_hat = s("oh").struct("<~ [~@2 x ~@10 x ~@2]!112 x ~@3>").gain(0.56)
// drums · crash
const crash = s("cr").struct("<~@33 [~ x ~@2] ~@35 [~ x ~@2] ~@47>").gain(0.7)
// drums · ride
const ride = s("rd").struct(`<
~@2 A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~@9 A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~@9 A ~ A
~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A ~ A B ~@3
>`.pickRestart({
A: "~@13 x ~@2", B: "x",
})).gain(0.7)
// drums · tambourine
const tambourine = s("tb").struct("<~ [~@3 x]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.7)
// drums · congas
const congas = s("conga:18").struct("<~ [~@4 x!2 ~@4 x ~@5]!112 ~@4>").gain(2.02)
// drums · congas · soft notes
const congas_soft = s("conga:18").struct("<~ [~@11 x ~@4]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.67)
// drums · congas
const congas_2 = s("conga:33").struct("<~ [~@7 x]!112 ~@4>").gain(2.02)
// drums · congas · soft notes
const congas_soft_2 = s("conga:33").struct("<~ [~@3 x]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.67)
// drums · cabasa
const cabasa = s("cabasa:4").struct("<~ [x!16]!112 ~@4>").gain(1.42)
// drums · woodblocks
const woodblocks = s("woodblock:4").struct("<~ [~ x ~ x]!112 ~@4>").gain(0.71)
// drums · lt
const lt = s("lt").struct("<~@32 [~ x ~@2] ~@35 [~ x ~@2] ~@48>").gain(0.7)
stack(
bass, pad_warm, electric_guitar_muted, pad_new_age, kick, rim, rim_soft, pedal_hat, open_hat, crash, ride, tambourine,
congas, congas_soft, congas_2, congas_soft_2, cabasa, woodblocks, lt
)
More by David Bowie
Not in the database
That song isn't here.
Nothing in the database matches this link. It may have been renamed, or the address was mistyped. The closest songs to :
Real transcriptions · Editable patterns · Instrumental
Type a song.
Get Strudel code.
Chords, structure, melody, bass and drums compiled from open transcriptions into Strudel live-coding patterns. Play it here, scrub through the bars, then open it in strudel.cc and start hacking.
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
The JokerSteve Miller Band · 1973
Love Me DoThe Beatles · 1964
I Don't MindJames Brown · 1961
- Real transcriptionsMcGill chord charts, Lakh MIDI and quality-filtered PDMX scores. The library includes alternate transcriptions of some songs.
- One bar, one cycleEvery layer follows the same bar timeline, keeping the code, playback and song structure aligned.
- Instrumental by designDetected vocal parts are removed. Guitar riffs, harmonica and other instrumental leads stay.