Strudelify
Careless Whisper cover art

1984 · Ladies & Gentlemen

Careless Whisper

Michael George

KeyD minorTempo76 bpm
0:00/0:00
// Careless Whisper — Michael George
// 76 bpm, 4/4, key D minor. Source: midi.
// Generated by strudelify. One cycle = one bar.
// note: pitch bends are ignored
// note: Full arrangement: all 118 bars on a 16-step grid, each part at one level; ghost notes are separate "_soft" parts. Source detail keeps the original performance.
setcpm(76/4)

// 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 · "FRETLESS"
const bass = note(`<
  ~@20 A B C D E F G H I J K L I J K L M N K L I N K L O B C P O B C P M N K L Q R S T U B V W A B C X Y B Z AA I J K L
  I J K L AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AI A AJ AK X Y AL Z AM O AN AK X A AO AP AQ AB AR AS AM AT AU AV AW AX AY AZ BA BB@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "d2@5 ~ d2 ~ d2@4 ~ e1 f1 gb1", B: "g1@2 ~@5 g1 g1@4 a1@4", C: "bb1@6 ~ bb1 bb1@7 ~",
  D: "a1@5 e2@2 b2 a2@4 e2@3 c2", E: "d2@6 ~ d2 d2@2 f1 ~@2 e1 f1 a1", F: "g1@2 ~@5 g1 g1@3 bb1 a1@4",
  G: "bb1@6 ~ bb1 bb1@2 bb2@3 bb1@2 g1", H: "a1@4 e2@3 [a2,b2] a2@4 c3@3 ~", I: "d2@5 ~ d2 ~ d2@7 ~",
  J: "g1@7 g1 g1@4 a1@4", K: "bb1@5 ~ bb1 ~ bb1@7 ~", L: "a1@5 ~ a1 ~ a1@7 ~", M: "d2@7 d2 d2@7 ~",
  N: "g1@5 ~ g1 ~ g1@4 a1@4", O: "d2@6 ~ d2 d2@4 ~ e1 f1 gb1", P: "a1@6 ~ a1 a1@7 ~", Q: "d2@7 d2 d2@5 f2 ~ d2",
  R: "g2@3 g2 d2@3 d2 bb1 d2 bb1@2 g1@3 a1", S: "bb1@7 bb1 bb1@7 ~", T: "a1@7 a1 a1@3 e2 a2@4",
  U: "d2@7 d2!2 f1 ~ f1 f1@2 f1 gb1", V: "bb1 ~@4 bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@7 ~", W: "a1@7 e2 a2@4 a1@4",
  X: "a1@5 e2@2 b2 a2@3 e2 a1@2 bb1 c2", Y: "d2@6 ~ d2 d2@2 a1 ~@2 e1 f1 gb1", Z: "bb1@6 ~ bb1 bb1@2 bb1@3 bb1@2 g1",
  AA: "a1@4 e2@3 [a2,b2] a2@7 ~", AB: "d2@4 ~ a1 c2 a1 d2@3 e1 ~ f1 ~ gb1", AC: "g1@2 ~@3 g1 ~ g1 g1@4 a1@4",
  AD: "bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@4 ~ bb1 ~ g1", AE: "a1@3 e2@3 a1@2 ~ e2 ~ e2 a2 e2 d2 c2",
  AF: "d2@5 ~ d2 ~ d2@5 e1 f1 gb1", AG: "g1@4 ~ g2 ~ f1 g1@2 f1 g1 a1@3 a1", AH: "bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@7 g1",
  AI: "a1@7 e2 a2@3 e2 a2 e2 d2 c2", AJ: "g1@3 g1 a1@3 a1 bb1@3 bb1 c2@3 c2", AK: "bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@7 ~",
  AL: "g1@2 ~@3 g2 ~ g1 g1@4 a1@4", AM: "a1@4 e2@3 [a2,b2] a2@5 a1 c2@2", AN: "g1@2 ~ g1 a1@2 a1!2 bb1@3 bb1 c2@3 ~",
  AO: "g1@2 ~@3 g2 ~ g1 g1@2 ~@2 a1@4", AP: "bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb2",
  AQ: "a2@2 a2 e2@2 e2!3 a1@4 a2@2 d2 c2", AR: "g1@4 ~ g2 ~ f1 g1@4 a1@3 a1", AS: "bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1 bb1@4 ~ bb2 ~ bb1",
  AT: "d2@6 ~ d2 d2@3 f1 ~ a1 f1 a1", AU: "g1@2 g2 ~@2 g1 ~ g1 g1@2 ~@2 a1@4",
  AV: "bb1@2 bb2 ~@2 bb1 ~ bb1 bb1@2 ~@5 bb1", AW: "a1@5 a2@3 a1@4 a1@2 c2@2", AX: "d2@4 ~ d2 ~ a1 d2@3 e1 ~ f1 ~ gb1",
  AY: "g1@2 g2 ~@2 a1 ~@2 bb1 ~@3 c2@4", AZ: "bb1@2 bb2 ~@2 bb1 ~ f2 bb2 ~@3 f2 ~@2 f2", BA: "a2@5 e2@3 a1 ~ a1@4 c2@2",
  BB: "[d2@3 ~]/2",
})).s("gm_fretless_bass").gain(0.54)

// chords · epiano2 · "A.PIANO 2"
const epiano2 = note(`<
  ~@7 A@5 B C D E F C D E B C D G F C D E B H I G B H I G J K L E F M N O P Q R S T Q U V J K L E W X Y Z F H N O P AA
  AB AC T AD AE V B H I G B H I G P AA AB AC T AD AF AG P AA AB AC T AD AE V B H I G AH AA AI AC AJ AA AI AK AL@2 AM
  AN@2 K AO@2 AP@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[~@16 [a3,d4]@15 ~ [f3,bb3]@15 ~ [a3,d4]@15 ~ g3@12 a3@2 c4@2, ~@15 [d3,f3]@16 [g2,d3]@16 [bb2,f3]@16 [a2,e3]@16 ~, ~@32 c4@7 ~, ~@76 bb3 ~@3]/5", // D5 Bb5 D5 Dm G5 Bb5 A5
  B: "[d3,f3,a3,d4,a4]@15 ~", C: "[bb2,f3,bb3,d4,f4]", D: "[d3,d4,f4], bb3@7 ~", E: "[a2,a3,c4,e4]",
  F: "[d3,a3,d4,f4,a4]@15 ~", G: "e4@3 g4, [a2,a3,c4]", H: "[g2,f3,bb3,d4,f4]@3 [a2,g3,c4,e4]",
  I: "[bb2,d4,f4], bb3@7 ~", J: "[d3,f3,a3,d4]@15 ~", K: "[g2,f3,bb3,d4,f4]", L: "[bb2,f3,d4], bb3@7 ~",
  M: "[g2,f3,bb3,d4]@3 [a2,g3,c4,e4]", N: "[bb2,d4,f4], a3@7 ~", O: "[a2,g3,c4,e4]",
  P: "[a4,d5]@11 ~ [a4,c5]@4, [d3,a3,f4]@15 ~", Q: "[g2,f3,d4,f4,bb4]", R: "[f4,a4]@11 ~ [f4,bb4]@4, [bb2,d4], bb3@7 ~",
  S: "[e4,g4,c5]@3 [g4,c5,e5], [a2,c4]", T: "[f4,a4,d5]@11 ~ [f4,a4,c5]@4, [d3,a3,d4]@15 ~",
  U: "[d4,f4,a4]@11 ~ [d4,f4,bb4]@4, bb2, bb3@7 ~", V: "[a2,c4,e4,g4,c5]", W: "[d3,a3,d4,f4]@15 ~",
  X: "[d3,bb3,d4,f4]@3 [a3,c4,e4], g2", Y: "f4@13 ~ f4 g4, [bb2,f3,a3,d4]", Z: "e4@12 e4 f4 e4@2, [a2,a3,c4]",
  AA: "[d4,f4,bb4]@3 [g4,c5,e5], [g2,f3]", AB: "[f4,f5]@14 f5 g5, [bb2,a4,d5]",
  AC: "[g4,c5,e5]@12 e5 f5 e5@2, [a2,c4], ~@3 [g4,c5]", AD: "[f4,bb4,d5]@3 [g4,c5,e5], [g2,g3]",
  AE: "[f4,a4,d5]@3 [d4,f4,d5], bb2, f5@7 ~", AF: "[bb2,f4,a4,d5], f5@7 ~", AG: "[a2,e4,g4,c5,e5]",
  AH: "[f4,a4,d5] [f5,a5,d6], [d3,a3]@15 ~", AI: "[a4,d5,f5]@3 [a4,d5,f5], [bb2,f4]",
  AJ: "[f4,a4,d5] [f5,a5,d6], [d3,a3,d4]@15 ~", AK: "[g4,c5,e5]@3 [g4,c5,e5], [a2,c4]",
  AL: "[d5@3 ~ [g2,f3,d4,f4,bb4]@4, [d3,a3,f4,a4] ~, ~@3 [f5,a5]@3 ~@2, ~@3 d5@2 ~@3]/2", AM: "[bb2,bb3,f4,a4,d5]",
  AN: "[[e4,g4,c5]@3 ~ [d3,a3,f4,a4,d5,f5]@4, [a2,c4] ~, ~@3 [c5,e5]@3 ~@2, ~@3 g4@2 ~@3]/2", // C Dm Am C
  AO: "[[bb2,bb3,d4,f4,a4]@15 ~ [a3,e4,a4,c5]@16, ~@15 [a2,c4]@17]/2", AP: "[[d3,a3,f4,a4,d5]@3 ~]/2",
})).s("gm_epiano2").gain(0.39).pan(0.3)

// chords · string ensemble 2 · "SLOWSTRING"
const string_ensemble_2 = note(`<
  A@2 B C D E B F G@4 ~@8 A@2 B C D H D I A@2 B C J K L M N ~@7 O P Q R D H B S G@4 ~@8 O P Q R D H D S A@2 B C J K L M
  O P Q R D H B S O P Q R D H D S J K L M O P Q R D H B S T@2 U V T@2 U V W@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[[d4,f4,a4] [bb3,d4,f4], d5]/2", B: "[d4,f4,a4,d5]", C: "e4@3 g4, [a3,c4,c5]", D: "d5@10 e5@3 f5@3, [d4,f4,a4]",
  E: "bb4@3 c5, [bb3,d4,f4]", F: "[c4,e4,a4,c5]", G: "[[a4,d5,a5,a6]@49 ~@15]/4", H: "[bb3,d4,f4,bb4]@3 [c4,e4,a4,c5]",
  I: "[c4,e4,a4,c5,a5]@3 ~", J: "[d3,f4,d5,a5]", K: "[g3,f4,bb4,g5]", L: "[bb3,d4,a4,f5]", M: "[a3,c4,a4,e5]",
  N: "[d4,a4,d5,d6]", O: "d5@3 c5, [d4,f4]", P: "[bb3,d4,bb4]", Q: "a4@3 bb4, [bb3,f4]", R: "e4@3 g4, [a3,c5]",
  S: "[a3,e4,a4,c5]", T: "[[d3,a3,f4] [g2,bb3,f4], d5]/2", U: "[bb2,f3,a4,d5]", V: "[a2,g3,e4,c5]",
  W: "[[d3,a3,f4,d5]@3 ~]/2", // Dm
})).s("gm_string_ensemble_2").gain(0.24)

// other · alto sax
const alto_sax = note("<~@27 A B C D E B C D F ~@35 A B C D E B C D F G ~@14 A B C D F G ~@17>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@14 f4 [gb4,g4,a4,c5]", B: "e5@2 d5 a4@2 f4@2 e5@3 d5 a4@2 f4@2 ~, d5 ~@15",
  C: "c5@2 bb4 f4@2 d4@2 c5@3 bb4 f4@4 ~", D: "bb4@2 a4 f4@2 d4@2 bb3@8 ~",
  E: "a3@2 bb3@2 c4@2 d4@2 e4@2 f4@2 g4@2 a4 c5", F: "a3 bb3 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 a4", G: "d5@3 ~",
})).s("gm_alto_sax").gain(0.5).pan(0.4)

// chords · electric guitar clean · "CLEAN GTR"
const electric_guitar_clean = note(`<
  ~@28 A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C E A
  B F G A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C H A B C H I@3 J I@2 K L M@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4,a4]!2", // Dm
  B: "~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4,g4]!2", // Bb Gm
  C: "~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4,f4]!2", // Bb
  D: "~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4,a4]!2", E: "~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@7",
  F: "~@2 [bb3,d4] ~@2 [bb3,d4] ~ d4 [f4,a4]@3 ~ [d4,f4]@2 ~@2", G: "[c4,e4]@5 ~@3",
  H: "~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4] ~@2 [c4,e4,g4]!2", // C
  I: "~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4] ~ d4 [d4,g4]!2 [d4,f4] ~ [d4,g4]!2 [d4,f4] ~", // Dm G5 Dm G5 Dm
  J: "~@8 a4 [a4,c5] e4 [e4,g4] [c4,e4] c4 [a3,c4] a3", // Am Em C Am
  K: "~@2 [d4,f4] ~@2 [d4,f4] ~ d4 [d4,g4]!2 [d4,f4] ~ [d4,g4] ~ [d4,f4] ~", // Dm G5 Dm G5 Dm
  L: "~@2 [c4,e4] ~@5 a4 [a4,c5] e4 [e4,g4] [c4,e4] c4 [a3,c4] a3", M: "[[a3,d4,f4]@3 ~]/2",
})).s("gm_electric_guitar_clean").gain(0.25).pan(0.7)

// other · acoustic guitar nylon · "NYLON GTR"
const acoustic_guitar_nylon = note(`<
  ~@8 A B@2 C D ~@3 E@2 F G H ~@31 A I J K L ~@3 E@2 M N O ~@2 P Q R S ~@16 P Q ~@2 T U R S ~@23
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 f4", B: "[~ e4@4 f4@2 bb3@7 ~ f4@2 e4@4 f4@2 g4@3 a4@4 d5@2]/2", C: "~ e5@4 f5@2 d5@8 d4",
  D: "d4@3 ~, c4 ~@15", E: "[~@10 d4 e4 f4@2 ~ a4@5 g4 d4@4 ~@7, ~@21 f4 ~@10]/2", F: "a4@3 ~@5 f4@5 ~@3",
  G: "~@4 e4 ~@5 f3 g3 a3 g3 a3 c4", H: "~ d5 ~@2, d4@9 ~@7, ~@3 a4@5 ~@8", I: "e4@4 f4@2 bb3@7 ~ f4@2",
  J: "e4@2 f4 g4@2 a4@2 d5", K: "e5@4 f5@2 d5@8 ~ [c4,d4]", L: "d4@3 ~",
  M: "[f4,a4]@3 ~ [e4,g4]@2 f4 ~ [d4,f4]@5 ~ f4 ~", N: "[c4,e4]@4 e4 ~ c4@4 f3 g3 a3 g3 a3 c4",
  O: "~@4 [a4,d5]@5 ~@7, d4@9 ~@7", P: "~@10 f3 g3 a3 g3 a3 c4", Q: "d4@9 ~@7", R: "~@14 bb3 c4",
  S: "bb3@2 [d5,f5]@3 ~@3", T: "~@10 d3 e3 f3 g3 a3 c4", U: "~@5 c4 a3 c4 d4 ~@7, d4 ~",
})).s("gm_acoustic_guitar_nylon").gain(0.42).pan(0.7)

// other · acoustic guitar nylon · "NYLON GTR" · soft notes
const acoustic_guitar_nylon_2 = note("<~@16 A ~ B C D ~@39 A ~ E F D ~@5 G ~@23 G ~@23>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@14 g4 ~", B: "f4@3 ~ [e4,g4]@2 f4 ~ d4@5 ~ [d4,f4] ~", C: "[c4,e4]@5 g4 c4@4 ~@6", D: "~@3 f4@5 ~@8",
  E: "~@14 d4 ~", F: "~@5 g4 ~@10", G: "~@4 [ab3,a3] ~@11",
})).s("gm_acoustic_guitar_nylon").gain(0.18).pan(0.7)

// chords · lead 2 sawtooth · "SAW WAVE" · D5 Dm D5 Dm
const lead_2_sawtooth = note("<~@80 [~ [a4,d5] ~@6] [~ [d5,f5] ~@6] ~@2 [~ [a4,d5] ~@6] [~ [d5,f5] ~@6] ~@32>")
  .s("gm_lead_2_sawtooth").gain(0.29).pan(0.8)

// chords · pad halo · "HALO PAD"
const pad_halo = note(`<
  ~@12 A B@2 C A B@2 C ~@16 D B E C A F D G ~@8 D B E C D H E C A I D G ~@44 D B@2 C A B@2 C J@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[d4,f4,a4]", B: "[bb3,d4,f4]", C: "[a3,c4,e4]", D: "[a3,d4,f4]", E: "[f3,bb3,d4]", F: "[f3,bb3,d4]@3 [g3,c4,e4]",
  G: "[g3,c4,e4]", H: "[bb3,d4,f4]@3 [a3,c4,e4]", I: "[bb3,d4,f4]@3 [g3,c4,e4]", J: "[[f3,a3,d4]@3 ~]/2",
})).s("gm_pad_halo").gain(0.12).pan(0.8)

// other · electric guitar muted · "MUTED GTR" · D5
const electric_guitar_muted = note(`<
  ~@80
  [~@2 d4 ~@2 c4 ~ a3 d4 c4 ~ c4 ~@2 c4!2]!3
  [~@2 e4 ~@2 d4 ~@5 [a3,d4] ~@2 a3 c4]
  [~@2 d4 ~@2 c4 ~ a3 d4 c4 ~ c4 ~@2 c4!2]!3
  [~@2 e4 ~@2 d4 ~@5 [a3,d4] ~@2 a3 c4]
  ~@30
>`).s("gm_electric_guitar_muted").gain(0.27).pan(0.2)

// other · electric guitar muted · "MUTED GTR" · soft notes
const electric_guitar_muted_2 = note("<~@80 [~@10 a3 ~@5]!3 [~@14 g3 ~] [~@10 a3 ~@5]!3 [~@14 g3 ~] ~@30>")
  .s("gm_electric_guitar_muted").gain(0.17).pan(0.2)

// drums · kick
const kick = s("bd").struct(`<
  ~@20 A@3 B A@3 B A@7 B A@3 B A@11 B A@3 C A@23 D E A@7 E A@11 E A@6 F A G@6 F H ~
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "x!2", B: "x ~@3 x!2 ~@2", C: "x ~@2 x!2 ~@3", D: "x ~@3 x ~@2 x", E: "x ~@6 x!2 ~@7", F: "x ~ x!2",
  G: "x!2 ~@2 x ~@3", H: "x",
})).gain(0.55)

// drums · kick · soft notes
const kick_soft = s("bd").struct(`<
  ~@37 A ~@6 B ~@2 B ~ B ~@7 B ~ C ~ B ~@2 B ~@2 B ~ B ~@13 B ~ B ~@5 B ~ B ~@9 B ~ B ~@3 B@6 ~@3
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 x", B: "~@7 x ~@8", C: "~@11 x ~@4",
})).gain(0.31)

// drums · rim
const rim = s("rim").struct("<~@36 A@4 B A@2 C ~@12 A@2 B D A@3 C ~@54>".pickRestart({
  A: "~ x ~ x", B: "~ x!3", C: "~ x ~@2", D: "~@4 x ~ x ~@2 x!2 ~ x ~@3",
})).gain(0.55)

// drums · snare
const snare = s("sd").struct(`<
  ~@20 A@3 B A@3 B A@3 C A@4 ~@7 D A@3 E A@7 F ~@7 D A@3 G A@3 E A@3 C A@3 ~ A@3 G A@3 C A@3 G A@3 C A@3 E A@3 E A@3 H I
  J@2 K J@3 H ~@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~ x ~ x", B: "~@4 x ~@7 x ~ x!2", C: "~@2 x ~@2 x!2 ~", D: "~@5 x!2 ~", E: "~@4 x ~@6 x!2 ~@3", F: "~ x!2 ~",
  G: "~@4 x ~@5 x ~ x ~ x!2", H: "~@2 x ~@3 x!10", I: "~ x!2 ~@3 x ~", J: "~@5 x ~@6 x ~@3", K: "~@5 x ~@5 x!2 ~@3",
})).gain(0.55)

// drums · low tom
const low_tom = s("lt").struct("<~@31 A ~@20 B@3 ~@20 A ~@3 C ~@7 D ~@30>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 x", B: "~@3 x", C: "~@12 x!3 ~", D: "~@15 x",
})).gain(0.47)

// drums · hihat
const hihat = s("hh").struct(`<
  ~@20 A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@6 C A B@2 C A B@3 A B@2 D A B@6 C A B@2 C A B@3 A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@3
  A B@2 C A B@3 A B@2 C A B@2 C A B@2 E F B@2 C A B@2 E ~@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~ x!13 ~@2", B: "x!14 ~@2", C: "x!12 ~@4", D: "x!6 ~@2 x ~@7", E: "x!2 ~@6 x ~@3 x ~@3", F: "~ x!3 ~ x!9 ~@2",
})).gain(0.16)

// drums · mid tom
const mid_tom = s("mt").struct(`<
  ~@31 A ~@3 B ~@7 A ~@3 A ~@3 B C@3 D ~@7 A ~@7 A ~@3 A ~@3 E ~@7 A ~@7 B ~@3 F ~@3 A ~@3 G ~@3 A ~@3 G ~@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@13 x!2 ~", B: "~@7 x", C: "~@3 x", D: "~@11 x!2 ~ x ~", E: "~@5 x ~@2 x ~@2 x!2 ~@3", F: "~@14 x!2",
  G: "~@6 x!10",
})).gain(0.39)

// drums · open hat
const open_hat = s("oh").struct(`<
  ~@20 A@3 B A@3 B A@3 B A@3 B A@7 B A@3 B A@7 C A@7 B A@3 B A@7 B A@3 B A@3 B A@7 B A@7 B A@3 B A@3 D A@3 B A@3 D ~@2
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 x", B: "~@3 x", C: "~@3 x ~@4", D: "~ x ~@6",
})).gain(0.24)

// … 50 more lines

More by Michael George