Strudel mininotation is a mini-language inside pattern strings that expresses rhythmic structure

Mininotation is the text inside Strudel’s quote marks. It extends plain sound names with operators: * multiplies (repeats faster), / divides (plays slower), : selects sample variants, ~ or - inserts rests, [] creates sub-sequences (mini-patterns within one step), <> cycles through options once per cycle, and ? adds 50% probability. These operators compose and nest: [bd cp]*2 plays both hits at double speed. Mininotation is the core grammar of Strudel pattern authoring; virtually every Strudel expression uses it.

Examples

sound(“hh4”) — four hats per cycle. sound(“bd sd/2”) — sd every two cycles. sound(“bd sd [bd cp] [hh oh]”) — sub-sequences in steps 3 and 4. sound(“hh8?”) — each hat has 50% chance of playing.

Assessment

Write a pattern that plays a kick on beats 1 and 3, a snare on beat 2, and a fast hi-hat roll (x8) on beat 4 using only mininotation operators.