Sonic Pi Cheat Sheet

The essentials of Sonic Pi — playing notes and samples, live loops, synths and effects, and the randomness that makes it fun.

Notes & timing

play 60Play MIDI note 60 (middle C)

play :c4Play a named note

sleep 1Wait one beat before the next line

play_pattern_timed [:c,:e,:g], 0.25Play a list with a time each

sample :bd_hausTrigger a built-in sample

sample :ambi_choir, rate: 0.5Half speed / down an octave

sample :loop_amen, beat_stretch: 4Stretch a loop to 4 beats

live_loop :drums do
  sample :bd_haus
  sleep 0.5
end

A loop you can redefine while it runs

sync :drumsWait for another loop's cue

cue :tickBroadcast a cue to sync to

use_synth :tb303Set the synth for following notes

synth :prophet, note: :e2, cutoff: 100Play a synth with parameters

with_fx :reverb do
  play :e3
end

Wrap notes in an effect

use_bpm 128Set the tempo

amp:Volume

pan:Stereo position −1 to 1

attack: / release:Envelope times

cutoff:Filter cutoff (0–130)

rrand(60, 72)Random float in a range

choose([:c, :e, :g])Pick one at random

one_in(3)True roughly one time in three

4.times do
  play :c4
  sleep 0.5
end

Repeat a block

play chord(:e3, :minor)Play a chord at once

play_pattern chord(:c, :major7)Arpeggiate a chord

(scale :c, :major).to_aThe notes of a scale as a list

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