Pocket · alpha · worked example
A 16-step beat example with a clear bar grid
A one-bar beat is easier to change when you know where the strong beats and subdivisions sit. Start straight, then introduce swing only after the pattern is clear.
Updated October 10, 2026 · by thecreatingco
A small example to work through
Our original 4/4 example uses 16 equal steps at 120 BPM. Each step lasts 0.125 seconds, so the bar lasts 2 seconds.
| Item | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kick | Steps 1 and 9 | Start of beats 1 and 3 |
| Snare | Steps 5 and 13 | Beats 2 and 4 |
| Closed hat | 1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 13 / 15 | Eighth-note pulse |
| Bass | 1 / 7 / 9 / 15 | Syncopated starting points |
Download the editable text worksheet · Download the CSV worksheet
Use the blank observation and decision fields to record your own result. These downloads are planning worksheets; they do not load an app project or demonstrate a completed export.
Try it and inspect the result
- Open Pocket and set 120 BPM with swing initially neutral. Enter the drum rows from the worksheet and listen before adding bass.
- Add the bass pattern and keep its level low enough to hear the kick. Change one row at a time so you can hear what the edit does.
- After a stable loop, try a small swing change and compare. Keep a separate pattern note and verify any available stem or handoff route before relying on it.
When the result differs
- Pattern feels twice as fast
- Count four beats across the bar and check subdivision rather than doubling tempo.
- Kick and bass mask each other
- Change balance or note placement before adding complexity.
- Timing changes in background
- Keep the tab active during comparisons; background timing may vary.
What this example establishes
This is a written rhythm exercise, not a Pocket project file or an app-rendered beat. Pocket is a one-bar sketchpad with local storage; the pattern is not a full song arrangement.
This page supplies a worked example and a review method. It does not report a newly completed end-to-end app test. For current availability and edition details, read the Pocket overview.