Mellotron, hard sync, ring mod, wavefold, drift synths + analog presets — v0.40.9

Five new synth waveforms: tape-replay Mellotron (strings/flute/choir
tapes with wow, flutter, saturation, 8s fadeout), hard sync oscillator,
ring modulation, wavefolding, and analog drift VCO with pitch
instability. 14 new instrument presets for Score.part(). Synth kwargs
now pass through play()/save()/_render(). 808 bass envelope fixed
from pluck to piano.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,380 @@
 
 All notable changes to PyTheory are documented here.
 
+## 0.40.9
+
+- **Mellotron synth** — tape-replay keyboard with wow/flutter, tape saturation,
+  bandwidth limiting, hiss, and 8-second tape fadeout. Three tape banks via the
+  `tape` parameter: `"strings"` (default), `"flute"`, and `"choir"`.
+- **Analog oscillator synths** — four new waveform generators for fat, alive,
+  analog-style sounds:
+  - `Synth.HARD_SYNC` — slave oscillator hard-synced to a master (Prophet-5
+    leads). `slave_ratio` parameter controls harmonic content.
+  - `Synth.RING_MOD` — two oscillators multiplied for metallic, bell-like
+    inharmonic tones. `mod_ratio` parameter.
+  - `Synth.WAVEFOLD` — west coast wavefolding (Buchla-style). `folds` parameter
+    sweeps from warm to gnarly.
+  - `Synth.DRIFT` — analog VCO with pitch drift, jitter, and noise floor.
+    `shape` parameter (`"saw"`, `"square"`, `"triangle"`, `"pulse"`) and
+    `drift_amount` for instability level.
+- **Synth kwargs passthrough** — `play()`, `save()`, and `_render()` now accept
+  `**synth_kw` for forwarding parameters to synth wave functions (e.g.
+  `play(tone, synth=Synth.MELLOTRON, tape="choir")`).
+- **14 new instrument presets** — `mellotron`, `mellotron_strings`,
+  `mellotron_flute`, `mellotron_choir`, `sync_lead`, `sync_lead_bright`,
+  `ring_mod_bell`, `ring_mod_metallic`, `wavefold_warm`, `wavefold_gnarly`,
+  `drift_saw`, `drift_square`, `analog_pad`, `analog_bass`.
+- **808 bass envelope fix** — changed from `pluck` (zero sustain, wrong for 808)
+  to `piano` (sharp attack with long decay tail).
+
+## 0.40.8
+
+- **Fix hold() inflating duration** — `Note.beats` was returning the full
+  duration for held notes (`_hold=True`), causing `Part.total_beats` and
+  `Score.duration_ms` to overcount. A part with `hold(Sa, WHOLE * 4)` followed
+  by `add(Pa, QUARTER)` would report 17 beats instead of 1. Now held notes
+  return 0 beats, matching the renderer which already skipped advancing the
+  timeline for held notes.
+
+## 0.40.7
+
+- **Expose missing Synth enum entries** — rhodes, wurlitzer, vibraphone,
+  pipe organ, and choir wave functions were already implemented but not
+  accessible via the Synth enum. Now available as `Synth.RHODES`,
+  `Synth.WURLITZER`, `Synth.VIBRAPHONE`, `Synth.PIPE_ORGAN`, `Synth.CHOIR`.
+
+## 0.40.6
+
+- **Saxophone presets cleaned up** — removed lowpass filters and vel_to_filter
+  from all sax instrument presets (saxophone, alto_sax, tenor_sax, bari_sax).
+  The saxophone wave function already shapes its own spectrum; the extra
+  filters were dulling the tone.
+
+## 0.40.5
+
+- **Saxophone synth overhaul** — reed nonlinearity (asymmetric soft clipping),
+  conical bore formant resonances, breath noise with attack envelope, separate
+  reed buzz, key click transient, and sub-harmonic warmth. Vibrato dialed back
+  to subtle, delayed onset.
+
+## 0.40.4
+
+- **Distortion overhaul** — multi-stage clipping (preamp → power amp →
+  asymmetric rectifier) replaces single-stage tanh. Crunch, distorted,
+  orange crunch, and metal guitar presets now sound properly driven.
+
+## 0.40.3
+
+- **Crotales synth** — tuned bronze discs with long ring and bright harmonics
+- **Tingsha synth** — paired Tibetan cymbals with beating from two detuned discs
+- **Rain stick** — cascading pebbles (steep and slow/shallow variants)
+- **Ocean drum** — steel beads rolling inside a frame drum, surf wash
+- **Cabasa** — metal bead chain on cylinder, bright metallic scrape
+- **Wind chimes** — multiple suspended metal tubes ringing at random offsets
+- **Finger cymbal** — single zill tap, bright metallic ping
+- `crotales`, `tingsha`, `singing_bowl`, `singing_bowl_ring` instrument presets
+- Audio demos in docs for all new sounds
+
+## 0.40.2
+
+- **Master compressor dialed back** — threshold raised from 0.5 to 0.7,
+  makeup gain capped at 3x. Sparse arrangements no longer get
+  over-amplified to clipping.
+
+## 0.40.1
+
+- **Singing bowl synth** — two variants: strike (mallet hit with chirp
+  and long decay) and ring (rim-rubbed sustained tone with slow build).
+  Inharmonic partials beat against near-degenerate mode pairs for
+  authentic Himalayan bowl shimmer.
+- `singing_bowl` and `singing_bowl_ring` instrument presets
+- Audio demos in docs for both variants
+
+## 0.40.0
+
+- **Rhodes electric piano synth** — tine + tonebar + electromagnetic
+  pickup model. `electric_piano` preset now uses dedicated `rhodes_synth`
+  instead of FM
+- **73 audio demos in docs** — every synth, every drum pattern, every
+  code example with `play_score()` now has an embedded audio player
+- Idiomatic demos: harp arpeggiates, guitars strum, cello bows, sitar
+  drones, strings use ensemble
+- Trailing silence trimming on all audio exports
+- Raw waveform demos (no envelope) for classic waveforms
+
+## 0.39.3
+
+- **33 audio samples in documentation** — every `play_score()` example
+  now has an embedded stereo audio player. Covers quickstart, sequencing,
+  drums (all world percussion), playback, and cookbook.
+- **`docs/generate_audio.py`** — renders all doc examples to WAV
+- Numpy vectorization: cached time arrays, decay envelopes, drum hits;
+  vectorized piano harmonic synthesis
+- Fixed acid legato example (removed pad envelope, added proper 303 recipe)
+
+## 0.39.2
+
+- **Marching percussion** — snare, rimshot, and stick click sounds with
+  high-tension kevlar synthesis and woody-metallic rimshot crack
+- **`Part.flam()`**, **`Part.diddle()`**, **`Part.cheese()`** — marching
+  rudiment methods for any drum sound
+- **`Part ensemble=`** — duplicate voices with per-player timing tendencies
+  and micro pitch drift. Works on any Part (drumline, string section, choir).
+  `ensemble=20` for a full snare line, `ensemble=4` for a string quartet.
+- **Sympathetic resonance** — marching snare buzz builds up with repeated
+  hits, decays during rests (like real snare wire response)
+- **4 marching patterns** — march, cadence, paradiddle, roll
+- **Chakradar tabla pattern** — 16-beat tihai of tihais composition
+- Song #32: Snare Cadence (flams, diddles, cheese, triplets, 32nds)
+
+## 0.39.1
+
+- **Chakradar tabla pattern** — 16-beat tihai of tihais composition with
+  3 escalating phrases and a crescendo triplet finale
+
+## 0.39.0
+
+- **Dropped `numeral` dependency** — Roman numeral helpers inlined,
+  reducing supply chain surface (#47)
+- **`Part.ramp()`** — smooth parameter automation with 4 interpolation
+  curves (linear, ease_in, ease_out, ease_in_out)
+- **Articulations** — staccato, legato, marcato, tenuto, accent, fermata
+- **Dynamic curves** — crescendo(), decrescendo(), swell(), dynamics()
+- **`Part.hit()`** — individual drum sounds with articulation support
+- **Cross-choke drum damping** — djembe, hi-hats, cajón, doumbek
+- **5 new djembe patterns** + 3 djembe fills (30 fills total)
+- **6 new drum fills** — 3 cajón, 3 metal
+- **Duration arithmetic** — multiply, divide, add
+- **Improved djembe slap** synthesis
+- Song #31: Acid Tabla
+
+## 0.38.2
+
+- **`Part.ramp()`** — smooth parameter automation from current value to
+  target over a duration. Works for lowpass, reverb, distortion, chorus,
+  delay, volume, and any `.set()` parameter. Four interpolation curves:
+  linear, ease_in, ease_out, ease_in_out.
+
+## 0.38.1
+
+- **Dynamic curves** — `Part.crescendo()`, `Part.decrescendo()`,
+  `Part.swell()`, and `Part.dynamics()` for velocity ramps and custom
+  curves across a sequence of notes
+
+## 0.38.0
+
+- **Articulations** — `staccato`, `legato`, `marcato`, `tenuto`, `accent`,
+  `fermata` via `articulation=` on `Part.add()` and `Part.hold()`
+- **`Part.hit()`** — place individual drum sounds in a Part's note stream
+  with articulation, velocity, and effects support
+- **5 new djembe patterns** — dununba, tiriba, yankadi, djansa, mendiani
+- **3 new djembe fills** — djembe call, djembe roll, djembe break (30 fills total)
+- **Cross-choke drum damping** — striking one sound fades out related sounds
+  (djembe, hi-hats, cajón, doumbek)
+- **Improved djembe slap** — dry goatskin pop instead of snare-like noise
+
+## 0.37.0
+
+- **5 new djembe patterns** — dununba, tiriba, yankadi, djansa, mendiani
+- **3 new djembe fills** — djembe call, djembe roll, djembe break (30 fills total)
+- **Cross-choke drum damping** — striking one sound on a hand drum fades
+  out the ring of related sounds (djembe slap kills bass resonance, closed
+  hat chokes open hat, cajón slap dampens bass, doumbek tek dampens dum)
+- **Improved djembe slap** — dry, high-pitched goatskin pop instead of
+  snare-like noise rattle
+
+## 0.36.6
+
+- **6 new drum fills** — 3 cajón (flam, rumble, breakdown) and 3 metal
+  (triplet, blast, cascade). 27 fills total.
+- Updated drums documentation with fill lists and examples
+
+## 0.36.5
+
+- **Duration arithmetic** — `Duration.WHOLE * 2`, `Duration.HALF + Duration.QUARTER`,
+  division, and reverse multiply all work now (previously raised TypeError)
+
+## 0.36.3
+
+- **`Part.hold()`** — polyphonic overlap on a single part. Add notes
+  without advancing the beat position so they play simultaneously.
+  Enables: piano sustain, sitar drone under melody, guitar strum texture.
+- **Strum uses hold()** — leading string plays simultaneously with chord,
+  no more timing gaps or choppiness
+- **Improved songs** 1-16: humanize, velocity dynamics, reverb, saxophone
+  for blues
+- **Ctrl-C handling** — clean stop on all playback functions
+- **REPL updates** — strum, roll, bend, temperament, reference commands
+- Song #28 Descent (generative), #29 Pop Rock, #30 Sitar Drone
+- 862 tests
+
+## 0.36.1
+
+- **7 new instrument synths:** pedal steel guitar, theremin, kalimba/thumb
+  piano, steel drum/pan, accordion (musette reeds), didgeridoo (drone +
+  shifting formants), bagpipes (chanter reed)
+- **9 new demo moods** in ``pytheory demo``: Theremin Noir, Caribbean,
+  Accordion Waltz, Kalimba Dreams, Outback Drone, Highland, Nashville
+  Tears, Tabla Fusion
+- Improved existing songs with dedicated instrument synths
+- 41 synth waveforms, 26+ songs, 21 demo moods
+
+## 0.36.0
+
+- **Banjo synth** — steel strings on drum-head body, nasal twang,
+  fast decay with membrane resonance
+- **Mandolin synth** — paired steel strings (natural chorus from
+  doubled courses), bright body resonance
+- **Ukulele synth** — nylon strings, small mid-heavy body, shorter
+  sustain than guitar
+- **Cajón drums** — bass (woody box thump), slap (snare wire buzz),
+  tap (ghost note). 3 patterns: cajon, cajon rumba, cajon folk
+- **Vocal/formant synth** — LF glottal model, 5 Peterson & Barney
+  formant peaks, jitter/shimmer, consonant onsets, per-note lyrics.
+  Presets: vocal, choir
+- **Granular synthesis** — grain cloud engine with scatter, pitch
+  variation, Hanning windows. Presets: granular_pad, granular_texture
+- **Strum sweep** — subtle grace notes before chord hit for natural
+  strum feel on all fretboard instruments
+- Mandola preset, 34 synth waveforms, 26 songs
+
+## 0.35.0
+
+- **8.5x faster import** — dropped pytuning/sympy, lazy-load scipy.
+  `import pytheory` now takes ~50ms instead of ~480ms (#44)
+- **Proper shruti JI ratios** — 22 positions with 5-limit just intonation
+  (pure 3/2 fifths, 5/4 thirds), not 22-TET approximation
+- **Arabic maqam JI ratios** — Zalzalian 11-limit ratios.
+  Mi↓ (the Rast third) is exactly 27/22 from Do
+- **B#/Cb octave boundary fix** — B#4 = C5, Cb4 = B3 (#45)
+- **Int tone names** — `Tone(0, system=TET(22))` works alongside strings.
+  Wrapping: `Tone(22)` → tone 0, octave+1. `System.tone()` convenience.
+- **Timpani synth** — inharmonic membrane modes, felt mallet, copper kettle
+  resonance, cathedral reverb
+- **Saxophone synth** — conical bore, reed buzz, brass body warmth.
+  4 presets: saxophone, alto_sax, tenor_sax, bari_sax
+- **Part.roll()** — rapid repeated notes with velocity ramp for crescendo/
+  decrescendo rolls on any instrument
+- **Vibrato tuning** — all instruments reduced to 0.001 depth for cleaner
+  ensemble sound
+- **Granular synthesis** — grain cloud engine with scatter, pitch
+  variation, and Hanning-windowed grains. Two presets: granular_pad,
+  granular_texture.
+- 30 synth waveforms, 838 tests
+
+## 0.34.0
+
+- **16 dedicated instrument synths** — physical modeling and specialized
+  synthesis for: piano (hammer + steel strings + soundboard), bass guitar
+  (thick KS + pickup), flute (breath + tube resonance), trumpet (lip buzz
+  + bell), clarinet (odd harmonics + reed), oboe (double reed + conical
+  bore), marimba (inharmonic bar modes), harpsichord (quill pluck),
+  cello (deep bowed + body), harp (soft pluck + soundboard bloom),
+  upright bass (pizzicato + wooden body), acoustic guitar (KS + body
+  resonance), electric guitar (KS + pickup comb filter), sitar (jawari
+  + chikari), plus organ and bowed strings
+- **Speaker cabinet simulation** — tames distorted guitar fizz
+- **Guitar strumming** — `Part.strum("Am")` with fretboard lookup
+- **Analog oscillator drift** — subtle per-note pitch wobble on synth presets
+- **World percussion:** dhol, dholak, mridangam, djembe, metal kit
+  with 22 new drum patterns
+- **Piano improvements:** brightness scales with pitch, two-stage decay,
+  hammer impact with felt character
+- **Vibrato tuning:** reduced across flute, oboe, trumpet, cello for
+  smoother ensemble sound
+- 27 synth waveforms, 10 envelopes, 40+ instrument presets, 80+ drum patterns
+
+## 0.33.1
+
+- **Electric guitar synth** — Karplus-Strong with magnetic pickup comb filter
+  simulation (single-coil honk, proper sustain)
+- **Speaker cabinet simulation** — steep rolloff above 4-5kHz with presence
+  bump. Makes distorted guitar sound warm instead of fizzy.
+- **6 guitar presets:** electric_guitar, clean_guitar, crunch_guitar,
+  distorted_guitar, orange_crunch, metal_guitar — all with proper cab sim
+- **Sitar synth** — Karplus-Strong with jawari bridge buzz, chikari
+  sympathetic strings, variable damping
+- **Guitar strumming** — `Part.strum("Am", Duration.HALF)` with
+  fretboard fingering lookup, down/up direction, adjustable strum speed
+- **World drums:** dhol (bhangra, chaal), dholak (qawwali, folk),
+  mridangam (adi talam, korvai), djembe (standard, kuku, soli)
+  — all with bandpass-filtered membrane noise for realistic drum head sound
+- **Metal drum kit** — clicky kick, bright snare, tight hats
+  with 4 patterns (double kick, metal blast, metal groove, metal gallop)
+- 15 synth waveforms, 10 envelopes, 40+ instrument presets
+
+## 0.33.0
+
+- **Non-12-TET support** — `TET(n)` factory creates any equal temperament
+- **11 microtonal systems:**
+  - `"shruti"` (22-TET Indian, 10 thaats with proper shruti intervals)
+  - `"maqam"` (24-TET Arabic, quarter-tone Rast/Bayati/Hijaz + 7 more)
+  - `"slendro"` (5-TET gamelan), `"pelog"` (9-TET gamelan with 3 pathet)
+  - `"thai"` (7-TET, 171 cents/step)
+  - `"makam"` (53-TET Turkish Arel-Ezgi-Uzdilek, 9 makams)
+  - `"carnatic"` (72-TET, 10 melakartas)
+  - `"19-tet"`, `"31-tet"` (historical Western)
+  - `"bohlen-pierce"` (13 divisions of the tritave 3:1 — non-octave!)
+- **Just intonation** — `temperament="just"` for pure 5-limit ratios
+- **Historical pitch** — `Score(reference_pitch=415.0)` for Baroque A=415
+- **`Score(system=, temperament=, reference_pitch=)`** flows through to all playback
+- Per-system `c_index` and `period` replace hardcoded constants
+- Fixed all hardcoded `12`s in tone arithmetic
+- Song #22: Greensleeves (Renaissance lute, meantone, A=415)
+- 22 new microtonal tests (819 total)
+
+## 0.32.1
+
+- `Tone("X")` now raises `ValueError` immediately instead of silently accepting invalid names (#39)
+- Support enharmonic spellings: `Cb`, `Fb`, `E#`, `B#` resolve correctly (#40)
+- Support double sharps (`C##`, `Fx`) and double flats (`Dbb`) via semitone arithmetic (#41)
+- Accept unicode music symbols: `♯` `♭` `𝄪` `𝄫`
+
+## 0.32.0
+
+- **8 new synth engine features:**
+  - Filter envelope: per-note lowpass sweep (`filter_amount`, `filter_attack`, `filter_decay`, `filter_sustain`)
+  - Velocity → brightness: harder notes = brighter filter (`vel_to_filter`)
+  - Sub-oscillator: octave-below sine for bass weight (`sub_osc`)
+  - Tremolo: amplitude LFO modulation (`tremolo_depth`, `tremolo_rate`)
+  - Saturation: even-harmonic tape/tube warmth (`saturation`)
+  - Noise layer: per-note breath/air texture (`noise_mix`)
+  - Phaser: swept allpass filter chain (`phaser`, `phaser_rate`)
+  - Configurable FM: `fm_ratio` and `fm_index` params
+- **Highpass filter** (12 dB/oct biquad) on any part
+- **2 new envelopes:** `bowed` (bow attack with sustain), `mallet` (strike with ringing sustain)
+- **Improved `strings_synth`:** additive synthesis with body resonance curve, per-harmonic phase randomization, delayed vibrato onset, bow pressure variation
+- **Instrument preset overhaul:** every preset sanity-checked against real instrument behavior
+  - Mallet instruments (vibraphone, celesta, music box, glockenspiel, tubular bells) now ring properly
+  - Trumpet uses sustaining envelope instead of pluck
+  - Woodwinds have breath noise, brass has velocity brightness
+  - Bass instruments have sub-oscillators, synth presets have filter envelopes
+  - Piano has velocity-to-brightness and subtle hammer noise
+- Signal chain: saturation → tremolo → distortion → chorus → phaser → highpass → lowpass → delay → reverb
+- Song #21: Cinematic Showcase (Orchestral)
+
+## 0.31.0
+
+- 3 new synth engines: Karplus-Strong pluck, Hammond organ, string ensemble with body formants
+- 38 instrument presets: `score.part("lead", instrument="violin")`
+- Keys, strings, woodwinds, brass, plucked, synth, and mallet categories
+- 13 total synth waveforms
+
+## 0.30.0
+
+- Drums are a real Part — same effects pipeline as any voice
+- `score.drums("rock", split=True)` splits kit into kick/snare/hats/toms/cymbals/percussion Parts
+- Each split Part gets independent effects (reverb on snare, LP on hats, etc.)
+- `set_drum_effects()` applies to all drum Parts (split or not)
+- Sidechain triggers on kick only — hats and snare don't duck the pad
+- MIDI import via `Score.from_midi(path)`
+
+## 0.29.3
+
+- Drums are now a real Part — same effects pipeline as any other voice, zero code duplication
+- `score.parts["drums"]` is a standard Part with reverb, delay, lowpass, etc.
+- `set_drum_effects()` is sugar over the Part's attributes
+
 ## 0.29.2
 
 - Add `score.set_drum_effects()` — reverb, delay, lowpass, distortion, chorus on the drum bus

LICENSE

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2026 Kenneth Reitz
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.

demo_new_synths.py

@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+"""Demo the 5 new synths: Mellotron, Hard Sync, Ring Mod, Wavefold, Drift.
+
+Each synth gets a short musical phrase — not just a scale run — with
+reverb and rhythmic variety to show off its character.
+"""
+from pytheory import Score, Duration, play_score
+
+EIGHTH = Duration.EIGHTH
+QUARTER = Duration.QUARTER
+HALF = Duration.HALF
+DOTTED_Q = Duration.DOTTED_QUARTER
+WHOLE = Duration.WHOLE
+
+
+# ── Mellotron Strings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Strawberry Fields vibes — slow, haunted, with rests that breathe.
+
+print("=== MELLOTRON STRINGS ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=72)
+p = s.part("tape", instrument="mellotron_strings",
+           reverb=0.45, reverb_type="cathedral", reverb_decay=2.0)
+p.add("G4", HALF).add("B4", QUARTER).add("D5", QUARTER)
+p.add("C5", DOTTED_Q).add("B4", EIGHTH).add("A4", HALF)
+p.rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("G4", DOTTED_Q).add("F#4", EIGHTH).add("G4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Mellotron Flute ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Lonely, breathy, with space between phrases.
+
+print("\n=== MELLOTRON FLUTE ===")
+s = Score("3/4", bpm=84)
+p = s.part("flute", instrument="mellotron_flute",
+           reverb=0.5, reverb_type="taj_mahal", reverb_decay=2.5)
+p.add("E5", HALF).add("D5", QUARTER)
+p.add("C5", DOTTED_Q).add("B4", EIGHTH).rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("A4", HALF).add("G4", QUARTER)
+p.add("A4", HALF).rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("E5", QUARTER).add("D5", QUARTER).add("C5", QUARTER)
+p.add("B4", HALF + QUARTER)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Mellotron Choir ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Ghostly pad — slow chords, big reverb.
+
+print("\n=== MELLOTRON CHOIR ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=60)
+p = s.part("choir", instrument="mellotron_choir",
+           reverb=0.6, reverb_type="cathedral", reverb_decay=3.0)
+p.add("C4", WHOLE)
+p.add("E4", HALF).add("G4", HALF)
+p.add("A4", DOTTED_Q).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("F4", HALF)
+p.add("E4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Hard Sync Lead ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Aggressive, punchy — fast 16ths and syncopation.
+
+print("\n=== HARD SYNC LEAD ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=128)
+p = s.part("sync", instrument="sync_lead",
+           reverb=0.25, reverb_type="plate")
+p.add("E4", EIGHTH).add("E4", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("G4", EIGHTH)
+p.add("A4", QUARTER).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("E4", EIGHTH)
+p.add("D4", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("E4", EIGHTH).add("G4", EIGHTH)
+p.add("A4", HALF)
+p.rest(QUARTER).add("B4", EIGHTH).add("A4", EIGHTH)
+p.add("G4", QUARTER).add("E4", QUARTER).add("D4", HALF)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Hard Sync Bright ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Higher slave ratio — more harmonics, screaming lead.
+
+print("\n=== HARD SYNC BRIGHT ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=138)
+p = s.part("sync2", instrument="sync_lead_bright",
+           reverb=0.2, reverb_type="plate")
+p.add("A4", EIGHTH).add("C5", EIGHTH).add("D5", QUARTER)
+p.rest(EIGHTH).add("E5", EIGHTH).add("D5", EIGHTH).add("C5", EIGHTH)
+p.add("A4", QUARTER).rest(QUARTER).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("A4", EIGHTH)
+p.add("C5", HALF)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Ring Mod Bell ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Shimmery, metallic — sparse hits with long reverb tail.
+
+print("\n=== RING MOD BELL ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=66)
+p = s.part("bell", instrument="ring_mod_bell",
+           reverb=0.6, reverb_type="cave", reverb_decay=3.0)
+p.add("C5", HALF).rest(QUARTER).add("G4", QUARTER)
+p.rest(HALF).add("E5", HALF)
+p.add("D5", QUARTER).rest(QUARTER).add("C5", HALF)
+p.rest(WHOLE)
+p.add("G4", QUARTER).add("A4", QUARTER).add("C5", HALF)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Ring Mod Metallic ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Alien, inharmonic — atonal stabs.
+
+print("\n=== RING MOD METALLIC ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=100)
+p = s.part("metal", instrument="ring_mod_metallic",
+           reverb=0.4, reverb_type="parking_garage", reverb_decay=2.0)
+p.add("F4", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("Ab4", EIGHTH).add("F4", EIGHTH)
+p.rest(QUARTER).add("Db5", QUARTER).rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("C5", EIGHTH).add("Ab4", EIGHTH).rest(QUARTER).add("F4", HALF)
+p.rest(HALF).add("Db5", QUARTER).add("C5", QUARTER)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Wavefold Warm ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Gentle folds — round and musical, like a filtered saw with overtones.
+
+print("\n=== WAVEFOLD WARM ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=108)
+p = s.part("fold", instrument="wavefold_warm",
+           reverb=0.3, reverb_type="plate")
+p.add("A3", QUARTER).add("C4", QUARTER).add("E4", QUARTER).add("A4", QUARTER)
+p.add("G4", DOTTED_Q).add("E4", EIGHTH).add("C4", HALF)
+p.add("D4", QUARTER).add("F4", QUARTER).add("A4", HALF)
+p.add("G4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Wavefold Gnarly ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Cranked folds — buzzy, aggressive, with syncopation.
+
+print("\n=== WAVEFOLD GNARLY ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=130)
+p = s.part("gnarly", instrument="wavefold_gnarly",
+           reverb=0.2, reverb_type="spring")
+p.add("E3", EIGHTH).add("E3", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("G3", EIGHTH)
+p.add("A3", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("B3", EIGHTH).add("A3", EIGHTH)
+p.add("E3", QUARTER).add("G3", EIGHTH).add("A3", EIGHTH).add("B3", QUARTER)
+p.rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("E4", EIGHTH).add("D4", EIGHTH).add("B3", QUARTER).add("A3", HALF)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Drift Saw ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Warm, alive analog saw — the Minimoog pad.
+
+print("\n=== DRIFT SAW (vintage VCO) ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=88)
+p = s.part("drift", instrument="drift_saw",
+           reverb=0.35, reverb_type="taj_mahal", reverb_decay=2.0)
+p.add("D4", HALF).add("F4", HALF)
+p.add("A4", DOTTED_Q).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("F4", QUARTER).rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("D4", QUARTER).add("E4", QUARTER).add("F4", HALF)
+p.add("D4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Drift Square ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Hollow, wobbly — 8-bit with analog soul.
+
+print("\n=== DRIFT SQUARE ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=110)
+p = s.part("dsq", instrument="drift_square",
+           reverb=0.25, reverb_type="plate")
+p.add("C4", EIGHTH).add("E4", EIGHTH).add("G4", QUARTER).add("E4", QUARTER)
+p.rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("A4", EIGHTH).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("E4", QUARTER).add("C4", HALF)
+p.add("D4", QUARTER).add("F4", EIGHTH).add("G4", EIGHTH).add("A4", HALF)
+p.add("G4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Analog Pad ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Slow, drifting chords — Juno-style lushness.
+
+print("\n=== ANALOG PAD ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=70)
+p = s.part("pad", instrument="analog_pad",
+           reverb=0.5, reverb_type="taj_mahal", reverb_decay=3.0)
+p.add("A3", WHOLE)
+p.add("C4", HALF).add("E4", HALF)
+p.add("F4", WHOLE)
+p.add("E4", HALF).add("D4", HALF)
+p.add("C4", WHOLE)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+# ── Analog Bass ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Tight, punchy — Moog bass with filter sweep.
+
+print("\n=== ANALOG BASS ===")
+s = Score("4/4", bpm=120)
+p = s.part("bass", instrument="analog_bass",
+           reverb=0.1, reverb_type="plate")
+p.add("E2", EIGHTH).add("E2", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("G2", EIGHTH)
+p.add("A2", QUARTER).rest(QUARTER)
+p.add("E2", EIGHTH).rest(EIGHTH).add("B2", EIGHTH).add("A2", EIGHTH)
+p.add("G2", QUARTER).add("E2", QUARTER).rest(HALF)
+p.add("E2", EIGHTH).add("E2", EIGHTH).add("G2", EIGHTH).add("A2", EIGHTH)
+p.add("B2", QUARTER).add("A2", QUARTER).add("E2", HALF)
+play_score(s)
+
+
+print("\nDone!")

docs/_templates/audio.html

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<audio controls style="width: 100%; margin: 0.5em 0 1.5em 0;">
+  <source src="{{ pathto('_static/audio/' + file, 1) }}" type="audio/wav">
+  Your browser does not support the audio element.
+</audio>

docs/guide/chords.rst

@@ -322,6 +322,14 @@ against 17 known chord types (triads, 7ths, 9ths, sus, power chords).
    >>> Chord.from_tones("Bb", "D", "F").identify()
    'Bb major'
 
+Enharmonic spellings are fully supported — Cb, Fb, E#, B#, double
+sharps/flats, and unicode symbols (see :doc:`tones` for details):
+
+.. code-block:: pycon
+
+   >>> Chord.from_tones("Cb", "Eb", "Gb").identify()
+   'B minor'
+
 You can also access the root and quality separately:
 
 .. code-block:: pycon

docs/guide/cookbook.rst

@@ -411,6 +411,10 @@ Acid House Track
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/acid_house.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Dub Reggae with Delay Madness
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -443,6 +447,10 @@ Sparse notes into infinite echo:
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/dub_reggae.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Jazz Ballad with Humanize
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -480,6 +488,10 @@ The difference between a robot and a musician:
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/jazz_ballad.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Song with Sections
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -513,6 +525,10 @@ Define once, arrange freely:
    play_score(score)
    score.save_midi("my_song.mid")
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/song_sections.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Export Everything to MIDI
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

docs/guide/drums.rst

@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ in Atlanta. Over a dancehall pattern, you're in Kingston. The drums ARE
 the genre -- they tell the listener's body how to move before a single
 melodic note is played.
 
-PyTheory includes a complete drum system -- 27 synthesized percussion
-sounds, 58 pattern presets across dozens of genres, and 21 fill presets.
+PyTheory includes a complete drum system -- 51 synthesized percussion
+sounds, 95+ pattern presets across dozens of genres, and 30 fill presets.
 Every sound is generated from waveforms; no samples needed.
 
 Drum Sounds
@@ -29,6 +29,50 @@ Score:
 
 The default is 0.15 — just enough to feel alive without sounding loose.
 
+Drums Are Parts
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Drums are a real Part — the same as any melodic voice. You can set
+effects on them the same way:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score.drums("rock", repeats=4)
+   score.parts["drums"].reverb_mix = 0.2
+   score.parts["drums"].reverb_type = "plate"
+
+Or use the shorthand:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score.set_drum_effects(reverb=0.2, reverb_type="plate", lowpass=8000)
+
+Split Drums
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+For maximum control, split the kit into separate Parts — kick, snare,
+hats, toms, cymbals, and percussion — each with independent effects:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score.drums("rock", repeats=4, split=True)
+
+   # Now each group is its own Part
+   score.parts["snare"].reverb_mix = 0.3
+   score.parts["snare"].reverb_type = "plate"
+   score.parts["hats"].lowpass = 7000
+   score.parts["kick"]  # dry, no effects
+
+   # set_drum_effects still works — applies to all drum Parts
+   score.set_drum_effects(reverb=0.1)
+
+This is how real studios work — the snare gets its own reverb send,
+the hats get their own EQ, the kick stays dry and punchy. Now you
+can do the same thing in Python.
+
+Sidechain compression triggers on kick hits only — hi-hats and snares
+don't duck the pad.
+
 Every drum sound is stereo-panned like a real kit — kick and snare
 center, hi-hat right, crash left, toms spread across the field,
 percussion instruments placed naturally. Put on headphones and you'll
@@ -47,7 +91,7 @@ The ``DrumSound`` enum maps to General MIDI percussion note numbers:
    >>> DrumSound.CLOSED_HAT.value
    42
 
-All 27 sounds, organized by type:
+All 51 sounds, organized by type:
 
 **Kicks:** KICK (36)
 
@@ -62,7 +106,32 @@ All 27 sounds, organized by type:
 **Percussion:** COWBELL (56), CLAVE (75), SHAKER (70), TAMBOURINE (54),
 CONGA_HIGH (63), CONGA_LOW (64), BONGO_HIGH (60), BONGO_LOW (61),
 TIMBALE_HIGH (65), TIMBALE_LOW (66), AGOGO_HIGH (67), AGOGO_LOW (68),
-GUIRO (73), MARACAS (70)
+GUIRO (73)
+
+**Tabla:** TABLA_NA (86), TABLA_TIN (87), TABLA_GE (88), TABLA_DHA (89),
+TABLA_TIT (90), TABLA_KE (91), TABLA_GE_BEND (108 -- bayan with upward
+pitch bend from palm pressing into the head)
+
+**Dhol:** DHOL_DAGGA (92), DHOL_TILLI (93), DHOL_BOTH (94)
+
+**Dholak:** DHOLAK_GE (95), DHOLAK_NA (96), DHOLAK_TIT (97)
+
+**Mridangam:** MRIDANGAM_THAM (98), MRIDANGAM_NAM (99), MRIDANGAM_DIN (100),
+MRIDANGAM_THA (101)
+
+**Djembe:** DJEMBE_BASS (102), DJEMBE_TONE (103), DJEMBE_SLAP (104)
+
+**Cajón:** CAJON_BASS (108), CAJON_SLAP (109), CAJON_TAP (110)
+
+**Metal Kit:** METAL_KICK (105), METAL_SNARE (106), METAL_HAT (107)
+
+**Marching Snare:** MARCH_SNARE (115), MARCH_RIMSHOT (116), MARCH_CLICK (118)
+
+**Quads (Tenors):** QUAD_1 (119), QUAD_2 (120), QUAD_3 (121), QUAD_4 (122),
+QUAD_SPOCK (123)
+
+**Marching Bass:** BASS_1 (124), BASS_2 (125), BASS_3 (126), BASS_4 (127),
+BASS_5 (80)
 
 Drum Synthesis
 --------------
@@ -101,8 +170,8 @@ Each sound has a dedicated synthesizer:
 Pattern Presets
 ---------------
 
-58 patterns spanning genres from rock to Afro-Cuban to electronic.
-Load them with ``Pattern.preset()``:
+80+ patterns spanning genres from rock to Afro-Cuban to electronic to
+world percussion. Load them with ``Pattern.preset()``:
 
 .. code-block:: pycon
 
@@ -149,9 +218,16 @@ adds syncopation.
 rattling hi-hats of trap, the breakneck tempo of drum and bass. These
 patterns were born in drum machines and they still live there.
 
-**Metal/Punk:** metal, blast beat, punk -- Speed and aggression.
-The blast beat is both feet and both hands going as fast as humanly
-possible. Punk strips everything to its essentials.
+**Metal/Punk:** metal, blast beat, punk, double kick, metal blast,
+metal groove, metal gallop -- Speed and aggression. The blast beat is
+both feet and both hands going as fast as humanly possible. Punk strips
+everything to its essentials. The metal kit adds 3 dedicated sounds
+(double kick, china cymbal, stack) and 4 patterns for extreme metal
+subgenres.
+
+**World Percussion:** tabla, dhol, dholak, mridangam, djembe, cajón --
+Deep traditions from across the globe, each with authentic sound sets and
+idiomatic patterns. See the World Percussion section below for details.
 
 **Other:** funk, hip hop, bo diddley, second line, new orleans, waltz,
 12/8 blues, country, gospel, flamenco -- Everything else. The syncopated
@@ -173,6 +249,13 @@ Playing Patterns
    play_pattern(Pattern.preset("salsa"), repeats=4, bpm=180)
    play_pattern(Pattern.preset("afrobeat"), repeats=8, bpm=110)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 0.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/rock_beat.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 0.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/bossa_nova_pattern.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 0.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/salsa_pattern.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/afrobeat_pattern.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Fills
 -----
 
@@ -184,14 +267,17 @@ ending and a new one is about to begin. Without fills, a drum pattern
 just loops. With them, it breathes and has structure.
 
 ``Pattern.fill()`` loads a 1-bar drum fill -- a short break that
-transitions between sections. 21 fill presets are available:
+transitions between sections. 30 fill presets are available:
 
 .. code-block:: pycon
 
    >>> Pattern.list_fills()
    ['afrobeat', 'blast', 'bossa nova', 'breakdown', 'buildup',
-    'cumbia', 'disco', 'funk', 'highlife', 'hip hop', 'house',
-    'jazz', 'jazz brush', 'metal', 'reggae', 'rock', 'rock crash',
+    'cajon breakdown', 'cajon flam', 'cajon rumble',
+    'cumbia', 'disco', 'djembe break', 'djembe call', 'djembe roll',
+    'funk', 'highlife', 'hip hop', 'house',
+    'jazz', 'jazz brush', 'metal', 'metal blast', 'metal cascade',
+    'metal triplet', 'reggae', 'rock', 'rock crash',
     'salsa', 'samba', 'second line', 'trap']
 
    >>> fill = Pattern.fill("rock")
@@ -260,6 +346,257 @@ drum pattern and all named parts are mixed together by ``play_score()``:
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/salsa_layered.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+World Percussion
+----------------
+
+PyTheory includes dedicated sound sets and pattern presets for
+traditional percussion instruments from around the world. Each
+instrument has its own synthesized sounds that capture the timbral
+character of the real instrument, plus idiomatic rhythmic patterns
+drawn from their musical traditions.
+
+Tabla
+~~~~~
+
+The tabla is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent -- the
+smaller, higher-pitched *dayan* and the larger, bass *bayan*. It is
+the rhythmic backbone of Hindustani classical music, and one of the
+most expressive percussion instruments ever created. A single tabla
+player can produce an astonishing range of tones by varying finger
+placement, pressure, and striking technique.
+
+**7 sounds** -- covering the primary tabla strokes (na, tin, tun, ge,
+dha, ke, tit) plus a bayan pitch bend sound (TABLA_GE_BEND) that
+models the technique of pressing the palm into the bayan head to bend
+the pitch upward.
+
+**7 patterns:** teental (16 beats, the most common taal), jhaptaal
+(10 beats), rupak (7 beats), dadra (6 beats), keherwa (8 beats, folk
+and light classical), tabla solo, and tiri kita (fast ornamental
+pattern).
+
+**5 fills:** tihai (3x crescendo landing on sam), chakkardar (32nd
+triplet cascade into slam), tiri kita (rapid 16th-note dayan burst),
+bayan (deep bass bends showcase), tabla call (dayan/bayan call-and-response).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score.drums("teental", repeats=4, fill="tihai")
+   score.drums("keherwa", repeats=4, fill="chakkardar")
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=80)
+   score.drums("teental", repeats=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 0.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/tabla_teental.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 0.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/tabla_keherwa.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.3em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/tabla_chakradar.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Dhol
+~~~~
+
+The dhol is a double-headed barrel drum from Punjab, played with
+sticks. It is the driving force behind bhangra music -- loud,
+energetic, and physically impossible to sit still to.
+
+**3 sounds** -- bass stroke, treble stroke, and rimshot.
+
+**2 patterns:** bhangra (the classic bhangra groove) and dhol chaal
+(a processional rhythm).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=160)
+   score.drums("bhangra", repeats=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/dhol.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Dholak
+~~~~~~
+
+The dholak is a smaller, lighter two-headed drum used across South
+Asia in folk music, qawwali, and Bollywood. Played with bare hands,
+it produces a warm, melodic tone.
+
+**3 sounds** -- bass, treble, and slap.
+
+**2 patterns:** qawwali (the rhythmic foundation of Sufi devotional
+music) and dholak folk (a general folk groove).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=120)
+   score.drums("qawwali", repeats=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/dholak.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Mridangam
+~~~~~~~~~
+
+The mridangam is a double-headed drum from South India, the
+rhythmic anchor of Carnatic classical music. Its tuning system is
+extraordinarily precise, and its rhythmic vocabulary is among the
+most mathematically complex in the world.
+
+**4 sounds** -- tha, thom, nam, and din.
+
+**2 patterns:** adi talam (the most common Carnatic talam, 8 beats)
+and mridangam korvai (a rhythmic cadence pattern).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=90)
+   score.drums("adi talam", repeats=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/mridangam.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Djembe
+~~~~~~
+
+The djembe is a rope-tuned goblet drum from West Africa, capable of
+producing a wide range of tones from deep bass to sharp slaps. It is
+central to the drum ensemble traditions of Mali, Guinea, and Senegal.
+
+**3 sounds** -- bass (open center strike), tone (edge strike), and
+slap (sharp edge strike).
+
+**8 patterns:** djembe (basic accompanying rhythm), kuku (Guinean harvest
+dance), soli (powerful Mandinka rhythm), dununba (heavy bass-driven),
+tiriba (joyful Susu rhythm), yankadi (gentle greeting/welcome), djansa
+(fast Malinke dance), mendiani (women's celebratory dance).
+
+**3 fills:** djembe call (bass-tone-slap conversation building to climax),
+djembe roll (rapid slaps accelerating into bass), djembe break (syncopated
+West African-style break).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=120)
+   score.drums("djembe", repeats=8, fill="djembe call", fill_every=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/djembe.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Metal Kit
+~~~~~~~~~
+
+A dedicated percussion kit for extreme metal subgenres, with
+specialized sounds and patterns that go beyond the standard drum kit.
+
+**3 sounds** -- double kick (triggered, tight attack), china cymbal,
+and stack (a short, trashy cymbal choke).
+
+**4 patterns:** double kick (relentless double bass drum pattern),
+metal blast (blast beat with china cymbal accents), metal groove (a
+half-time groove with double kick fills), and metal gallop (the
+classic triplet-feel gallop rhythm).
+
+**4 fills:** metal (double kick 16ths with descending toms), metal triplet
+(double kick triplets with snare accents), metal blast (alternating
+snare/kick 32nds into half-time crash), metal cascade (descending snare
+roll → kick roll → alternating → crash ending).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=200)
+   score.drums("metal blast", repeats=8, fill="metal cascade", fill_every=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/metal_blast.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Cajón
+~~~~~
+
+The cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument from Peru, now
+ubiquitous in acoustic and unplugged settings worldwide. Players sit
+on the box and strike the front face with their hands.
+
+**3 sounds** -- bass (deep center thump), slap (sharp, snare-like edge
+hit with wire buzz), and tap (light finger tap).
+
+**3 patterns:** cajon (basic groove), cajon rumba (flamenco-style rumba),
+and cajon folk (folk/acoustic pattern).
+
+**3 fills:** cajon flam (slaps accelerating into bass hits), cajon rumble
+(fast taps building to slap accents), cajon breakdown (syncopated
+bass-slap groove).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=100)
+   score.drums("cajon", repeats=8, fill="cajon flam", fill_every=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/cajon.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Marching Percussion
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+A full drumline — snare, quads (tenors), and pitched bass drums.
+Every sound is synthesized: kevlar snare heads, aluminum shell ting
+on the quads, felt-beater thwack on the basses.
+
+**Snare** -- 3 sounds: MARCH_SNARE (tight kevlar tap), MARCH_RIMSHOT
+(woody-metallic crack), MARCH_CLICK (stick click for count-offs).
+
+**Quads** -- 5 sounds: QUAD_1 through QUAD_4 (high to low pitched
+tenors) plus QUAD_SPOCK (rim click on the shell).
+
+**Bass drums** -- 5 pitched drums: BASS_1 (highest/smallest) through
+BASS_5 (lowest/biggest), each with a prominent felt-beater thwack.
+
+**6 patterns:** march (basic 4/4), cadence (8-beat street beat),
+march paradiddle, march roll (buzz crescendo), quad sweep (run across
+all 4 drums), quad groove, bass split (cascading across the line),
+bass unison (all 5 hit together), drumline (snare + quads + bass).
+
+**Rudiment methods:** ``Part.flam()``, ``Part.diddle()``, and
+``Part.cheese()`` for marching rudiments on any drum sound.
+
+**Ensemble rendering:** ``ensemble=N`` on any Part duplicates the
+voice with per-player timing tendencies and micro pitch drift.
+``ensemble=8`` for a snare line, ``ensemble=20`` for a massive section.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Full drumline with ensemble
+   snares = score.part("snares", synth="sine", volume=0.9,
+                       reverb=0.2, ensemble=8)
+   quads = score.part("quads", synth="sine", volume=0.5,
+                      reverb=0.2, ensemble=4)
+   basses = score.part("basses", synth="sine", volume=0.55,
+                       reverb=0.2, ensemble=5)
+
+   snares.flam(DrumSound.MARCH_SNARE, Duration.QUARTER, velocity=120)
+   snares.diddle(DrumSound.MARCH_SNARE, Duration.EIGHTH, velocity=60)
+
+   # Or use patterns
+   score.drums("drumline", repeats=4)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/march_snare.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+**Sympathetic resonance:** The marching snare builds up snare wire
+buzz as hits accumulate, and the buzz decays during rests — just like
+a real drum.
+
 MIDI Export
 -----------
 

docs/guide/effects.rst

@@ -32,13 +32,27 @@ It's a well-tested order that sounds good by default.
 
 Effects are applied in this fixed order::
 
-    Signal --> Distortion --> Chorus --> Lowpass Filter --> Delay --> Reverb --> Mix
+    Signal --> Saturation --> Tremolo --> Distortion --> Cabinet --> Chorus
+          --> Phaser --> Highpass --> Lowpass --> Delay --> Reverb --> Mix
 
-- **Distortion** first: drives the raw signal before filtering (like
-  plugging a guitar into a fuzz pedal before the amp).
-- **Chorus** second: thickens the distorted signal.
-- **Lowpass** third: shapes the tone (like a tone knob on an amp).
-- **Delay** fourth: echoes the shaped signal (tap delay / tape echo).
+Additionally, these per-note effects are applied before the part effects chain:
+
+- **Sub-oscillator**: octave-below sine mixed in at the oscillator stage
+- **Noise layer**: filtered noise mixed per-note for breath/transients
+- **Filter envelope**: per-note lowpass sweep (attack/decay/sustain)
+- **Velocity → brightness**: harder velocity = brighter filter cutoff
+
+Part-level effects:
+
+- **Saturation** first: subtle even-harmonic warmth (tape/tube color).
+- **Tremolo** second: amplitude LFO modulation.
+- **Distortion** third: drives the signal before filtering.
+- **Cabinet** fourth: speaker cab simulation (rolloff + presence bump).
+- **Chorus** fifth: thickens the signal.
+- **Phaser** sixth: swept allpass notches.
+- **Highpass** seventh: removes low-frequency mud.
+- **Lowpass** eighth: shapes the tone (like a tone knob on an amp).
+- **Delay** ninth: echoes the shaped signal (tap delay / tape echo).
 - **Reverb** last: places everything in a space (room / hall).
 
 Distortion
@@ -83,6 +97,89 @@ Parameters:
        distortion_drive=10.0,
    )
 
+Cabinet Simulation
+------------------
+
+A real guitar amp doesn't just distort the signal -- the speaker
+cabinet shapes the tone dramatically. A 12-inch speaker in a closed
+cabinet rolls off the harsh high frequencies above 5 kHz and adds a
+presence bump around 2--3 kHz that gives the sound its "in the room"
+quality. Without a cabinet, distortion sounds thin and fizzy. With
+one, it sounds like a real amp.
+
+PyTheory's cabinet simulation applies a speaker rolloff curve (lowpass
+at ~5 kHz) combined with a presence resonance bump, placed in the
+signal chain immediately after distortion -- exactly where it sits in
+a real amp.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``cabinet``: Wet/dry mix, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+
+  - 0.3--0.5 = subtle speaker coloring
+  - 0.6--0.8 = classic amp-in-a-room
+  - 1.0 = full cabinet, no dry signal
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Classic rock amp tone: distortion into cabinet
+   guitar = score.part(
+       "guitar",
+       synth="saw",
+       envelope="pluck",
+       distortion=0.6,
+       distortion_drive=5.0,
+       cabinet=0.8,
+   )
+
+   # Clean amp with just cabinet warmth (no distortion)
+   clean = score.part(
+       "clean",
+       synth="triangle",
+       envelope="pluck",
+       cabinet=0.5,
+   )
+
+Analog Drift
+------------
+
+Real analog synthesizers are never perfectly in tune. The voltage-
+controlled oscillators drift slightly over time as components warm up
+and temperature fluctuates. This imperfection is actually a big part
+of why vintage analog synths sound so appealing -- the subtle pitch
+wandering gives each note a unique, living quality that static digital
+oscillators lack.
+
+The ``analog_drift`` parameter adds slow, random pitch variation to
+each oscillator, modeling this vintage behavior.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``analog_drift``: Drift amount, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+
+  - 0.05--0.1 = subtle warmth (studio-grade analog)
+  - 0.15--0.25 = noticeable drift (vintage gear warming up)
+  - 0.3+ = unstable, wobbly (broken tape machine)
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Warm vintage pad
+   pad = score.part(
+       "pad",
+       synth="supersaw",
+       envelope="pad",
+       analog_drift=0.1,
+       chorus=0.3,
+   )
+
+   # Lo-fi detuned lead
+   lead = score.part(
+       "lead",
+       synth="saw",
+       envelope="pluck",
+       analog_drift=0.25,
+   )
+
 Chorus
 ------
 
@@ -498,6 +595,221 @@ whole mix will gasp for air:
        delay=0.2,
    )
 
+Saturation
+----------
+
+Saturation is the warm, subtle harmonic enhancement of analog tape
+machines and tube preamps. Unlike distortion (which uses ``tanh`` and
+adds harsh odd harmonics), saturation uses a polynomial waveshaper
+that adds even harmonics -- 2nd and 4th -- which the ear perceives as
+warmth and fullness. It's why records mixed through a Neve console
+sound "bigger" than the same mix done in the box.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``saturation``: Amount, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+
+  - 0.05--0.15 = subtle analog warmth (tape machine)
+  - 0.2--0.4 = noticeable color (tube preamp)
+  - 0.5+ = heavy coloring
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Warm up a bass
+   bass = score.part("bass", synth="saw", saturation=0.2)
+
+   # Glue a string ensemble
+   strings = score.part("strings", instrument="string_ensemble",
+                        saturation=0.1)
+
+Tremolo
+-------
+
+Amplitude modulation by a sine LFO. The classic vibrating-amp sound.
+Essential for vibraphone (the rotating discs in the resonator tubes),
+Rhodes electric piano, and surf guitar. Not to be confused with
+vibrato (pitch modulation).
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``tremolo_depth``: Modulation depth, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+- ``tremolo_rate``: LFO speed in Hz (default 5.0).
+
+  - 3--5 Hz = classic tremolo
+  - 5--7 Hz = vibraphone motor speed
+  - 8+ Hz = ring-mod territory
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Classic Fender amp tremolo
+   guitar = score.part("guitar", synth="saw", envelope="pluck",
+                       tremolo_depth=0.3, tremolo_rate=4.0)
+
+   # Vibraphone with motor
+   vib = score.part("vib", instrument="vibraphone")  # built in
+
+Phaser
+------
+
+A chain of allpass filters whose center frequencies are swept by an
+LFO, creating moving notches in the spectrum. The classic "jet
+engine" or "underwater" effect. Think Small Stone, MXR Phase 90, or
+the intro to "Eruption." Different from chorus -- chorus adds a
+detuned copy, phaser cancels specific frequencies.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``phaser``: Wet/dry mix, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+- ``phaser_rate``: LFO sweep speed in Hz (default 0.5).
+
+  - 0.1--0.3 = slow, lush sweep
+  - 0.5--1.0 = classic phaser
+  - 2.0+ = fast, Leslie-like
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Slow sweep on a pad
+   pad = score.part("pad", synth="supersaw", envelope="pad",
+                    phaser=0.4, phaser_rate=0.2)
+
+   # Leslie sim on organ (built in)
+   organ = score.part("organ", instrument="organ")
+
+Highpass Filter
+---------------
+
+The opposite of lowpass -- removes low-frequency content below the
+cutoff. Useful for cleaning up mud from pads, keeping multiple bass
+parts from masking each other, or thinning out a sound to sit better
+in a mix.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``highpass``: Cutoff frequency in Hz (0 = off).
+
+  - 80--150 Hz = clean up sub rumble
+  - 200--400 Hz = thin out a pad
+  - 500+ Hz = telephone / radio effect
+
+- ``highpass_q``: Resonance / Q factor (default 0.707).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Clean up sub rumble from a pad
+   pad = score.part("pad", synth="supersaw", highpass=120)
+
+   # Thin out rhythm guitar to leave room for bass
+   rhythm = score.part("rhythm", synth="saw", highpass=250)
+
+Filter Envelope
+---------------
+
+A per-note lowpass filter whose cutoff sweeps over time. This is the
+core of subtractive synthesis -- the reason a Moog bass goes "bwow"
+instead of "boop." The filter opens on the attack and closes during
+decay, giving each note a distinctive timbral shape.
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``filter_amount``: Sweep range in Hz (0 = off). How far the filter
+  opens above the base cutoff.
+- ``filter_attack``: Time to reach peak cutoff, in seconds (default 0.01).
+- ``filter_decay``: Time to fall to sustain level (default 0.3).
+- ``filter_sustain``: Sustain level as fraction of amount, 0.0--1.0
+  (default 0.0 = filter closes completely after decay).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Classic synth bass "bwow"
+   bass = score.part("bass", instrument="synth_bass")  # built in
+
+   # Acid squelch
+   acid = score.part("acid", instrument="acid_bass")  # built in
+
+   # Custom filter sweep on a lead
+   lead = score.part("lead", synth="saw",
+                     filter_amount=4000, filter_attack=0.01,
+                     filter_decay=0.4, filter_sustain=0.1)
+
+Velocity to Brightness
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Real instruments get brighter when played harder. ``vel_to_filter``
+maps note velocity to filter cutoff boost, so louder notes have more
+high-frequency content.
+
+- ``vel_to_filter``: Cutoff boost in Hz at max velocity (default 0, off).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Piano: soft = mellow, loud = bright
+   piano = score.part("piano", instrument="piano")  # built in
+
+   # Manual: custom velocity mapping on a lead
+   lead = score.part("lead", synth="saw", vel_to_filter=3000)
+
+Sub-Oscillator
+--------------
+
+An octave-below sine wave mixed in with the main oscillator. Adds
+low-end weight without muddiness -- the sub fills in the fundamental
+while the main oscillator provides harmonic character above.
+
+- ``sub_osc``: Mix level, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+
+  - 0.1--0.2 = subtle weight (tuba, bass guitar)
+  - 0.3--0.5 = heavy sub (808, synth bass)
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Fat 808 kick-bass
+   bass = score.part("bass", instrument="808_bass")  # built in
+
+   # Add weight to any part
+   lead = score.part("lead", synth="saw", sub_osc=0.3)
+
+Noise Layer
+-----------
+
+White noise mixed into each note, following the same amplitude
+envelope. Adds breath for woodwinds, hammer/felt noise for piano,
+bow rosin for strings, and attack transients for percussion.
+
+- ``noise_mix``: Mix level, 0.0--1.0 (default 0, off).
+
+  - 0.02--0.04 = subtle texture (strings, piano)
+  - 0.05--0.08 = noticeable breath (woodwinds)
+  - 0.1+ = heavy air/texture
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Breathy flute
+   flute = score.part("flute", instrument="flute")  # noise_mix=0.08
+
+   # Add air to any synth
+   pad = score.part("pad", synth="supersaw", noise_mix=0.05)
+
+Configurable FM
+---------------
+
+The FM synth now accepts ``fm_ratio`` and ``fm_index`` parameters,
+letting you dial in specific FM timbres instead of using the defaults.
+
+- ``fm_ratio``: Modulator frequency as multiple of carrier (default 2.0).
+  Integer ratios = harmonic timbres; non-integer = metallic/inharmonic.
+- ``fm_index``: Modulation depth (default 3.0). Higher = more harmonics.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Warm electric piano (low ratio, low index)
+   ep = score.part("ep", synth="fm", fm_ratio=1.0, fm_index=1.5)
+
+   # Bright metallic bell (high ratio, high index)
+   bell = score.part("bell", synth="fm", fm_ratio=3.5, fm_index=5.0)
+
+   # Glockenspiel
+   glock = score.part("glock", instrument="glockenspiel")  # built in
+
 Automation
 ----------
 
@@ -528,9 +840,12 @@ processes each section independently:
    lead.set(lowpass=4000, distortion=0.7, reverb=0.3)
    lead.arpeggio("Gm", bars=4, pattern="updown", octaves=2)
 
-Any parameter can be automated: ``lowpass``, ``lowpass_q``, ``reverb``,
-``reverb_decay``, ``delay``, ``delay_time``, ``delay_feedback``,
-``distortion``, ``distortion_drive``, ``chorus``, ``volume``.
+Any parameter can be automated: ``lowpass``, ``lowpass_q``, ``highpass``,
+``reverb``, ``reverb_decay``, ``reverb_type``, ``delay``, ``delay_time``,
+``delay_feedback``, ``distortion``, ``distortion_drive``, ``chorus``,
+``phaser``, ``phaser_rate``, ``saturation``, ``tremolo_depth``,
+``tremolo_rate``, ``cabinet``, ``cabinet_brightness``, ``analog_drift``,
+``volume``.
 
 LFO Automation
 --------------

docs/guide/playback.rst

@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ Optional parameters for synth, envelope, and temperament:
    play(Tone.from_string("C4"), synth=Synth.SAW, envelope=Envelope.PLUCK, t=1_000)
    play(Tone.from_string("C4"), temperament="pythagorean", t=1_000)
 
+Synth-specific parameters are passed through as keyword arguments:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Mellotron with flute tape
+   play(Tone.from_string("C4"), synth=Synth.MELLOTRON, tape="choir", t=2_000)
+
+   # Hard sync with custom slave ratio
+   play(Tone.from_string("C4"), synth=Synth.HARD_SYNC, slave_ratio=2.5)
+
+   # Wavefolding with 4 folds
+   play(Tone.from_string("C4"), synth=Synth.WAVEFOLD, folds=4.0)
+
+   # Drift oscillator with square shape
+   play(Tone.from_string("C4"), synth=Synth.DRIFT, shape="square")
+
 play_score() -- Full Arrangements
 ---------------------------------
 
@@ -66,6 +82,21 @@ the mix louder and punchier:
        chords.add(Chord.from_symbol(sym), Duration.WHOLE)
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/playback_basic.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+The render pipeline respects the Score's ``temperament`` and
+``reference_pitch`` settings, so Baroque or microtonal scores play back
+at the correct tuning:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=80, temperament="meantone", reference_pitch=415.0)
+
+Press **Ctrl+C** at any time during playback to stop — PyTheory catches
+``KeyboardInterrupt`` and stops audio cleanly.
+
 See :doc:`sequencing` for how to build scores and parts.
 
 render_score() -- Headless Rendering
@@ -153,7 +184,7 @@ Play a drum pattern through the speakers:
    play_pattern(Pattern.preset("rock"), repeats=4, bpm=120)
    play_pattern(Pattern.preset("bossa nova"), repeats=4, bpm=140)
 
-See :doc:`drums` for the full list of 58 presets and 21 fills.
+See :doc:`drums` for the full list of 80+ presets and 21 fills.
 
 play_progression() -- Quick Chord Playback
 ------------------------------------------

docs/guide/quickstart.rst

@@ -143,48 +143,34 @@ chords, melody, bass, each with their own synth and effects:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-   from pytheory import Score, Pattern, Key, Duration, Chord
+   from pytheory import Score, Key, Duration
    from pytheory.play import play_score
 
-   score = Score("4/4", bpm=140)
-   score.drums("bossa nova", repeats=4)
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=120)
+   score.drums("rock", repeats=8, fill="rock", fill_every=4)
 
-   chords = score.part(
-       "chords",
-       synth="fm",
-       envelope="pad",
-       reverb=0.4,
-   )
-   lead = score.part(
-       "lead",
-       synth="saw",
-       envelope="pluck",
-       delay=0.3,
-       lowpass=3000,
-       humanize=0.2,
-   )
-   bass = score.part(
-       "bass",
-       synth="sine",
-       lowpass=500,
-   )
+   piano = score.part("piano", instrument="piano", reverb=0.3)
+   lead = score.part("lead", synth="saw", envelope="pluck",
+                     delay=0.2, reverb=0.2, lowpass=4000)
+   bass = score.part("bass", synth="triangle", lowpass=900)
 
-   key = Key("A", "minor")
-   for chord in key.progression("i", "iv", "V", "i"):
-       chords.add(chord, Duration.WHOLE)
-       chords.add(chord, Duration.WHOLE)
+   for chord in Key("G", "major").progression("I", "V", "vi", "IV") * 2:
+       piano.add(chord, Duration.WHOLE)
 
-   lead.arpeggio("Am", bars=2, pattern="updown", octaves=2)
-   lead.arpeggio("Dm", bars=2, pattern="updown", octaves=2)
-   lead.set(lowpass=5000, reverb=0.3)
-   lead.arpeggio("E7", bars=2, pattern="up", octaves=2)
-   lead.arpeggio("Am", bars=2, pattern="updown", octaves=2)
+   lead.add("D5", 1).add("B4", 0.5).add("D5", 0.5)
+   lead.add("G5", 1).add("E5", 1)
+   lead.add("D5", 0.5).add("B4", 0.5).add("A4", 1)
+   lead.add("G4", 2).rest(2)
 
-   for n in ["A2", "E2", "A2", "C3"] * 4:
-       bass.add(n, Duration.QUARTER)
+   for n in ["G2", "G2", "D2", "D2", "E2", "E2", "C2", "C2"] * 2:
+       bass.add(n, Duration.HALF)
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/quickstart.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Export to Your DAW
 ------------------
 

docs/guide/sequencing.rst

@@ -47,6 +47,18 @@ A ``Duration`` represents a note length in beats (quarter note = 1 beat):
    >>> Duration.TRIPLET_QUARTER.value
    0.6666666666666666
 
+Duration supports arithmetic — multiply, divide, and add to create
+compound durations:
+
+.. code-block:: pycon
+
+   >>> Duration.WHOLE * 2
+   8.0
+   >>> Duration.HALF + Duration.QUARTER
+   3.0
+   >>> Duration.WHOLE / 2
+   2.0
+
 Time Signatures
 ---------------
 
@@ -149,6 +161,10 @@ Chords work just like tones — pass any ``Chord`` object:
    for chord in chords:
        score.add(chord, Duration.WHOLE)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/chords_basic.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 .. code-block:: pycon
 
    >>> score.measures
@@ -232,6 +248,31 @@ Chords and Tone objects work the same way:
    for note in ["A2", "C3", "E3", "A2", "D2", "F2", "A2", "D2"]:
        bass.add(note, Duration.QUARTER)
 
+Polyphonic Hold
+---------------
+
+``Part.hold()`` adds a note without advancing the beat position —
+the next note starts at the *same* time. This enables polyphonic
+overlap on a single part: piano sustain, sitar drone under melody,
+guitar strum texture.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   piano = score.part("piano", instrument="piano", reverb=0.3)
+
+   # Hold a C major chord for 8 beats
+   piano.hold("C3", Duration.WHOLE * 2, velocity=60)
+   piano.hold("E3", Duration.WHOLE * 2, velocity=55)
+   piano.hold("G3", Duration.WHOLE * 2, velocity=55)
+
+   # Melody plays simultaneously on top
+   for n in ["E4", "G4", "C5", "G4", "E4", "D4", "C4", "E4"]:
+       piano.add(n, Duration.QUARTER, velocity=80)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/piano_hold.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Arpeggiator
 ------------
 
@@ -280,6 +321,10 @@ Chain arpeggios through a progression:
    for sym in ["Cm", "Fm", "Abm", "Gm"]:
        lead.arpeggio(sym, bars=2, pattern="updown", octaves=2)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/arpeggio.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Combined with legato, glide, distortion, and a resonant lowpass, this
 produces the classic acid/trance arpeggiator sound.
 
@@ -310,12 +355,18 @@ portamento (pitch slides between notes):
    acid = score.part(
        "acid",
        synth="saw",
-       envelope="pad",
        legato=True,
        glide=0.04,
+       lowpass=3000,
+       lowpass_q=6.0,
+       distortion=0.3,
    )
    acid.add("C2", 0.25).add("C3", 0.25).add("G2", 0.25).add("C2", 0.25)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/legato_glide.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 - ``legato``: If True, no envelope retrigger between notes (default False).
 - ``glide``: Portamento time in seconds (default 0, instant).
   0.03--0.05 = quick 303 slide, 0.1--0.2 = slow glide.
@@ -323,63 +374,51 @@ portamento (pitch slides between notes):
 Complete Example
 ----------------
 
-A full multi-part arrangement built from scratch — bossa nova with FM
-rhodes, triangle lead, and filtered bass:
+A full multi-part arrangement — rock beat with piano chords, saw
+lead, and filtered bass:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-   from pytheory import Score, Pattern, Key, Duration, Chord
+   from pytheory import Score, Key, Duration, Chord
    from pytheory.play import play_score
 
-   score = Score("4/4", bpm=140)
-   score.drums("bossa nova", repeats=4)
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=120)
+   score.drums("rock", repeats=8, fill="rock", fill_every=4)
 
-   # FM rhodes with reverb
-   rhodes = score.part(
-       "rhodes",
-       synth="fm",
-       envelope="piano",
-       volume=0.3,
-       reverb=0.4,
-       reverb_decay=1.8,
-   )
+   # Piano chords with reverb
+   piano = score.part("piano", instrument="piano", volume=0.4, reverb=0.3)
 
-   # Triangle lead with delay
+   # Saw lead with delay
    lead = score.part(
-       "lead",
-       synth="triangle",
-       envelope="pluck",
-       volume=0.45,
-       delay=0.25,
-       delay_time=0.32,
-       delay_feedback=0.35,
-       reverb=0.2,
+       "lead", synth="saw", envelope="pluck", volume=0.4,
+       delay=0.2, delay_time=0.33, reverb=0.2, lowpass=3000,
    )
 
    # Filtered bass
-   bass = score.part(
-       "bass",
-       synth="sine",
-       envelope="pluck",
-       volume=0.45,
-       lowpass=600,
-   )
+   bass = score.part("bass", synth="triangle", envelope="pluck",
+                     volume=0.45, lowpass=1200)
 
-   for sym in ["Am", "Am", "Dm", "Dm", "E7", "E7", "Am", "Am"]:
-       rhodes.add(Chord.from_symbol(sym), Duration.WHOLE)
+   for chord in Key("G", "major").progression("I", "V", "vi", "IV") * 2:
+       piano.add(chord, Duration.WHOLE)
 
-   for n, d in [
-       ("E5", 0.67), ("D5", 0.33), ("C5", 0.67), ("B4", 0.33),
-       ("A4", 1), ("C5", 0.67), ("E5", 0.33), ("D5", 0.67), ("C5", 0.33),
-       ("A4", 1),
-   ]:
-       lead.add(n, d)
+   lead.add("D5", 1).add("B4", 0.5).add("D5", 0.5)
+   lead.add("G5", 1).add("E5", 1)
+   lead.add("D5", 0.5).add("B4", 0.5).add("A4", 1)
+   lead.add("G4", 2).rest(2)
+   lead.add("D5", 1).add("B4", 0.5).add("D5", 0.5)
+   lead.add("G5", 1).add("A5", 1)
+   lead.add("G5", 0.5).add("E5", 0.5).add("D5", 1)
+   lead.add("B4", 2).rest(2)
 
-   for n in ["A2", "E2", "A2", "C3", "D2", "A2", "D2", "F2"]:
-       bass.add(n, Duration.QUARTER)
+   for n in ["G2", "G2", "D2", "D2", "E2", "E2", "C2", "C2"] * 2:
+       bass.add(n, Duration.HALF)
 
    play_score(score)
 
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/complete_rock.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Velocity
 --------
 
@@ -399,6 +438,157 @@ The arpeggiator also accepts velocity:
 
    lead.arpeggio("Am", bars=2, pattern="up", velocity=80)
 
+Articulations
+-------------
+
+Articulations change *how* a note is played — its attack, duration, and
+weight. A staccato note is short and bouncy. A marcato note hits hard.
+A legato note melts into the next one. This is the difference between
+a melody that sounds like a MIDI file and one that sounds like a
+musician played it.
+
+Pass ``articulation=`` to ``Part.add()``:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   piano.add("C4", Duration.QUARTER, articulation="staccato")   # short, bouncy
+   piano.add("D4", Duration.QUARTER, articulation="legato")     # smooth, overlaps
+   piano.add("E4", Duration.QUARTER, articulation="marcato")    # heavy accent
+   piano.add("F4", Duration.QUARTER, articulation="tenuto")     # held, soft attack
+   piano.add("G4", Duration.QUARTER, articulation="accent")     # louder
+   piano.add("C5", Duration.HALF, articulation="fermata")       # held longer
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/articulations.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+What each articulation does:
+
+- **staccato** — plays ~40% of the note duration with a quick fade-out. Short and detached.
+- **legato** — extends ~15% into the next note. Smooth and connected.
+- **marcato** — 25% velocity boost + sharper attack. Heavy and accented.
+- **tenuto** — full duration with a softer attack ramp. Held and deliberate.
+- **accent** — 20% velocity boost, no duration change.
+- **fermata** — stretches the note 50% longer.
+
+Articulations work on ``Part.hold()`` and ``Part.hit()`` too.
+
+Dynamic Curves
+--------------
+
+Real music breathes — phrases get louder, get quieter, swell and
+recede. Dynamic curves let you shape the velocity across a sequence
+of notes instead of setting each one manually.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Crescendo: quiet to loud
+   piano.crescendo(["C4","D4","E4","F4","G4","A4","B4","C5"],
+                   Duration.QUARTER, start_vel=30, end_vel=110)
+
+   # Decrescendo: loud to quiet
+   piano.decrescendo(["C5","B4","A4","G4","F4","E4","D4","C4"],
+                     Duration.QUARTER, start_vel=110, end_vel=30)
+
+   # Swell: up then back down (orchestral < > shape)
+   strings.swell(["C4","D4","E4","F4","G4","F4","E4","D4"],
+                 Duration.QUARTER, low_vel=35, peak_vel=110)
+
+   # Custom curve: explicit velocity per note
+   piano.dynamics(["C4","E4","G4","C5"], Duration.QUARTER,
+                  velocities=[50, 80, 110, 90])
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/dynamics.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+Four methods:
+
+- **crescendo()** — linear velocity ramp from ``start_vel`` to ``end_vel``.
+- **decrescendo()** — same thing, but typically loud to quiet.
+- **swell()** — ramps up to the midpoint, then back down. The classic
+  orchestral crescendo-decrescendo.
+- **dynamics()** — the general form. Pass a ``(start, end)`` tuple for
+  a linear ramp, or a list of velocities for a custom curve.
+
+All four accept ``articulation=`` to combine dynamics with articulations:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Staccato crescendo — bouncy notes getting louder
+   piano.crescendo(["C4","E4","G4","C5","E5","G5","C6","E6"],
+                   Duration.EIGHTH, start_vel=40, end_vel=110,
+                   articulation="staccato")
+
+Part.hit() — Manual Drum Placement
+-----------------------------------
+
+The pattern system is great for grooves, but sometimes you want to
+place individual drum hits with full control — articulations, effects,
+and all. ``Part.hit()`` puts a drum sound into a Part's note stream:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from pytheory import DrumSound
+
+   kit = score.part("kit", synth="sine", volume=0.7)
+
+   kit.hit(DrumSound.KICK, Duration.QUARTER, articulation="accent")
+   kit.hit(DrumSound.CLOSED_HAT, Duration.EIGHTH, velocity=60)
+   kit.hit(DrumSound.SNARE, Duration.EIGHTH, articulation="marcato")
+
+Because hits go through the normal Part renderer, they get humanize,
+effects, and articulations for free. Use this for custom beats that
+don't fit a preset pattern, or for one-shot accent hits layered on
+top of a pattern.
+
+Rudiments — Flam, Diddle, Cheese
+---------------------------------
+
+Marching percussion rudiments as methods on any Part:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from pytheory import DrumSound
+
+   p = score.part("snares", synth="sine", volume=0.9)
+
+   # Flam: grace note + main hit (gap controls tightness)
+   p.flam(DrumSound.MARCH_SNARE, Duration.QUARTER, velocity=120)
+
+   # Diddle: two equal strokes in one note duration
+   p.diddle(DrumSound.MARCH_SNARE, Duration.EIGHTH, velocity=60)
+
+   # Cheese: flam + diddle combined
+   p.cheese(DrumSound.MARCH_SNARE, Duration.QUARTER, velocity=120)
+
+Ensemble
+--------
+
+Any Part can be rendered as an ensemble — multiple players with
+per-player timing tendencies and micro pitch drift:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # 8-player snare line
+   snares = score.part("snares", synth="sine", volume=0.9, ensemble=8)
+
+   # 20-player string section
+   strings = score.part("strings", instrument="string_ensemble", ensemble=20)
+
+   # Single player (default)
+   solo = score.part("solo", instrument="violin")
+
+Each ensemble voice gets a consistent timing personality (some rush,
+some drag) plus small per-note wobble, and slightly different tuning.
+The result sounds like a real section — together but alive.
+
+Solo snare, then an 8-player section plays the same pattern:
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/ensemble.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
 Swing and Groove
 ----------------
 
@@ -478,6 +668,54 @@ integrate naturally with the rest of the automation system:
    pad.rest(Duration.WHOLE)
    pad.rest(Duration.WHOLE)
 
+Parameter Ramps
+---------------
+
+Fades only control volume. ``Part.ramp()`` smoothly sweeps *any*
+parameter from its current value to a target — filters, reverb,
+distortion, chorus, delay, anything ``.set()`` accepts. This is how
+you build filter sweeps, gradual effect sends, and EDM buildups.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   lead = score.part("lead", synth="saw", lowpass=200, lowpass_q=3.0)
+
+   # Open the filter over 8 bars
+   lead.ramp(over=Duration.WHOLE * 8, lowpass=8000)
+
+   # Ramp multiple params at once
+   pad.ramp(over=Duration.WHOLE * 4, reverb=0.5, chorus=0.3)
+
+   # Close the filter with distortion fading in
+   lead.ramp(over=Duration.WHOLE * 4, lowpass=400, distortion=0.5)
+
+Four interpolation curves:
+
+- **linear** — constant rate of change (default).
+- **ease_in** — starts slow, accelerates. Good for buildups.
+- **ease_out** — starts fast, decelerates. Good for releases.
+- **ease_in_out** — slow at both ends. Smooth and natural.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # EDM buildup: slow start, accelerating filter sweep
+   lead.ramp(over=Duration.WHOLE * 8, curve="ease_in", lowpass=8000)
+
+   # Smooth reverb wash fading in and settling
+   pad.ramp(over=Duration.WHOLE * 4, curve="ease_in_out", reverb=0.6)
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   <audio controls style="width:100%;margin:0.5em 0 1.5em"><source src="../_static/audio/filter_ramp.wav" type="audio/wav"></audio>
+
+``ramp()`` generates automation points every quarter-beat by default.
+Set ``resolution=0.125`` for smoother curves (every 32nd note), or
+``resolution=1.0`` for lighter automation (every beat).
+
+Combine with ``lfo()`` for cyclic modulation and ``ramp()`` for
+one-shot sweeps — together they cover the full range of parameter
+automation.
+
 Humanize
 --------
 
@@ -574,3 +812,115 @@ Define sections with ``score.section()`` and repeat them with
 Use any names you want — ``"intro"``, ``"verse"``, ``"chorus"``,
 ``"bridge"``, ``"drop"``, ``"breakdown"``, ``"outro"``, or anything
 that makes sense for your song. The names are just labels.
+
+Guitar Strumming
+----------------
+
+Any part with a fretboard can strum chords using real fingering
+positions. The ``strum()`` method looks up the chord on the fretboard,
+gets the correct voicing, and plays all strings as a chord.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from pytheory import Fretboard
+
+   guitar = score.part("guitar", instrument="acoustic_guitar",
+                       fretboard=Fretboard.guitar())
+
+   guitar.strum("Am", Duration.HALF, direction="down")
+   guitar.strum("G", Duration.HALF, direction="up")
+   guitar.strum("F", Duration.WHOLE)
+
+Works with any fretboard instrument — guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin.
+Works with any guitar preset — clean, crunch, distorted, orange, metal.
+
+Pitch Bends
+-----------
+
+Bend a note's pitch up or down over its duration. Essential for guitar
+bends, sitar meends, trombone slides, and vocal-style expression.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Guitar bend: D up to E (2 semitones)
+   guitar.add("D4", Duration.HALF, bend=2, bend_type="smooth")
+
+   # Release bend: E back down to D
+   guitar.add("E4", Duration.HALF, bend=-2)
+
+   # Blues curl: hold then bend at the end
+   guitar.add("C4", Duration.HALF, bend=1, bend_type="late")
+
+Three bend types:
+
+- ``"smooth"`` — logarithmic (default). Perceptually even pitch change.
+- ``"linear"`` — linear frequency interpolation. Mechanical/synth feel.
+- ``"late"`` — holds the starting pitch for 60%, bends in the last 40%.
+  The classic blues "curl."
+
+Rolls
+-----
+
+Rapid repeated notes with a velocity ramp — perfect for timpani
+rolls, snare rolls, tremolo on any instrument. The velocity ramps
+from ``velocity_start`` to ``velocity_end`` for crescendo or
+decrescendo effects.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Timpani crescendo roll
+   timp = score.part("timp", instrument="timpani")
+   timp.roll("C3", Duration.WHOLE, velocity_start=20, velocity_end=110)
+   timp.add("C3", Duration.HALF, velocity=127)  # big accent
+
+   # Snare roll with 32nd notes
+   snare = score.part("snare", synth="noise", envelope="pluck")
+   snare.roll("C4", Duration.HALF, speed=0.125,
+              velocity_start=40, velocity_end=100)
+
+   # Decrescendo (loud to quiet)
+   timp.roll("G2", Duration.WHOLE, velocity_start=100, velocity_end=30)
+
+Parameters:
+
+- ``velocity_start``: Starting velocity (default 40).
+- ``velocity_end``: Ending velocity (default 100).
+- ``speed``: Note subdivision (default ``Duration.SIXTEENTH``).
+  Use ``0.125`` for 32nd notes, ``Duration.EIGHTH`` for 8th notes.
+
+Tuning Systems
+--------------
+
+A Score can use any tuning system and temperament:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   # Baroque harpsichord — meantone tuning, A=415
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=80, temperament="meantone",
+                 reference_pitch=415.0)
+
+   # Indian classical — 22-shruti system
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=75, system="shruti")
+
+   # Just intonation — pure intervals
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=90, temperament="just")
+
+The Score constructor accepts these tuning parameters:
+
+- ``system``: Musical system name (default ``"western"``). Any system
+  from :doc:`systems` works — ``"indian"``, ``"shruti"``, ``"maqam"``,
+  ``"carnatic"``, etc. Note strings in ``Part.add()`` are parsed against
+  this system.
+- ``temperament``: Tuning temperament — ``"equal"`` (default),
+  ``"pythagorean"``, ``"meantone"``, ``"just"``.
+- ``reference_pitch``: Concert pitch in Hz (default 440.0). Use 415.0
+  for Baroque tuning, 432.0 for "Verdi tuning", etc.
+
+Custom equal temperaments via the ``TET()`` factory:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from pytheory import TET
+
+   edo19 = TET(19)  # 19-tone equal temperament
+   score = Score("4/4", bpm=100, system=edo19)