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Your First Song

Build a complete multi-instrument song from scratch.

Step 1: Set the Tempo​

Every song starts with a tempo. 120 BPM is a good default — moderate pace, easy to count.

BPM 120

Step 2: Define Instruments​

Create a bass synth and a lead melody:

INSTRUMENT bass:
    TYPE SYNTH
    WAVE SAW
    ADSR 5 40 300 120
    VOLUME 220

INSTRUMENT lead:
    TYPE SYNTH
    WAVE TRIANGLE
    ADSR 10 30 200 100
    VOLUME 180

WAVE picks the oscillator character — SAW is bright and buzzy (good for bass), TRIANGLE is softer (good for melodies).

ADSR shapes each note's volume over time: Attack (rise), Decay (fall from peak), Sustain (hold), Release (fade after note ends). All values in milliseconds.

tip

Not sure what envelope to use? Start with ADSR 10 50 200 100 — it works for most instruments. Tweak from there.

Step 3: Write Sequences​

A sequence is a list of notes that play one after another:

SEQUENCE bassline:
    PLAY bass C2 1
    PLAY bass C2 1
    PLAY bass G2 1
    PLAY bass F2 1

SEQUENCE melody:
    PLAY lead E4 0.5
    PLAY lead G4 0.5
    PLAY lead A4 1
    REST 0.5
    PLAY lead G4 0.5
    PLAY lead E4 1

Each PLAY takes: instrument name, note, and duration in beats. REST adds silence.

Step 4: Arrange the Song​

Play both sequences together and loop them:

LOOP 4:
    PLAY_TOGETHER:
        PLAY_SEQUENCE bassline
        PLAY_SEQUENCE melody

PLAY_TOGETHER merges them onto one timeline — without it, bass would play first, then melody.

warning

Without PLAY_TOGETHER, sequences play one after another — bass finishes completely before melody starts. This is the most common beginner mistake.

Full Program​

BPM 120

INSTRUMENT bass:
    TYPE SYNTH
    WAVE SAW
    ADSR 5 40 300 120
    VOLUME 220

INSTRUMENT lead:
    TYPE SYNTH
    WAVE TRIANGLE
    ADSR 10 30 200 100
    VOLUME 180

SEQUENCE bassline:
    PLAY bass C2 1
    PLAY bass C2 1
    PLAY bass G2 1
    PLAY bass F2 1

SEQUENCE melody:
    PLAY lead E4 0.5
    PLAY lead G4 0.5
    PLAY lead A4 1
    REST 0.5
    PLAY lead G4 0.5
    PLAY lead E4 1

LOOP 4:
    PLAY_TOGETHER:
        PLAY_SEQUENCE bassline
        PLAY_SEQUENCE melody

Try It​

python3 -m dsl.compiler song.jam --wav -o song.wav

Next Steps​

info

Every example in this guide is a complete, valid .jam file. Copy any code block and compile it directly.