SonicPi code for the first few bars of Ratatat's El Pico

ratatat-el-pico.rb

use_bpm 95

# main guitar riff

mini_riff_1 = [:b4, :e4, :g4, :b4]
mini_riff_2 = [:g4, :b3, :e4, :g4]
mini_riff_3 = [:a4, :c4, :gb4, :a4]
mini_riff_4 = [:gb4, :b3, :d4, :gb4]
mini_riff_5 = [:c5, :gb4, :a4, :c5]

main_riff_1 = mini_riff_1 + mini_riff_2 + mini_riff_3 + mini_riff_4
main_riff_2 = mini_riff_1 + mini_riff_5 + mini_riff_1 + mini_riff_3
main_riff = main_riff_1 + main_riff_2

main_riff_synth_opts = {
  release: 0.8,
  amp: 0.8,
}
main_riff_synth = :saw

define :play_main_riff do
  use_synth main_riff_synth
  play_pattern_timed main_riff, [0.50], main_riff_synth_opts
end

# initial bassline

subtle_bassline = [:e3, :g3, :a3, :e3, :d3, :g3, :d3].ring
subtle_bassline_synth_opts = {
  sustain: 1.0,
  release: 1.0,
  amp: 1,
}
subtle_bassline_synth = :fm

define :play_background_bass do
  use_synth subtle_bassline_synth
  play subtle_bassline.tick, sustain: 3.75, release: 0.5
  sleep 4
  6.times do
    play subtle_bassline.tick, sustain: 1.75, release: 0.5
    sleep 2
  end
end

# main bassline

main_bassline = [
:e3, :c4, :b3, :c4, :b3, :b3, :d3].ring

main_bassline_synth = :fm

define :play_main_bass do
  use_synth main_bassline_synth
  play :e3, sustain: 2.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 2.5
  play :c4
  sleep 0.5
  play :b3
  sleep 0.25
  play :c4
  sleep 0.25
  play :b3
  sleep 0.5
  play :a3, sustain: 1.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 1.5
  play :a3
  sleep 0.5
  play :b3, sustain: 1.75, release: 0.5
  sleep 2
  # second half
  play :e3, sustain: 1.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 1.5
  play :e3
  sleep 0.5
  play :gb3, sustain: 1.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 1.5
  play :gb3
  sleep 0.5
  play :g3, sustain: 1.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 1.5
  play :g3
  sleep 0.5
  play :d3, sustain: 1.25, release: 0.5
  sleep 1.5
  play :d3
  sleep 0.5
end

# initial claps

clap_synth = :cnoise
clap_synth_opts = {
  release: 0.08,
  amp: 0.3,
}

define :play_clap do
  use_synth clap_synth
  play 50, clap_synth_opts
  sleep 0.25
end

define :play_three_claps do
  3.times do
    play_clap
  end
  sleep 0.25
end

define :play_two_claps do
  2.times do
    play_clap
  end
  sleep 0.5
end

define :four_bars_claps do
  3.times do
    play_three_claps
  end
  play_two_claps
end

define :intro_claps do
  # first claps are weird because they're missing a beat
  2.times do
    play_clap
  end
  sleep 0.25
  2.times do
    play_three_claps
  end
  play_two_claps
  4.times do
    play_three_claps
  end
  four_bars_claps
  four_bars_claps
  sleep 0.25
end

# drums (second verse onwards)

define :play_drums do
  2.times do
    sample :drum_bass_hard, amp: 2
    sleep 0.25
  end
  sleep 0.5
  use_synth :cnoise
  play 50, release: 0.3
  sleep 0.75
  play 50, release: 0.3
  sleep 0.25
  sample :drum_bass_hard
  sleep 0.25
  play 50, release: 0.3
  sleep 0.25
  sample :drum_bass_hard
  sleep 0.5
  play 50, release: 0.3
  sleep 0.75
  play 50, release: 0.3
  sleep 0.25
end

# actual song starts here

in_thread(name: :main_riff) do
  2.times do
    play_main_riff
  end
end

in_thread(name: :initial_bassline) do
  play_background_bass
  play_main_bass
end

in_thread(name: :initial_claps) do
  2.times do
    intro_claps
  end
end

in_thread(name: :drums, delay: 16) do
  4.times do
    play_drums
  end
end