Learn Sonic-pi-live - 10 Code Examples & CST Typing Practice Test

Sonic Pi is a live coding environment designed for creating music through code. It allows users to write Ruby-based scripts that generate real-time audio, enabling both learning and performance in music programming.

View all 10 Sonic-pi-live code examples →

Simple Live Loop Beat in Sonic Pi Layered Live Loop Melody and Drums Arpeggio Pattern Random Melody Drum Fill Bass Line Groove Chord Progression Echo Effect Loop Reverb Drum Loop Step Sequencer Pattern

Learn SONIC-PI-LIVE with Real Code Examples

Updated Nov 26, 2025

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Code Sample Descriptions

Simple Live Loop Beat in Sonic Pi

live_loop :beat do
    play 36, release: 0.2
    sleep 1
end

A Sonic Pi live loop that plays a steady bass drum beat, demonstrating real-time modification during performance.

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Layered Live Loop Melody and Drums

live_loop :drums do
    sample :bd_haus
    sleep 0.5
end

live_loop :melody do
    use_synth :prophet
    play choose([60, 62, 64, 67, 72]), release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
end

Two live loops layered together: one for drums, one for a melody. Both can be modified live while running.

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Arpeggio Pattern

live_loop :arpeggio do
    use_synth :piano
    play_pattern_timed chord(:C4, :major), 0.25
    sleep 1
end

A live loop creating a simple arpeggio pattern with a synth.

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Random Melody

live_loop :random_melody do
    use_synth :saw
    play scale(:E3, :minor_pentatonic).choose, release: 0.3
    sleep 0.25
end

Plays random notes from a scale in a live loop.

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Drum Fill

live_loop :drum_fill do
    sample :drum_snare_soft
    sleep 0.25
    sample :drum_cymbal_closed
    sleep 0.25
end

Plays a simple drum fill repeatedly.

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Bass Line Groove

live_loop :bass do
    use_synth :tb303
    play :C2, release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
    play :E2, release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
end

A live loop that plays a bass groove pattern.

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Chord Progression

live_loop :chords do
    use_synth :fm
    play chord(:C4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
    play chord(:F4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
    play chord(:G4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
end

Plays a sequence of chords in a loop.

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Echo Effect Loop

live_loop :echo_melody do
    echo 0.3, phase: 0.5 do
        use_synth :prophet
        play choose([60, 64, 67, 72]), release: 0.5
        sleep 0.5
    end
end

Applies an echo effect to a live loop melody.

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Reverb Drum Loop

live_loop :reverb_drums do
    reverb 0.8 do
        sample :bd_haus
        sleep 1
        sample :sn_generic
        sleep 1
    end
end

Plays a drum loop with a reverb effect applied.

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Step Sequencer Pattern

live_loop :step_seq do
    steps = [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0]
    steps.each do |s|
        if s == 1
        sample :bd_haus
        end
        sleep 0.25
    end
end

Implements a simple step sequencer with two samples.

Let’s Try →

Frequently Asked Questions about Sonic-pi-live

What is Sonic-pi-live?

What are the primary use cases for Sonic-pi-live?

Teaching programming through music. Algorithmic and generative composition. Live music performance and improvisation. Interactive sound installations. Exploring synthesis, effects, and audio experimentation

What are the strengths of Sonic-pi-live?

Immediate feedback encourages experimentation. Educationally powerful for learning coding and music together. Supports creative, algorithmic composition. Live coding performance ready. Highly extensible with samples, MIDI, and effects

What are the limitations of Sonic-pi-live?

Not a full-featured DAW for commercial music production. Learning curve for non-programmers. Timing-sensitive code may require precision. Limited built-in instruments compared to professional DAWs. Dependent on computer performance for real-time audio

How can I practice Sonic-pi-live typing speed?

CodeSpeedTest offers 10+ real Sonic-pi-live code examples for typing practice. You can measure your WPM, track accuracy, and improve your coding speed with guided exercises.

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Code Sample Descriptions

Simple Live Loop Beat in Sonic Pi

live_loop :beat do
    play 36, release: 0.2
    sleep 1
end

A Sonic Pi live loop that plays a steady bass drum beat, demonstrating real-time modification during performance.

Let’s Try →

Layered Live Loop Melody and Drums

live_loop :drums do
    sample :bd_haus
    sleep 0.5
end

live_loop :melody do
    use_synth :prophet
    play choose([60, 62, 64, 67, 72]), release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
end

Two live loops layered together: one for drums, one for a melody. Both can be modified live while running.

Let’s Try →

Arpeggio Pattern

live_loop :arpeggio do
    use_synth :piano
    play_pattern_timed chord(:C4, :major), 0.25
    sleep 1
end

A live loop creating a simple arpeggio pattern with a synth.

Let’s Try →

Random Melody

live_loop :random_melody do
    use_synth :saw
    play scale(:E3, :minor_pentatonic).choose, release: 0.3
    sleep 0.25
end

Plays random notes from a scale in a live loop.

Let’s Try →

Drum Fill

live_loop :drum_fill do
    sample :drum_snare_soft
    sleep 0.25
    sample :drum_cymbal_closed
    sleep 0.25
end

Plays a simple drum fill repeatedly.

Let’s Try →

Bass Line Groove

live_loop :bass do
    use_synth :tb303
    play :C2, release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
    play :E2, release: 0.5
    sleep 0.5
end

A live loop that plays a bass groove pattern.

Let’s Try →

Chord Progression

live_loop :chords do
    use_synth :fm
    play chord(:C4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
    play chord(:F4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
    play chord(:G4, :major), release: 1
    sleep 1
end

Plays a sequence of chords in a loop.

Let’s Try →

Echo Effect Loop

live_loop :echo_melody do
    echo 0.3, phase: 0.5 do
        use_synth :prophet
        play choose([60, 64, 67, 72]), release: 0.5
        sleep 0.5
    end
end

Applies an echo effect to a live loop melody.

Let’s Try →

Reverb Drum Loop

live_loop :reverb_drums do
    reverb 0.8 do
        sample :bd_haus
        sleep 1
        sample :sn_generic
        sleep 1
    end
end

Plays a drum loop with a reverb effect applied.

Let’s Try →

Step Sequencer Pattern

live_loop :step_seq do
    steps = [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0]
    steps.each do |s|
        if s == 1
        sample :bd_haus
        end
        sleep 0.25
    end
end

Implements a simple step sequencer with two samples.

Let’s Try →

Frequently Asked Questions about Sonic-pi-live

What is Sonic-pi-live?

What are the primary use cases for Sonic-pi-live?

What are the strengths of Sonic-pi-live?

What are the limitations of Sonic-pi-live?

How can I practice Sonic-pi-live typing speed?

CodeSpeedTest offers 10+ real Sonic-pi-live code examples for typing practice. You can measure your WPM, track accuracy, and improve your coding speed with guided exercises.