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The full manual · CLI reference

Everything jamburgr can do.

Treat this like a kitchen drawer. The gadgets are organized by what they do — workflows, output modes, layers, flags. Dig in when you need one. For recipes, head to the cookbook ; for flavors, the library .

Quick start

Three commands cover 90% of jamburgr usage.

Opens the interactive menu. Leave a prompt blank to keep the default.

terminal
python jamburgr.py

One-shot pack. Drag the folder into Live.

terminal
python jamburgr.py --key 'A minor' --style synthwave --output-mode pack --out ./jams/sketch

Cook a Markdown recipe (see the cookbook).

terminal
python jamburgr.py --config my_song.md

Workflows

Four ways to drive jamburgr.

Interactive menu
python jamburgr.py
Command-line flags
python jamburgr.py --key "A minor" --style synthwave
Top-of-file config
python jamburgr.py --non-interactive
Markdown recipe
python jamburgr.py --config my_song.md

Output modes

How files come out.

single
One .mid file with everything stacked.
multi
Each layer (chord, bass, pad, lead, drums) as its own file.
both
single + multi.
pack
A folder containing single, multi, and a notes.md describing what was generated.

Layers

What jamburgr generates per pack.

Chords
The harmonic spine. Voicing, pattern, register all configurable.
Bass
Optional. Follows the same key + progression in the bass register.
Pad
Optional. Sustained chords for atmospheric beds.
Lead
Optional. Seeded motif or pentatonic line over the chord changes.
Drums
Optional. Editable General MIDI drum lanes per style.
Sections
Optional. Sequenced intro/verse/drop/breakdown/outro arrangement.

Common flags

The dozen you reach for first.

--key
Musical key. e.g. "F# minor".
--style
One of 42. Use --list to see them.
--progression
Named progression, default, all, or custom (i,VI,III,VII).
--chord
minor7, major9, minor_add9, dominant7, quartal, cluster, auto.
--voicing
closed, open, wide, drop2, rootless, shell, auto_voice_leading.
--pattern
gates, pulses, stabs, Euclidean, seeded arpeggios.
--bpm
Tempo override; defaults to the style.
--humanize
0–15 timing/velocity nudge.
--output-mode
single, multi, both, pack.
--out
Output folder.
--config
Path to a Markdown recipe.
--list
Show every available style and progression.

Need more?

For deeper reference — every chord move, every recipe key, every style — head to the cookbook for recipe examples or the Jam Library to see how each style is configured.