From 37fde8f3e807a64289701ed67dd14d9d30713cc7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: dudymas <dudymas@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2025 13:43:09 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] docs(website/learn/xen): discussed strumming

---
 website/src/config.ts           |  1 +
 website/src/pages/learn/xen.mdx | 36 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 37 insertions(+)

diff --git a/website/src/config.ts b/website/src/config.ts
index 2e2e264da..f335b272e 100644
--- a/website/src/config.ts
+++ b/website/src/config.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ export const SIDEBAR: Sidebar = {
     Understand: [
       { text: 'Coding syntax', link: 'learn/code' },
       { text: 'Pitch', link: 'understand/pitch' },
+      { text: 'Xen Harmonic Functions', link: 'learn/xen' },
       { text: 'Cycles', link: 'understand/cycles' },
       { text: 'Voicings', link: 'understand/voicings' },
       { text: 'Pattern Alignment', link: 'technical-manual/alignment' },
diff --git a/website/src/pages/learn/xen.mdx b/website/src/pages/learn/xen.mdx
index 21db10eb4..32e2c0b43 100644
--- a/website/src/pages/learn/xen.mdx
+++ b/website/src/pages/learn/xen.mdx
@@ -62,3 +62,39 @@ Combining this with various polyrhythm tricks can become very evocative:
   .mul("<c3 d3 c#3>".fmap(getFreq))
   .freq().clip(.5).room(1).rfade(9)`}
 />
+
+Another helpful trick when exploring new tunings is to strum them.
+Many have a much more enchanting sound that was chosen over many generations of musicians for being strummed.
+
+Take the `sanza` tuning:
+<MiniRepl
+  client:idle
+  tune={`"4 5 6 7 8 9".tune("sanza")
+  .mul(getFreq('c3'))
+  .freq()`}
+/>
+
+Notes 7 and 9 will clash quite a bit if you arp them normally. Many tunings will have this sort of sound, and it can feel distracting on its own.
+See how close they are on the pitch wheel?
+
+<MiniRepl
+  client:idle
+  tune={`"[7 9]!3".tune("sanza").mul(getFreq('c3')).freq()._pitchwheel()`}
+/>
+
+This quality is often due to how the tunings were formed with instruments that were played differently than a piano.
+As such, some tunings are much better strummed, with the subtle clash of the detuned notes actually making the sound much more magical:
+
+<MiniRepl
+  client:idle
+  tune={`"[0 1 2 3 4 5 6]@0.3 -"
+  .transpose("<2 5 8 1>")
+  .tune("sanza")
+  .mul(getFreq('c3')).freq()
+  .legato("3").room(1).rfade(5)`}
+/>
+
+Note the legato and reverb effects make sure the sound of the strumming gets to wash together. Alternating the direction of the strum can make the
+tones sound even more alive, too.
+
+The `tranh3` tuning has a similar set of notes, with two clashing. You might trying plugging that in above and see if you find a favorite strumming pattern.