Practice Features
Using A-B Loops
Loop a section of music to practice difficult passages repeatedly. Set your start point (A) and end point (B), and the cursor will automatically jump back when it reaches the end.
Quick Overview
- ✓ Tap to set — Tap the loop button, then tap the score twice to set your start and end points
- ✓ Auto-jump — When you reach point B, the cursor jumps back to point A automatically
- ✓ Drag to adjust — Drag the loop boundaries to resize your loop region
- ✓ Saved per piece — Your loop is remembered even after closing the app
1 Setting a Loop
Setting a loop is a simple two-tap process:
- Tap the loop button in the control bar (the repeat icon). The button will start pulsing orange to show you're in setup mode.
- Tap the score where you want the loop to START (point A). A message will confirm: "Tap the START of your loop."
- Tap the score where you want the loop to END (point B). A message will confirm: "Now tap the END of your loop."
- Done! The loop is now active. You'll see a red highlight covering the loop region, and the loop button turns solid (no longer pulsing).
Tap in any order: If you accidentally tap the end before the start, Crescendo automatically swaps them so the loop makes sense.
2 What the Loop Looks Like
When a loop is active, you'll see a semi-transparent red band covering the loop region on the score:
Your loop region appears highlighted like this
Red borders mark the start (A) and end (B) boundaries
- The red band spans from your start point to your end point
- If your loop spans multiple lines (systems), each line shows a separate band
- The edges of the band are draggable handles you can use to adjust the loop
3 How Looping Works During Practice
When the loop is enabled and you're practicing:
Play through the loop
Practice as normal. The cursor advances when you play the correct notes.
Reach the end (B)
When you play the last note of the loop region, the cursor jumps back to the start (A) automatically.
Repeat as needed
Keep practicing the section until you've got it down. The loop continues until you disable it.
Practice tip: Keep loops short—1-2 measures or about 4-10 seconds of music. Shorter loops help your brain focus and build muscle memory faster than long sections.
4 Adjusting Your Loop
There are two ways to change your loop boundaries:
Option 1: Drag the boundaries
Touch and drag the left or right edge of the loop visualization. As you drag, the boundary snaps to note positions on the score. Release to set the new boundary.
Option 2: Set a new loop
Tap the loop button to enter setup mode again, then tap the score twice to set new start and end points. This replaces your previous loop.
5 Enabling and Disabling the Loop
Toggle the loop on/off
Tap the loop button to quickly enable or disable the loop. When disabled, your loop range is kept so you can re-enable it with one tap.
Clear the loop completely
Long-press the loop button to clear the loop entirely. This removes the loop visualization and resets the loop range. A snackbar will appear with an undo option.
Loop status display: The control bar shows your loop status—something like "Loop m5–m12" when active, or just "m5–m12" when disabled but still set.
6 Loop Persistence
Your loop settings are automatically saved and will be there when you come back:
- Saved per piece — Each piece remembers its own loop independently
- Survives app close — Close the app and reopen it; your loop is still there
- Same for all hand modes — The loop applies whether you're practicing both hands, right only, or left only
Note: If you edit the piece's source file and re-import it, the loop may be cleared if the positions no longer match.
Practice Tips for Using Loops
Keep loops short
1-2 measures (about 4-10 seconds) is ideal. Short loops let you focus intensely on the trouble spot without wasting time on parts you already know.
Practice hands separately first
Use the hand mode toggle (right, left, both) combined with loops. Master each hand on its own before putting them together.
Start slow
Use the tempo control to slow down the piece, then gradually increase speed as you master the loop. Accuracy before speed.
Extend gradually
Once you've mastered a small loop, drag the boundaries to include a measure before or after. Build up to longer sections over time.
Troubleshooting
The loop button is pulsing but nothing happens when I tap the score
Make sure you're tapping directly on the sheet music (the notes and staves), not on empty space around it. The app needs to detect a valid note position to set the loop point.
If you want to cancel setup mode without setting a loop, tap the loop button again.
The cursor isn't jumping back at the end of the loop
Check that the loop is actually enabled (the loop button should be highlighted, not gray). If you see the red visualization but the button isn't highlighted, tap it to re-enable the loop.
Also make sure you're playing past the end position. The cursor jumps back after you complete the last note in the loop range.
I can't drag the loop boundaries
The drag handles are at the left and right edges of the loop visualization (the red band). Try touching and holding right at the edge of the red area, then drag horizontally.
If that doesn't work, you can always set a new loop by tapping the loop button and tapping the score twice to define new points.
My loop disappeared after reopening the piece
Loops are saved based on the piece's content. If you edited the source file (changed notes, added measures, etc.) and re-imported it, the saved loop positions may no longer be valid, so the app clears them.
Simply set up your loop again on the updated piece.
How do I clear the loop completely?
Long-press (press and hold) the loop button. This clears the loop range entirely. A message will appear at the bottom with an undo option in case you cleared it by accident.
Still Need Help?
If you're having trouble with loops or have suggestions for how we can improve them, let us know.
Response time: 2-3 business days