Get Good at Stepmania

Make a Song on Stepmania is a game that takes quite a bit of practice to get good at. It's not just about skill however, there are a number of things that don't come with practice. Here is a set of instructions so you can get the most out of your Stepmania experience.

Steps

  1. Find Your Style. There are many ways of playing Stepmania. While the possibilities are pretty much endless, there are some main styles you should probably try first. Stick with what fits you best.
    • Note that to change the keys with which you play, go to Options>Config Key/Joy Mappings.
    1. One-Handed. One-handed is a style in which you only use one hand to play the game. This hand will almost always be playing on the arrow keys, because anywhere else would require a huge amount of hand-stretching. This form is probably the hardest to master.
    2. Index. Index is when you use two hands, but only the index fingers of both. While this style is mostly played on the arrow keys, you can also play it on different places, like the alternate keypad (with 2468).
    3. Four-fingered. Four-fingered is when you use both of your hands, using two fingers from each. The most common form of this is (← = Left Middle Finger, ↓ = Left Index Finger, ↑ = Right Index Finger, → = Right Middle Finger). This is probably the most common form between casual players, and is quite versatile between all patterns.
    4. Spread. Spread is fundamentally the same as Four-Fingered, but the position of your fingers are different. The most common form is ASKL spread, where it is (A = Left Middle Finger, S = Left Index Finger, K = Right Index Finger, L = Right Middle Finger). There are also other forms of this, such as diagonal spread (QSLP Spread).
  2. Learn the System. There is much terminology to be learned in Stepmania. Try to keep these in your head when playing.
    1. Learn the Scoring System. When playing Stepmania, you may be given a score that confuses you. Here is what most of the scores mean.
    • AAAAA: Passing a song with all Ridiculous notes. The chances of getting this score is nigh impossible, so don't be surprised if you never get it. You will also need to download Ridiculous Timing to even have a chance at getting this.
    • AAAA: Passing a song with all Marvelous or better notes. Once again, getting this score is very very very hard, unless on a very easy song, so don't expect to get this. You will need to turn Marvelous timing on to get this (which is included with Stepmania, unlike Ridiculous Timing).
    • AAA: Passing a song with all Perfect or better notes.
    • AA: Passing a song with either a Full Combo, or very near it, with good accuracy.
    • A: Passing a song with only a few Combo Breakers and good accuracy.
    • B: Passing a song with a good amount of Combo Breakers and OK accuracy.
    • C: Passing a song with a lot of Combo Breakers and perhaps decent accuracy.
    • D: Barely passing a song. Lots of Combo Breakers and bad accuracy.
    • E: Failing a song.
    1. Learn the Terminology. There are other terms to learn to when playing Stepmania, such as names of patterns.
      1. Learn the Patterns. There are many patterns you must learn in Stepmania, some of which will give you trouble. Note that, in this section: ← = 4, ↓ = 2, ↑ = 8, and → = 6 (as seen on the numpad).
    • Stream. A constant string of 16th notes (yellow notes).
    • Rolls. A rolling pattern between all 4 arrows (68246824). It may also refer to a long note that requires you to repetitively tap in order for it to count.
    • Staircases. A pattern similar to rolls but with a staircase pattern (6824286824).
    • Trills. A repeating pattern between 2 arrows (686868 or 646464).
    • Jacks. A pattern consisting of quick, repeated taps to one arrow (888888 or 666666).
    • Triples. A pattern involving 3 quick taps and a pause (686, 424, 464).
    • Jumps. A pattern involving 2 arrows hit at the same time.
    • Jump stream. A stream with jumps in it.
    • Gallops. A pattern consisting of 2 quick arrows in a row, making a galloping sound (tap-tap).
    • Crossovers. Patterns of 4262426, 4868486, etc. in which pad dancing would require you to cross your foot over to the other side of the pad.
    • Runningmen. A pattern where there is one constant arrow hit with 2 arrows alternating in between. ( Note: The two alternating arrows must each be on the same side of the constant arrow, otherwise it's a mini-staircase or crossover staircase).
    • Chains. A pattern consisting of alternating jumps and single notes, connected by a single common note. (46), 6, (26), 2, etc.
    • Hands/Quads. A hand is three arrows at once, and a quad is four arrows at once.
  3. Download the Right Songs. If you are just beginning, do not download a pack full of hard songs. If you play index, don't download a pack full of songs for people who play spread. Start easy, then slowly build up.

Tips

      • Keep playing! If you give up you'll never get anywhere!
      • Don't go for songs that are too hard or easy for you. Challenge yourself but don't go over the top.
      • Assist Tick/Clap, a Color-Coded Noteskin and a C Rate are all things that are very useful. See above for more detail.
      • Don't try going back on easy songs and forcing yourself to AAA. Accuracy will come in time. It's better to move up than back down.
      • To continue your mashing rampage as you get better there are two bands that have a very wide assortment of steps on [FFR] that teach the techniques you will need the best. The first of the two is My Chemical Romance. The songs for this band aren't very "well made" but they do teach you Chaos (constant button hitting) very well. They also aren't monstrously hard but are tough enough to challenge you (at first).
      • The second band to further continue your skills with is DragonForce. The songs found on FFR for this band are very fast and take a lot of practice, even just to pass. Look for one that has a high downloads count because these are usually the better made ones.
      • It requires a lot of patience to become good at DragonForce songs but there are a number of things you can do to get better.

        1. Playing two-handed really helps. You don't have to if you don't want to though.
        2. Allocate a warm-up song or two before you get into your more difficult songs. Each time you first start playing you will be somewhat clumsy for a while and it is a good idea not to go for your hardest songs straight away.
        3. Practice doubles on slower songs. You will need to get good with these.
        4. Higher Judgement: Even though you may not, in the end, choose to go with a higher Judgement level, it is a good idea to raise it for practice. 7 is a great idea.
        5. Concentrate. If you focus even a bit harder you just might manage to get that AAA you've been trying for.
        6. Have self-confidence. As irrelevant as it may seem, believing in yourself will help. If you're having trouble with a song, it's not worth it to give up. Have confidence, and have patience!
        7. Don't blink! If you really have to though, wait for a break in the song. Any loss of concentration in hectic songs will most likely result in a chain of missed notes.
        8. If you want a really efficient song for practice, Make a Song on Stepmania! Pick a song you like and find its BPM. Add any sort of arrow pattern you'd like, or anything you find to be difficult into it. Mastering Chaos and double-steps are absolute necessities.
        9. Play from the wrist. To be able to do trills efficiently, it's recommended that you lift up wrist up from leaning on your keyboard. Your wrist are far more capable of shaking fast than your fingers. Because of this, it's good to find the right balance between wrist and fingers.
      • Against newer players: Playing against someone you are a lot better than will generally result in them feeling bad about their skills, from either you spitting insults at them, or simply because they can't win.
      • Pick suitable songs. Picking really easy songs that both players can easily ace will result in a boring playoff and likewise with harder songs. Choose songs that both players can at least score a C on in Single Player.

Warnings

  • Do not confuse Speed with Rate. Speed is the setting that determines how fast the notes go up/down the screen. This does not change Rate at which the arrows need to be pressed. Rate is the setting that will increase or decrease the speed of the song, and thus making the song harder or easier respectively.
  • Playing one-handed has lots of limitations. You'll get much further, faster, playing with two hands. One-handed is a lot of fun however.
  • Eyes and Forearms will be sore from over exposure. You have been warned.

Things You'll Need

  • At least one hand, preferably two.
  • A wide selection of songs.
  • A sense of rhythm.
  • A good keyboard, one that has easy to press keys.
  • Audible sound.
  • Practice.

Related Articles

  • Make a Song on Stepmania
  • Pass Complicated Parts of DDR Songs
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