I am working on a fiddle tune that has some pick up notes in the measure before AABB pattern begins. Is it possible to have the chord with the pick up notes play for a measure 1x before the AABB pattern starts?
I figured out a work around by creating an intro. May be basic, but I am new to creating my own versions.
In general, the way Strum Machine was designed was to have the chord chart start with the first main downbeat of the tune. That means if there are a few pick-up notes, they should be played during the count-in. This also reflects what you would do in a jam and lets you practice kicking off a tune in a way that lines up with the count-in, such that you could count in your own tune and others would be able to join in on the first main downbeat, which is a good skill to practice.
If it’s an intro that needs chord behind it, then yes, creating an intro section is the way to do. That usually isn’t the case for fiddle tunes, though.
I talk about pick-up notes and how they should be approached in Strum Machine briefly in the get started video at 2:00 minutes in.
Hope that helps!