Most drum sequencers are rectangular, organizing notes linearly in a quantized grid. However, there are many rhythms that are difficult or impossible to construct this way (such as traditional African, Indian, and Indonesian drumbeats). These rhythms rely on repeating patterns of different lengths, which can vary in arrangement and timing.

Representing these grooves as overlapping cycles reveals their underlying patterns. This approach can also be used to explore and experiment with polyrhythms, syncopation, and beat construction.