Under / Over Charting

It's good to know when it's not enough, or when you're exaggerating.

This practice is related to Tile Placement and Gameplay Events

A song can be charted in any way you would like, but that doesn't mean it will always be good. When charting a song incorrectly, one of two cases can happen: Under Charting, or Over Charting.

• Under Charting

A chart is classified as Under Charted when it syncs to the song, but the chart takes so few elements of the song, that it either feels like it could fit for any other song, due to how overly plain it is, or it just ends up being boring gameplay.

Example of a Bad way of Undercharting

While Under Charting can lead up to the problems mentioned above, you can in fact make a good chart while not charting all/most elements of the song. To do that, charting the powerful notes of a song is the key. For instance, on the 4/4 song, the 1st and the 3rd note are the powerful ones. 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4. However, that doesn't mean you should not chart some of the weak notes, as doing some improvising with them can lead up to some interesting gameplay, instead of only charting the powerful notes, which will definitely lead up to boring gameplay.

Example of a Good way of Undercharting

• Over Charting

A chart is classified as Over Charted when while it follows the song, it also charts elements that are not really in the song, but although if done in a good way, that actually enhances the gameplay, it can also lead up to a chart that doesn't feel like it was even trying to sync with the song at all.

Example of a Bad way of Overcharting

But that doesn't mean there are no cases where charting elements that are not present in a song is a good thing, and it can be if done right. To do so, just make sure to be following how the song sounds, and that whatever you may end up adding to the chart that is not a present element in the song fits. This is mostly the case for Tech charts, where it is basically one of its core elements.

Example of a Good way of Overcharting

To learn more about Tech charts, check Introduction To Tech Charts.