Stairs (by Horie)
DP Intermediate
DP Advanced
Written by Horie, theory checking and practice chart curation by P.ACID
Table of contents
How to hit stairs in DP?
There are various ways to hit stairs in DP, but we can summarize these into 3 methods.
Let me explain this with right hand. (Thumb / Index / Middle / Ring / Pinky to buttons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 )
Base position type
Thumb - Index - Thumb/Index - Middle - Ring - Ring - Pinky
Middle-5 type
Thumb - Index - Thumb - Index - Middle - Ring - Pinky
(You can watch an excellent example here. Check 1:40)
Middle-6 type
Thumb - Index - Thumb - Middle - Ring - Middle - Pinky
When you hit 3, it’s natural to use your thumb rather than using your index finger.
千年ノ理 DPL
But you should practice your index finger to hit 3 when your thumb is occupied.
Efficient use of your middle fingers
Many DP players recommend beginners to be familiar with base position.
Base position means that
- hold your thumb / middle / pinky on 1 / 4 / 7
- move your index between 2 / 3
- and move your ring finger between 5 / 6
This position lets your finger movement to a minimum, because you mostly move your index / ring finger away from the base position. It results high efficiency when it comes to hitting notes; this is sufficient to reach DP kaiden without any issues.
Double Dribble DPA
But these “pill” shaped notes (aka Dr. Mario), especially 5+6 pills have started to be included in charts since Rootage. As a result you’d better practice middle finger to aide your ring finger. Moving your middle finger to 5 or 6 requires a lot of practice. You can use the base position in most cases, but try to use middle-5 or middle-6 when you encounter stairs - even if you are a beginner.
*This opinion is controversial.
I think beginners should practice using the middle finger to hit 5 and/or 6. DP already has a steep learning curve in the beginning. Either way, There would be tons of players who quit playing DP not long after starting.
Some players believe that beginners should focus on getting interested in playing DP first (and not focus too much on finger techniques), and think that skilled players should not be teach difficult methods to DP beginners.
Various kinds of stairs
You will encounter various types of stairs when you are progressing through the game. When you are around level 10, you can often meet some of these below.
Same colored (ハイ＊ビスカス ft. Kanae Asaba DPA / 10)
Full. (アルストロメリア DPA / 10)
In the higher levels, there are some advanced stairs that may drive you nuts. Usually you won’t find these in level 10s and lower, but they do show up occasionally.
Symmetric (パ→ピ→プ→Yeah! DPA / 11)
Half (Infinity Mirror DPA / 10)
Triplets (セピアの軌跡 ft. 天宮みや(少女フラクタル) DPA / 10)
Inequality symbols (<, >) (Kung-fu Empire DPL / 12)
Stairs with bass (ΕΛΠΙΣ DPL / 12)
Non-sequential (Virus Funk DPA / 10)
Incomplete / missing tooth (Atröpøs DPA / 11)
Incomplete / missing tooth (Mars Beach DPA / 10)
Twisted (NANAIRO DPA / 10)
How to practice stairs
In my experience, you can often encounter same-colored stairs around level 10 or lower. Of course, there are a few songs which advanced patterns comes out even at those lower levels.
The higher levels that you reach, more common it will be to encounter advanced stair patterns. Difficult stairs are often hand-in-hand with overall difficulty of a chart.
* The best way to practice these patterns is trying them in low FREQ option and speed up to hit them in higher FREQ option. – but this requires you to be playing an an environment that supports slowing down of charts (BMS, or CS practice mode). If that isn’t possible, you can try them in level 10 or lower charts.
*Using FREQ is a good temporary way to “reset” yourself away from falling into bad habits. Read this for more details.
Stair practice charts in IIDX DP
Here are my recommendations in AC which are around level 10 or lower. Songs marked with +++ can be difficult.
Level 9
- Element of SPADA
Level 10
- avant-guerre +++
- Arcana +++
- BRAVE GLOW
- Cosmic Cat
- COLOSSEUM +++
- Damage Per Seconds
- Far east nightbird
- Into the Battlefield
- Let me be your cure +++
- Magical
- Mars beach
- POINT ZERO +++
- Rainbow after snow
- STARLIGHT JUNCTION
- Turii～Panta rhei～ +++
- Umbral
- 8bit Princess
- アルストロメリア
- 朧 +++
- ハイ＊ビスカス ft. Kanae Asaba
- セピアの軌跡 ft. 天宮みや(少女フラクタル)
Stair practice charts in BMS
Here are some BMS charts to practice, as recommended by P.ACID.
δ9
- Andromeda [DP Hyper]
- Candy & Baguette [DP HYPER]
- CASSINI [14key,Hyper]
- DESTINY - DPH -
- duty [DP HYPER]
- Estella [DP HYPER]
- Good Bye, Blue Ogre (DPH)
- Leviathan [H14]
- Light drivv -DP NORMAL-
- P-ChicK-ParK (DP NORMAL)
- Regression 2099 [14H]
- コスモワンダラー [DP HYPER]
- 物怪舞踏 [14KEYS]
δ9 (harder)
- 514nm(Kucchi☆mix) [DP HYPER]
- AXION [H14]
- Halcyon [DP HYPER]
- Happiness Magical Kanon [HARD]
- Mirage Garden [HYPER 14]
- More Selfish [14key,Hyper]
- Pure Ruby -DP NORMAL-
- strawberry music [14keys Hyper]
- Symptom [DPH]
- ドリームグライダー <14KEYS HYPER>
- 四十五年ノ雪桜 [Hyper14]
- 天上のポリスルイン [DP HYPER]
- 弦月の猫 [Double]
δ10
- AIRSHAVER [14key,Hyper]
- B.0.X [DP HYPER]
- Dance Doll Dream [DP HYPER]
- Derringer [14key,Hyper]
- Hyper Prismriver [14 Main]
- JULIAN “for B.O.F. 2009”
- Loli Plaza [dph edit]
- Lucid Dreaming [DP ANOTHER]
- Madoromi [DP ANOTHER]
- Neps Paradox [H14]
- NEXT STAGE!!
- Prismrose [DP HYPER++]
- Sweet Trap
- The Last Page [DP ANOTHER]
- the scenery [DP HYPER]
- ひつぎとふたご [HYPER]
- スピカ [DP HYPER]
- 憎しみはあの空の彼方に
δ10 (harder)
- Black Lair [HYPER]
- dreaming (distorted envy mix) [DP ANOTHER]
- IN
- in daylight [14key,Hyper]
- Modern Times
- Pure Ruby [H14]
- rainy beauty
- ぼくらの惑星創造計画
★1
- Act Beloved [DP LOVEPLUS+]
- AIRSHAVER [14key,Another]
- Betelgeuse (ANOTHER14)
- Blueray Reflections [another]
- MAJESTY [14key ANOTHER]
- Precious!!! [14key,Another]
- Spangle
- The infant daughter Frandle’s [ANOTHER]
★1 (harder)
- Amusing Colorful Pudding. (DP ANOTHER)
- Existence [DP ANOTHER]
Stair practice charts in DBM
This is a list of DBM charts for stairs practice, as curated by P.ACID.
The ★ difficulty numbers are based on ereter.net clear ability rating, based on easy gauge. Everything below is based on 1P mirror DBM, unless noted otherwise.
YouTube playlist for levels 8-9
★3 (≒ 12.2)
★4 (≒ 12.25)
- 9lv. Backyard Stars(H)
- 9lv. Breakin’ Rules(H)
- 9lv. DIAVOLO(H)
- 9lv. Scarlet Moon(H)
- 9lv. Turii ~Panta rhei~(H)
- 9lv. xenon(H)
★5 (≒ 12.30)
- 9lv. Empire State Glory(H)
- 9lv. Matt Silver(H)
- 9lv. Night! Night! Night!(H)
- 9lv. ROCK女 feat 大山愛未, Ken(H)
- 9lv. snow storm(H)
- 9lv. 超青少年ノ為ノ超多幸ナ超古典的超舞曲(H)
- 10lv. Grand Chariot(H)
- 10lv. Thor’s Hammer(H)
★6 (≒ 12.35~12.40)
- 9lv. HYPERION(H)
- 9lv. NEBULA GRASPER(H)
- 9lv. TIEFSEE(H)
- 10lv. Confiserie(H)
- 10lv. CONTRACT(H)
- 10lv. Dances with Snow Fairies(H)
- 10lv. DORNWALD ~Junge~ (H)
- 10lv. F(H)
- 10lv. Godspeed(H)
- 10lv. Modular Technology(H)
- 10lv. Papilio ulysses(H)
- 10lv. Regulus(A)
- 10lv. Viridian(H)
- 10lv. 華麗なる大犬円舞曲(H)
- 10lv. お菓子の王国(H)
★7 (≒ 12.40~12.45)
- 10lv. Devilz Staircase(H)
- 10lv. GAIA(H)
- 10lv. NITROUS CANNON(H)
- 10lv. Raison d’être~交差する宿命~(H)
- 10lv. True Blue(H)
- 10lv. アルストロメリア(A)
- 10lv. 妖隠し -あやかしかくし-(A)
- 10lv. 朧(A)
- 10lv. 龍王の霊廟(H) [LEGACY ON]
- 10lv. 少年は空を辿る(H)
★8 (≒ 12.50~12.55)
- 10lv. refrain(H)
- 10lv. Sigmund(H)
- 10lv. StrayedCatz(H)
- 10lv. Turii ~Panta rhei~(A)
- 10lv. Übertreffen(H)
- 10lv. Verflucht(H)
- 10lv. X(H)
- 10lv. Xepher(H)
- 10lv. Xlø(H)
- 10lv. 革命(H)
- 10lv. 少年A(H)
- 10lv. 神謳 -RESONANCE-(H)
- 10lv. 禊(H)
- 10lv. ΕΛΠΙΣ(H)
- 11lv. ピアノ協奏曲第１番”蠍火”(H)
- 11lv. バンブーソード・ガール(A)
★9 (≒ 12.60)
- 10lv. Nightmare before oversleep(H)
- 10lv. V(H)
- 10lv. 少女アリスと箱庭幻想コンチェルト(A) [LEGACY ON]
- 11lv. Almagest(H) [LEGACY ON]
- 11lv. LASER CRUSTER(H)
- 11lv. reunion(H)
- 11lv. Romanticが止まらない(A)