How To "Actually" Improve!

🎹 Welcome! 🎹

This guide is based on my experience on both OSU! Mania,Etterna,Quaver. I will provide tips, and problems and how to counter them! hope that someone who's looking to improve will find this guide useful! Thanks!

An "Actual" and very "Serious" guide about how to improve your overall gameplay, improvement!
This guide includes tips, and some problems that we might ran into, and how we fight them to made them fade away!

📝UPDATE 02(09/6/2021) : ADDED Quotes,Other useful tips i ran into while playing,Techniques on 4K.
- And overall, I Made the guide, a little more colorful.

📝UPDATE 03(13/7/2021) : ADDED Tips about Long Notes, Accuracy Improving, Facts about keyboards that i ran into. (you can find it in the Posture & Hand Positioning Section.

- Thank you for all of your support!

You can thank me, by giving this Guide a Thumbs up!, An Award would be great too!

🎹 Gameplay and UI,Offsets

🖌️ Skin is very, VERY! Important!!

Try out some different skins, such as
- you might find "one of them" that you'll like! and you'll improve your note reading skills.

such as,

• Bar
  
• Circle
  
• Arrows
  
• Sqaure/Other Shapes

Find skins that are CLEAN, and skins that Actually helps you READ BETTER.
You need to learn the basics FIRST and all other aspects of The GAME.
Then after you have mastered it, You can try any weird,funny skins!

- Learn the basics, FIRST. Then you can slowly move on to the ADVANCED stuff!

💡 NOTE: that if you found this type of skin that you're comfortable with, NO Matter what! do not change it! or you'll have to re-learn your NOTE/PATTERN reading skills again!
- It COULD make you forgot your reading skills for the skin that you're comfortable too!

🌼 Optional

- Try changing colors for your skin's hitobjects
- Lowering your BG color brightness
- Upscroll! Maybe you'll like the notes coming from bottom!
- Remove numbers,Ratings,Combos, anything that make you lose focus.
- Adjusting your monitor brightness, so that you don't have to strain your eyes too much.
- Calibrating your monitor/display settings. You need a CLEAR image. Also no tearing ETC.
- Adjusting your Receptors SIZE,HITPosition As you might like the style, And feel to it.
- Having your waifu on the right/left side in your skin/play area?!?!? (might and might not make you improve/play better)

💡 Try them out for a few days,weeks. and Pick the one that you're the most comfortable with.
- everyone's journey is different, it might take a month trying to find what skin they like.

💨 SCROLL SPEED

‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎
It's a slider to change how fast the notes scroll. The higher it is, the faster it is.
- There's no perfect speed, you must find the speed that you're comfortable with.

📝 NOTE: Every skin has a different scroll speed. Be careful when trying out new skins!
- Depending on the scroll speed, it could be the key to hit more accurately too!
- i'm currently using 29.5 because i felt the most comfortable.

Here's my thoughts on different scroll speeds!

⭐ Scroll Speed	💫 From my experience
<20	Easy to read, Hard to follow rhythm. Can hit less accurate.
~25	Medium to read , Can follow rhythm , Can hit more comfortable.
>30	Hard to read, Easy to follow rhythm, Can hit more accurately.

Faster Scroll Speeds.

- You'll hit more accurately. because you can follow the rhythm. your fingers will flow via the faster scrolls speed. **can result in a FAIL if some patterns are new/weird or can't hit them on time due to fast scroll speed.** but overall if you are comfortable with easy patterns but wanted more accuracy or want to hit them on time or to increase your reading skills, this could help.

Medium Scroll Speeds.

- You'll sometimes can't hit some fast pattern because the notes are a little bit on the rhythm or you'll have to force your fingers to hit slower or faster even the music is fast. **can result it a GOOD or Excellent JUDGEMENTs** but overall if you are trying to improve your reading skills, or wanted a more comfortable speed, this could help.

Slow Scroll Speeds.

- Might be useful for learning the basics of the game, or trying to improve the reading skills of certain patterns. it doesn't matter if you got OK,BAD,GOOD Judgements if you're just trying to learn the aspects of the game.**for faster songs it could be a problem because some pattern might require speed from the rhythm which you need** or the notes might be too close making the song unreadable, or hard to read. or cannot get perfect JUDGEMENTS.

✨ OFFSET/DELAY

💡 Sometimes, You think that your hitting sometimes off, or not in sync with music! These settings could help you! it could help fix late hits or too early hits.

(i use -53 Visual offset because i discovered that my monitor has ALOT of delay. The audio drivers could be the reason too. but adjusting this make me hit more MARVELOUS Judges.)

Opprinnelig skrevet av me :

- or maybe it's my fault because, i hit early due to i'm used to other VSRG i have played before, and my old skin has higher receptors/hitpositions. that could be the reason why i need to adjust the visual offset, to counter it.

🎚️ Global Audio Offset

- Adjusts and Moves the notes to be in sync with the music/timing bar.

Visual Offset

- Adjusts the visuals or the frametime of your monitor.

Calibrate Offset

- Absolutely the solution. just press according to the MUSIC. NOT NOTES. if you're hitting good or bad it doesn't MATTER! Quaver will find the offset for you. after you have done. and try playing the offset map again. you'll find that you are hitting more accurately.

- If you're hitting early, SOMETIMES The game actually doesn't got any offset issues.
- Maybe it's because You're used to pressing very early. Due to the Receptor Positions.
- Try MOVING Your Receptors positions. Hitting too early? Move it closer to the top. ETC.

(the opposite goes for hitting too late) such as,
- moving your receptors Closer to the Bottom if your hitting too late.

If you've played other VSRG's before, and your OLD SKIN got the receptors very high, After you transferred to Quaver, and you use a New SKIN and you found out that, you're hitting VERY EARLY. Infact, it's because you're not used to the NEW SKIN. or Receptor Positions.
⭐ ALSO: VSRG = Vertical Scrolling Rhythm Game.

📊 Improvement and Having Fun!

🔎 Enjoying the game, Having Fun

💡 is a very important factor to improve!

Here's my personal thoughts to enjoy/have fun in Quaver.

- Try to play the songs that your comfortable with!
- Knowing your comfort zone! **Play songs that you can easily get A or S.**
- Playing Beyond your comfort zone. but not too much. Play songs that are "little" bit harder.
- Find your own favorite songs/genre such as EDM/Trap. or songs from your favorite artists!
- If you felt not improving, or felt bad or upset. Take a break. It'll help!

- From my experience, I think that you SHOULD Always have fun!! Be Positive.
- Tap to the music, FEEL THE RHYTHM. Play songs that you like, or any song.
- Don't listen to someone who tells you "you're bad! how you miss that?? you suck! ETC."
- And try to do some finger exercises, such as Finger Independence, or Penspinning, Playing Instruments, ETC.

Eventually, You'll get there. It'll just take some time as you SLOWLY climb that LADDER!

🎁 If you're having fun, here are the advantages!

• You will not build up bad habits (Spamming,Forcing yourself to play too hard maps.)
  
• You'll Absolutely Improve, and felt motivated to improve even more the next day!
  
• You might see some "AMAZING RESULTS" (got SS,S,X Rankings by accident or pure skill!)
  
• In General. This is a best way to improve, or try harder maps to improve your skill level.

🧬Genetics!

Is a factor or your limitations of your body.
Someone might be born to rhythm. Some might not, but can able to with practice!

Here's my personal thoughts on GENETICS.

📂 Scenarios	📜 What i think.
EXAMPLE 1	You're a normal person, with no experience on any rhythm games. if you started playing or practicing you can also become The TOP Players. If you have the motivation to practice and having fun! But due to Your GENETICS or Your PHYSICAL Health limitations it might take a long time to master the game.
EXAMPLE 2	You're born to RHYTHM! You like rhythm games! You have some experience on some rhythm games, or have played them a little. You have some Abilities, And overall a knowledge on how rhythm games "work" You'll improve faster.
EXAMPLE 3	You're a Musician. You play instruments that requires lots of finger/hand movements! You'll be able to go fast,slow when you wanted. Like a Guitar! You have the skill to hit/play the game better, Improve faster also due to your fingers that are trained!

- I Personally, play the Piano. And some other instruments. I think that helps with my Fingercontrol and Speed.

❌ Bad Habits Starter ❌

a very, VERY bad stuff. Try not to build them.

Here's my personal thoughts to reduce BAD HABITS to a minimal.
or even fade away! if you have motivation to do it, and a good mindset.

• If your feeling upset, or felt pressure, or can't pass this map [PLEASE TAKE A BREAK]
  
• Have a good mindset when playing, don't think of anything bad. [REDUCES STRESS]
  
• Get enough sleep, Have a daily routine. Don't play too much. [BALANCING TIME]
  
• Try 4K/7K? Maybe your fingers might play 7K better than 4K. [EXPERIMENTING]

Opprinnelig skrevet av me :

💭 Seriously, Bad Habits are very easy to build or create THAN Good habits, So please Do not build any BAD HABITS. They're also very difficult to get rid too!

❓ Wanted to get rid of the BAD Habits? How can i do it?
You can do it by taking a break, for a LONG time. then come back. You'll actually continue off from your RAW Skill that doesn't have any bad habits anymore, or minimal. So you can actually start building GOOD HABITS!! ✔️

the absolutely best way, to not build bad habits is taking a break when you felt uncomfortable, or don't wanted to play or felt like you have to push yourself to play and not having fun.
***Also, Always have a good mindset at all times!***



💡 Take a look at this graph in mind, THIS Applies to almost every rhythm games.

📝 NOTE: Sometimes you'll feel like you can't improve anymore. it'll felt like you've hit the wall. But keep on playing. but not to play too much and you are upset, play when you wanted to. and someday you'll be able to break through the wall.
- This is called Bad Days or the Green Bubbles in the picture i showed you on top.

💥 Keyboards,Hardware Limits

Explaining About Keyboards,Hardware Limitations.

⌨️ Better Hardware is like a skill cap extender.

There are lots of factors which rely on your keyboard itself. Seriously.
- If your a beginner, better keyboard doesn't make you a pro player by an instant. infact it'll only expand your skill and your stamina.

💡 Example:

• Your Keyboard! (is it a mechanical or membrane or analog?)
  
• Your Keyboard's polling rate.
  
• Your Keyboard's config/drivers.
  
• Is it connected to a USB 3 Port?
  
• Faulty Keyboard switches.
  
• Dust, something blocking the switches inside the keyboard.
  
• Keyboard Positioning.
  
• Hard to press keyboards, Bad Keyboards.
  
• Switches! (O-ring,Red,Blue, etc.)

🌟 But keep this in mind that, always. ALWAYS AVOID MEMBRANE KEYBOARDS.
It will only make the game harder, also very difficult to master, and overall decreases stamina.

⭐KEYBOARD DEBUNKING 101⭐
membrane keyboards are still possible, for learning the BASICS of the game!!

I'm NOT TELLING YOU, That Playing with a MEMBRANE keyboard is not possible!
⭐ It is infact, Possible. for basic/slow songs WITHOUT any fast Jackhammers,Streams.
- But you'll just get Very low ACCURACY. Also it'll burn your stamina quicker.

If you're playing slow songs, You're fine using a membrane keyboard.
- But in a while, Please, UPGRADE to a Mechanical Keyboard.

REASONS WHY TO GET MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
⭐ faster polling rate = more important for jack/streams.
⭐ for better accuracy,improvement,stamina, and a addition to 7K
⭐ remove any hardware related issues, such as chord splitting. key ghostings.
⭐ you can press more keys at the same time, sometimes unlimited keys on your mechanical keyboard. because as some membrane keyboards lets you press Only 6 keys at the same time.

⭐Technique 4K/7K⭐
- SPAMMING. Only do it if sometimes, there's ALOT JACKHAMMERING
   (such as galaxy collaspe,jackstreams that are very close.)
- Build SPEED!! Try playing regular songs, but increase your SCROLL SPEED.
   (you can relearn the pattern, and knowing how to perform it faster.)
- JACK/STREAM PRACTICE MAPS Absolutely, the way to learn only those patterns.
   (can do jacks very well, struggles at streaming? practice stream maps.)

⭐ If someone had more tricks, or methods. Please tell me via the comments section! ⭐

Find out your polling rate here![blog.seethis.link]
^^ [https://blog.seethis.link/scan-rate-estimator/] ^^

🖥️ MONITOR REFRESH RATE (HZ)

⭐ Very, VERY Important! And it's the key to be more accurate.
A Clearer, And a More useful video explaining about Refresh Rates!

NOTE: This video wasn't created by me, it's TheTechChap's video. Go and support his channel!

🖥️ What is Refresh Rate?
• Refresh Rate of your display is how many times per second the Display is able to draw a new image. It's measured in Hertz (Hz). For example, if your display has a Refresh Rate of 144Hz, it is refreshing the image 144 times per second.

✔ Why is it IMPORTANT?!
• Most of you, problemly have a 60HZ Monitor. In order to hit accurately you need more refresh rate. >75HZ is reccomendded. EXAMPLE: 60HZ Monitor, The screen will get refreshed every 16.67ms Which is a big problem if you're trying to get more accurate scores, or JUDGEMENTS. since in order to get "MARVELOUS" Judge, you have to hit within +18MS

So, If you have a 60HZ Monitor, in order for you to get the "MARVELOUS" Judge. You have to hit at least 1.33MS!! in that timeframe. Or you'll get Excellent or Good Judges.
- Which is fine, if you're just playing slow songs. **BUT Can result in a LOW ACCURACY Plays in FAST songs or Maps!**

Opprinnelig skrevet av me :

the more HZ you got, the better. and it's the secret of becoming the quaver champions! 🏆 also your monitor pixel's response time.

🖥️ Changing your monitor Timings could help too!
But be careful, it could break your monitor, or cause problems!
- I'm currently using a CVT-RB which solved my tearing,lag spikes issues. also it felt more smooth.

⭐ JUDGEMENT TIMING WINDOWS ⭐

The amount of time needed in (ms) to result in these Judges.

SOURCE: https://wiki.quavergame.com/docs/gameplay

Judgement	Time Required (ms)
Marvelous	±18ms
Perfect	±43ms
Great	±76ms
Good	±106ms
OK	±127ms
MISS	±164ms

It'll reduce the strain of your eyes, More HZ = SMOOTHER Image!!

- Seriously, Invest in a better monitor. A Better monitor, WILL make you a better player.
📝 I'm currently using a 75HZ Monitor. Before then i have a 60HZ Monitor. After i have switched to 75HZ, My overall Gameplay and Skills Improved!

💡 Your Graphics Card (GPU) Also needs to produces enough frames for your monitor refresh rate too! You'll still have a 30HZ monitor if your GPU makes only 30FPS even if you have a 144HZ Monitor.

📝 It'll only make you a better player if you have the motivation to do it.
Go for it! Get a better monitor and start practice, start having fun!

⌨️ A Very great video to explain about keyboards!

NOTE: This video wasn't created by me, it's tokaku's video. infact go and support the channel!

💡 NOTE: Sometimes, reinstalling and installing your audio drivers might help with delay that you felt like it was coming from the hardware, or your speakers itself.

💡 Keep that in mind that, any cheap wireless or bluetooth headphones or speakers will create a Medium/Big DELAY.
- It is good to invest in a device that makes minimal delay as possible. but not too much expensive.

👐 Posture And Hand Positioning

This is referred as Play Styles.

💡 Try not to copy playstyles, they might work, but not as great as your playstyle.
Some players played with their palm down, some up?! What is that?
Some players used a different key layout?! why not the default one?

Well, There are some advantages and Disadvantages on different playstyles.
But in general, choose your own playstyle that you're comfortable with.

- You might see some top players play or place their hand weirdly, but they can play hard songs. Because it's comfortable for those players.

- Try Experimenting with your layout buttons to press the game, for me i use the
E R [ ] buttons to play 4K Because i felt the most comfort, and speed using that layout.

💬 I Personally use the "Palm Rest/Down" Playstyle.
long ago, i used to play with my palm up. or hands in the air not resting on the table. after i have switched, my stamina increased. Because i felt comfortable. Again. it's only my ideas.

From my experience, Here are the playstyles ADVANTAGES

👐 Playstyles	✔️ ADVANTAGES
Palm Rest/Down on table	More Stamina,Can play for longer periods of time.
Hands in the air, not resting on table	Can hit more accurately,More Speed/Control,Can hit jack and hard patterns easily.
Fingers Curved In + Palm Rested on table	Medium Stamina,Medium Speed.

Here are the playstyles DISADVANTAGES

👐 Playstyles	❌ DISADVANTAGES
Palm Rest/Down on table	Can be hard to hit JACK,Streams,Hard Patterns. Can't go too fast.
Hands in the air, not resting on table	You loses stamina very quickly,You'll get tired and don't felt comfort more quickly
Fingers Curved In + Palm Rested on table	Might cause FINGERLOCKING, Lack of speed.

⭐ LONG NOTES/HOLD NOTES

They're very hard! How can we practice it, can we skip it?
PLEASE DO NOT SKIP THEM! They're very important for improving!

🍂 What are long/hold notes?
- It's a note or key that you have to hold, and let go at the certain time in the music. You must follow the rhythm to be able to perform it good!

🥺 Problems that we Encounter, And how to counter them.

❌✔️ Problems/Habits	💡 The method of countering.
Felt strain on your fingers, Can't do certain hold note patterns?	You need to train your fingers independence . And start by playing slow , easy hold note maps. or some hold note patterns that you are struggling to do. Start slow and work your way up to the hard part .
Can't do hold notes at all, Scared of them, Can't press them ETC.	Start by playing some of the hold notes practice maps that got VERY LOW DIFFICULTY , or slower rated songs. Because those got the most basics of how to start to perform "hold notes" Learn the basics!
Got very bad accuracy when performing hold notes? Or letting go at wrong time?	Try listening on the music, and press and let go according to the RHYTHM. Try not to put some strain on your fingers much, Let your fingers flow! With some time, and practice you'll be able to make the problem fade away!

NOTE: PLEASE CHECK IF YOUR KEYBOARD IS ABLE TO PRESS ALL 4 KEYS AT ONCE!
or if you are playing 7K, please make sure it can press and send all 7 KEYS at ONCE!

🎑 If your keyboard can't, Try changing your key layout. Because some of them doesn't let you press more than 3 Keys, or even worse. Not even more than 2 keys.
- if you've founded out that it's your keyboard, It's time to change to a better keyboard.

☘️ ACCURACY IMPROVING

It can be done, Just in a matter of time and Practice!

🍀 Methods of improving your accuracy!

💕 Playing on a STRICTER, Timing windows!
Stricter timing windows will make you to FORCE your fingers to press even more on beat. Due to the STRICTER TIMINGS. but please don't go too strict. or don't change it if you haven't mastered the basics yet.

💕 Working on your FINGER INDEPENDENCE!
Finger Independence is a MUST have your fingers because you can press with your freedom without other fingers interrupting your move.  This allows you to do some pattern more easily too! You can practice by playing some new patterns. But overall, Playing some instruments or any finger exercises also helps too! ❌ but don't go too much if you have a physical limitation! yet.

💕 MECHANICAL KEYBOARD!!
⭐ makes the game easier to learn, improve!
⭐ higher quality = no more faulty keys, bad keys.
⭐ faster polling rate = more important for jack/streams.
⭐ laser switches = more response time than membrane.
⭐ for better accuracy,improvement,stamina, and a addition to 7K
⭐ remove any hardware related issues, such as chord splitting. key ghostings.
⭐ increases your overall stamina! Due to some keys that can be changed to your likings!
⭐ you can press more keys at the same time, sometimes unlimited keys on your mechanical 
keyboard. because as some membrane keyboards lets you press Only 6 keys at the 
same time.

❌ AVOID MEMBRANE KEYBOARDS ❌
❌ makes the game harder to learn, improve!
❌ makes you get lower accuracy, get more tired, reduces stamina.
❌ there could be chord splitting, key ghostings, keyboard issues, ETC.
❌ rubber dome = more delay than switches, and less lifespan than switches
❌ lower polling rate = make certain patterns impossible to do, or low accuracy.
❌ less quailty = keyboard might get worse the more you play, affecting your performance.
❌ if you're unlucky, you might find a keyboard that doesn't even have a raised key, you'll have a flat membrane keyboard. You'll felt like you are typing using a laptop keyboard. That 
is very bad for playing the game. Seriously.

 playing with a membrane is possible, but you'll just get lower accuracy.
 

Opprinnelig skrevet av me :

Practice, Practice, Practice! You'll get there if you're practicing the right things, while also having a good mindset to do it too!

💡 Again, every playstyles will be mastered with Practice, Take your time :)
Try to stick to a playstyle you found comfortable with, and don't change it. or try switching them to see which one works out the most.

📺 Sources.

Pictures, or some assets i gathered from some websites.

Hope that some you'll find even more useful than this guide! Thank you.

Improvement Graph in OSU!

https://osu.ppy.sh/community/forums/topics/676392

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Refresh Rate Video

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlXf-yUIaOpOjEjPrOO9TA

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Keyboard Explain Video

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMteIF4ZD5-hgZ8YhSN454g

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Judgement Timing WIndow

https://wiki.quavergame.com/docs/gameplay
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My Profile - OSU! Mania

https://osu.ppy.sh/users/16847446
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My Profile - Quaver.

https://quavergame.com/user/91852

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You've reached the end of this Guide! Thank you!

If you have more tips, or secrets, or anything about improving be sure to share it in the others via the comments section! Thank you.

I hope that this guide would help beginners, or someone that's halfway into the game!
You can thank me by rating, giving this guide a award! :)

Thank you for reading this guide! - Good luck!
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[thatdinosour]

I've been playing with my laptop keyboard for over 180 hours thanks for telling me why not to use it lol, hoping to switch to a better keyboard soon.

[dame dane guy]

very cool guide for beginners.
helped my brother a lot, or i could of just taught him the basics lol

[Unbloated]

Do I have to use my phone as a monitor (144hz) or what.

[Endfell]

i have like two hours ingame and i just broke 100k global ranking, hope this helps me get better

[BLACK DEKU]

Alternate solution, play more

[★sewerzcherry★]

cool guide

[dumbass123]

veri nais

[Cheshire]

now that's a detailed guide damn, surprisingly not missing any tip i would give to new players

[George Droyd]

play more
and dont play quaver bad game

[cheeze]

nice guide :D