diff --git a/src/canvas.C b/src/canvas.C
index 7928f3b..c563cc8 100644
--- a/src/canvas.C
+++ b/src/canvas.C
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ Canvas::_alloc_array ( void )
         {
             a[ x ][ y ].flags = 0;
             a[ x ][ y ].state = -1;
-            a[ x ][ y ].shape = SQUARE;
             a[ x ][ y ].color = 0;
         }
     }
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ Canvas::grid ( Grid *g )
 
     update_mapping();
 
-    m.shape = m.grid->draw_shape();
+//    m.shape = m.grid->draw_shape();
 
     /* connect signals */
     /* FIXME: what happens when we do this twice? */
@@ -283,7 +282,7 @@ Canvas::copy ( void )
 void
 Canvas::_reset ( void )
 {
-    cell_t empty = {0,0,0,0};
+    cell_t empty = {0,0,0};
 
     for ( uint y = m.vp->h; y-- ; )
         for ( uint x = m.vp->w; x-- ; )
@@ -302,7 +301,6 @@ Canvas::clear ( void )
         for ( uint x = m.vp->w; x--; )
         {
             m.current[ x ][ y ].color = 0;
-            m.current[ x ][ y ].shape = m.shape;
             m.current[ x ][ y ].state = EMPTY;
             m.current[ x ][ y ].flags = 0;
         }
@@ -339,6 +337,8 @@ Canvas::flip ( void )
 
     if ( viewable_x( m.playhead ) ) draw_line( m.playhead - m.vp->x, F_PLAYHEAD );
 
+    const int shape = m.grid->draw_shape();
+
     for ( uint y = m.vp->h; y--; )
         for ( uint x = m.vp->w; x--; )
         {
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ Canvas::flip ( void )
 
             if ( *c != *p )
                 gui_draw_shape( m.origin_x + m.margin_left + x * m.div_w, m.origin_y + m.margin_top + y * m.div_h, m.div_w, m.div_h, m.border_w,
-                                c->shape, c->state, c->flags, c->color );
+                                shape, c->state, c->flags, c->color );
         }
 
     cell_t **tmp = m.previous;
@@ -451,7 +451,6 @@ Canvas::draw_shape ( int x, int y, int shape, int state, int color, bool selecte
     if ( x < 0 || y < 0 || x >= m.vp->w || y >= m.vp->h )
         return;
 
-    m.current[ x ][ y ].shape = shape;
     m.current[ x ][ y ].color = color;
     m.current[ x ][ y ].state = (uint)m.vp->x + x > m.grid->ts_to_x( m.grid->length() ) ? PARTIAL : state;
     if ( selected )
@@ -553,18 +552,18 @@ Canvas::redraw ( void )
     draw_mapping();
     draw_ruler();
 
+    const int shape = m.grid->draw_shape();
+
     for ( int y = m.vp->h; y--; )
         for ( int x = m.vp->w; x--; )
         {
             cell_t c = m.previous[ x ][ y ];
 
-            if ( c.shape > HEXAGON ) return;
-
             if ( m.vp->x + x == m.playhead )
                 c.flags |= F_PLAYHEAD;
 
             gui_draw_shape( m.origin_x + m.margin_left + x * m.div_w, m.origin_y + m.margin_top + y * m.div_h, m.div_w, m.div_h, m.border_w,
-                            c.shape, c.state, c.flags, c.color );
+                            shape, c.state, c.flags, c.color );
         }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/canvas.H b/src/canvas.H
index 9289a0f..36e3ced 100644
--- a/src/canvas.H
+++ b/src/canvas.H
@@ -28,15 +28,14 @@ using namespace sigc;
 class Mapping;
 
 struct cell_t {
-    unsigned char color;
-    unsigned char shape : 4;
+    unsigned char color : 8;
     unsigned char state : 4;
     unsigned char flags : 4;
 
     bool
     operator!= ( const cell_t &rhs )
         {
-            return color != rhs.color || shape != rhs.shape || state != rhs.state || flags != rhs.flags;
+            return color != rhs.color || state != rhs.state || flags != rhs.flags;
         }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/grid.C b/src/grid.C
index e4bcb95..a8d21c1 100644
--- a/src/grid.C
+++ b/src/grid.C
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ Grid::Grid ( const Grid &rhs ) : sigc::trackable()
     _notes = rhs._notes ? strdup( rhs._notes ) : NULL;
     _number = rhs._number;
     _height = rhs._height;
-    _draw_shape = rhs._draw_shape;
 
     _mode = 0;
     _locked = 0;
@@ -674,7 +673,7 @@ Grid::draw ( Canvas *c, int bx, int by, int bw, int bh )
 //        if ( ts >= start && ts <= end )
         if ( tse >= start && ts <= end )
             c->draw_dash( ts_to_x( ts ), note_to_y( e->note() ), ts_to_x( tse - ts ),
-                          _draw_shape, e->note_velocity(), e->selected() );
+                          draw_shape(), e->note_velocity(), e->selected() );
     }
 
     c->flip();
@@ -834,11 +833,6 @@ Grid::mode ( void ) const
     return _mode;
 }
 
-int
-Grid::draw_shape ( void ) const
-{
-    return _draw_shape;
-}
 
 /** return a pointer to a copy of grid's event list in raw form */
 event_list *
diff --git a/src/grid.H b/src/grid.H
index cf9bf2f..2b27a65 100644
--- a/src/grid.H
+++ b/src/grid.H
@@ -109,8 +109,6 @@ protected:
     char     *_name;
     int      _number;
 
-    int      _draw_shape;
-
     bool     _suspend_update;
 
     unsigned int     _bpb;                                  /* beats per bar */
@@ -201,7 +199,7 @@ public:
     char * notes ( void ) const;
     virtual void mode ( int m );
     virtual int mode ( void ) const;
-    int draw_shape ( void ) const;
+    virtual int draw_shape ( void ) const = 0;
     int next_note_x ( int x ) const;
     int prev_note_x ( int x ) const;
 
diff --git a/src/gui/ui.fl b/src/gui/ui.fl
index 2642474..bf31f18 100644
--- a/src/gui/ui.fl
+++ b/src/gui/ui.fl
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ if ( Fl::event() == FL_SHORTCUT && Fl::event_key() == FL_Escape )
 	 
 if ( maybe_save_song() )
 	quit();} open
-      xywh {856 305 865 800} type Double box PLASTIC_UP_BOX color 37 resizable xclass non size_range {600 420 0 0} visible
+      xywh {856 276 865 800} type Double box PLASTIC_UP_BOX color 37 resizable xclass non size_range {600 420 0 0} visible
     } {
       Fl_Menu_Bar menu_bar {open
         xywh {0 0 869 30} color 37
@@ -378,6 +378,25 @@ pattern_canvas_widget->redraw();}
 config.follow_playhead = val ? true : false;}
             xywh {10 10 40 25} type Toggle value 1
           }
+          Submenu {} {
+            label {Note Shape} open
+            xywh {0 0 74 24}
+          } {
+            MenuItem {} {
+              label Circle
+              callback {pattern::note_shape = CIRCLE;
+               pattern_canvas_widget->redraw();
+               }
+              xywh {0 0 40 24} type Radio
+            }
+            MenuItem {} {
+              label Square
+              callback {pattern::note_shape = SQUARE;
+               pattern_canvas_widget->redraw();
+               } selected
+              xywh {0 0 40 24} type Radio
+            }
+          }
         }
         Submenu {} {
           label {&Help} open
@@ -981,7 +1000,7 @@ else
         } {
           MenuItem {} {
             label Pattern
-            callback {song.play_mode = PATTERN;} selected
+            callback {song.play_mode = PATTERN;}
             xywh {5 5 40 25}
           }
           MenuItem {} {
@@ -1048,7 +1067,7 @@ detach_button->value( 0 );} open
   Function {make_about_popup()} {open
   } {
     Fl_Window about_popup {
-      label About open selected
+      label About open
       xywh {697 224 535 685} type Double non_modal size_range {535 685 535 685} visible
     } {
       Fl_Box {} {
@@ -1848,8 +1867,7 @@ for ( i = 0; i < MAX_PATTERN; i++ )
 		b->value( 0 );
 	}
 		
-}} {selected
-    }
+}} {}
   }
   Function {resize( int X, int Y, int W, int H )} {open return_type void
   } {
diff --git a/src/pattern.C b/src/pattern.C
index a17026e..cb452ca 100644
--- a/src/pattern.C
+++ b/src/pattern.C
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "jack.H"
 #include "transport.H"
 
+int pattern::note_shape = CIRCLE;
+
 event_list pattern::_recorded_events;
 vector <pattern*> pattern::_patterns;
 int pattern::_solo;
@@ -37,7 +39,6 @@ pattern::pattern ( void )
     viewport.h = 32;
     viewport.w = 32;
 
-    _draw_shape = CIRCLE;
     _channel = _port = 0;
 
     _ppqn = 4;
diff --git a/src/pattern.H b/src/pattern.H
index b10bd36..58f5f3a 100644
--- a/src/pattern.H
+++ b/src/pattern.H
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class pattern : public Grid
     static int _solo;
     static int _pattern_recording;
 
+
     static int solo ( void );
 
     int _channel, _port;
@@ -54,6 +55,10 @@ class pattern : public Grid
 
 public:
 
+    static int note_shape;
+
+    int draw_shape ( void ) const { return pattern::note_shape; }
+
     static signal <void> signal_create_destroy;
 
     Mapping mapping;
diff --git a/src/phrase.C b/src/phrase.C
index 516f051..a38811a 100644
--- a/src/phrase.C
+++ b/src/phrase.C
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ phrase::phrase ( void )
     viewport.h = 32;
     viewport.w = 32;
 
-    _draw_shape = SQUARE;
-
     _add();
 
     char *s;
diff --git a/src/phrase.H b/src/phrase.H
index c09b319..f9b6ca2 100644
--- a/src/phrase.H
+++ b/src/phrase.H
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ public:
 
     static signal <void> signal_create_destroy;
 
+    int draw_shape ( void ) const { return SQUARE; }
+
     phrase ( void );
     ~phrase ( void );
     phrase ( const phrase &rhs );