In low levels most of my damage comes from the dots (windbite and venomous bite) with the GDC's between filled in with heavy shot until it procs crit on straight shot.

A few levels deeper, and now I'm running songs, when the songs notice a crit from the bites, it resets bloodletter/rain of death, and that fires again, but the GDC mostly stays the same. Only now it's THREE crits with barrage on straight shot.

Meanwhile I've got one song, then two songs, then three songs, for my main melody. Once I have all three I can always have a main song up, and that means I can always trigger a "voice" when it pops. (but try to only use pitch perfect with army's paeon or minuet, never ballad?)

Iron Jaws means never having to recast my opener mid fight. That's more GDC I can spend on Heavy shot. That's more critical Straight shots.

At 60, add in sidewinder once a minute.

IF I understand bard right, then I'm not making any mistakes yet. If I'm completely wrong, I hope for a reply that slaps me firmly, but politely and corrects me.