diff --git a/packages/superdough/README.md b/packages/superdough/README.md
index 0c6e4f14..f5947d83 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/README.md
+++ b/packages/superdough/README.md
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ samples('github:tidalcycles/dirt-samples')
 
 The format is `github:<user>/<repo>/<branch>`.
 
+If `<repo>` and `<branch>` are not specified, they will default to `samples` and `main` respectively.
 It expects a `strudel.json` file to be present at the root of the given repository, which declares the sample paths in the repo.
 
 The format is also expected to be the same as explained above.
diff --git a/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs b/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
index f229cd33..3232fa47 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
@@ -121,13 +121,20 @@ function githubPath(base, subpath = '') {
   if (!base.startsWith('github:')) {
     throw new Error('expected "github:" at the start of pseudoUrl');
   }
-  let [_, path] = base.split('github:');
+  let path = base.slice('github:'.length);
   path = path.endsWith('/') ? path.slice(0, -1) : path;
-  if (path.split('/').length === 2) {
-    // assume main as default branch if none set
-    path += '/main';
+
+  let components = path.split('/');
+  let user = components[0];
+  let repo = components.length >= 2 ? components[1] : 'samples';
+  let branch = components.length >= 3 ? components[2] : 'main';
+  let other = components.slice(3);
+  if (subpath) {
+    other.push(subpath);
   }
-  return `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${path}/${subpath}`;
+  other = other.join('/');
+
+  return `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${user}/${repo}/${branch}/${other}`;
 }
 
 export const processSampleMap = (sampleMap, fn, baseUrl = sampleMap._base || '') => {
diff --git a/website/src/pages/learn/code.mdx b/website/src/pages/learn/code.mdx
index f9c6b3a2..c454dcce 100644
--- a/website/src/pages/learn/code.mdx
+++ b/website/src/pages/learn/code.mdx
@@ -60,6 +60,23 @@ Strudel makes heavy use of chained functions. Here is a more sophisticated examp
 .room(0.5)`}
 />
 
+## Write your own chained function
+
+You can write your own chained function using `register`. Here's the above chain but registered as a reusable, chained function.
+
+<MiniRepl
+  client:idle
+  tune={`const effectChain = register('effectChain', (pat) => pat
+    .s("sawtooth")
+    .cutoff(500)
+    //.delay(0.5)
+    .room(0.5)
+  )
+note("a3 c#4 e4 a4").effectChain()`}
+/>
+
+Try adding `.rev()` after `effectChain()` to hear further effects added.
+
 # Comments
 
 The `//` in the example above is a line comment, resulting in the `delay` function being ignored.