diff --git a/docs/rust-port.md b/docs/rust-port.md
index 3e96c32..6865581 100644
--- a/docs/rust-port.md
+++ b/docs/rust-port.md
@@ -160,11 +160,12 @@ CircuitPython `Matrix`; per-pixel I²C is too slow to animate), the **polymeter
 `track-format::schedule::lane_durs` (the cross-impl contract) with per-lane step clocks + ramp +
 gap-trainer, **4-button input** (A tap=play/stop, hold=cycle view; B tap=next track, hold=next set
 list; X/Y=tempo ∓ with auto-repeat), the **built-in set lists**, and three LED views:
-- **Ticker** (default): track name infinite-scrolls across the left (cols 0–10, full height); BPM is
-  pinned right, **rotated 90° CCW** — a vertical hundreds **dot-bar** in col 11 (one dot per 100) +
-  the last two digits rotated into cols 12–16 (tens bottom, units top). So `130` → 1 dot + rotated
-  "30". This is the user-designed landscape readout. Rotation/geometry verified off-bench with an
-  ASCII replica of `draw_ticker`.
+- **Ticker** (default): a **beat strip** on the top row (cols 0–10) — faint ticks at each beat + a
+  bright playhead at the master lane's current step; the track name infinite-scrolls below it (cols
+  0–10, rows 2–6); BPM is pinned right, **rotated 90° CCW** — a vertical hundreds **dot-bar** in col
+  11 (one dot per 100) + the last two digits rotated into cols 12–16 (tens bottom, units top). So
+  `130` → 1 dot + rotated "30". This is the user-designed landscape readout. Layout/rotation verified
+  off-bench with an ASCII replica of `draw_ticker`. Whole matrix strobes white on the downbeat.
 - **Grid** (lanes×steps + playhead) and **Pendulum** (bouncing arm + beat ticks) — ports of
   `_render_grid` / `_render_pendulum`.
 Boot splash scrolls "PM-G1 GRID" (liveness + pixel-map check).
diff --git a/rust/pm-grid/src/main.rs b/rust/pm-grid/src/main.rs
index 684e89d..f476191 100644
--- a/rust/pm-grid/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/pm-grid/src/main.rs
@@ -491,11 +491,26 @@ fn render<I: I2c>(m: &mut Matrix<I>, app: &App, now_ns: i64) {
     m.show();
 }
 
-/// Ticker: track name infinite-scrolls across the left (cols 0..=10, full height), BPM is pinned to
-/// the right rotated 90° CCW — a vertical "hundreds dot-bar" in col 11 (one dot per 100) plus the
-/// last two digits rotated into cols 12..=16 (tens at the bottom, units on top; reads bottom→top).
+/// Ticker: a beat strip runs along the top row (cols 0..=10); the track name infinite-scrolls below
+/// it (cols 0..=10, rows 2..=6); BPM is pinned to the right rotated 90° CCW — a vertical "hundreds
+/// dot-bar" in col 11 (one dot per 100) plus the last two digits rotated into cols 12..=16 (tens at
+/// the bottom, units on top; reads bottom→top).
 fn draw_ticker<I: I2c>(m: &mut Matrix<I>, app: &App) {
-    // scrolling name on rows 1..=5
+    // top-row beat strip (cols 0..=10): faint marks at each beat (every `sub` steps), a bright
+    // playhead at the master lane's current step — spread across the full name-region width.
+    if let Some(master) = app.track.lanes.first() {
+        let steps = master.levels.len().max(1) as i32;
+        let sub = master.sub.max(1) as i32;
+        for s in 0..steps {
+            if s % sub == 0 {
+                m.set_max(s * 11 / steps, 0, 24); // beat tick
+            }
+        }
+        if app.playing && app.step[0] >= 0 {
+            m.set(app.step[0] * 11 / steps, 0, 255); // live playhead
+        }
+    }
+    // scrolling name on rows 2..=6 (shifted down one to clear the beat strip)
     let total = app.scroll_total.max(1);
     for sx in 0..=10i32 {
         let i = ((app.scroll_off + sx) % total + total) % total;
@@ -506,7 +521,7 @@ fn draw_ticker<I: I2c>(m: &mut Matrix<I>, app: &App) {
         };
         for r in 0..5i32 {
             if colbits & (1 << r) != 0 {
-                m.set(sx, 1 + r, NAME_BRIGHT);
+                m.set(sx, 2 + r, NAME_BRIGHT);
             }
         }
     }