diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 061dee5..9c74024 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -5,10 +5,6 @@
 
 ; General
 
-* allow deselection of notes in pattern editor.
-* some way to select by row as well as column. preferably better than
-   standard rubberband techniques. What I'd really like is a cross
-   hair to select x1,y1 and x2,y2 coords of a bounding box.
 * add option to create new instrument defintion.
 * per phrase tempo setting? Perhaps a percentage of global tempo?
 * add channel field to event list widget (but channel bits in pattern
diff --git a/canvas.C b/canvas.C
index 27175f2..f0fb2eb 100644
--- a/canvas.C
+++ b/canvas.C
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ Canvas::_alloc_array ( void )
 
 Canvas::Canvas ( )
 {
-    m.origin_x = m.origin_y = m.height = m.width = m.div_w = m.div_h = m.playhead = m.margin_top = m.margin_left = m.playhead = m.w = m.h = m.p1 = m.p2 = 0;
+    m.origin_x = m.origin_y = m.height = m.width = m.div_w = m.div_h = m.playhead = m.margin_top = m.margin_left = m.playhead = m.w = m.h = m.p1 = m.p2 = m.p3 = m.p4 = 0;
 
     m.margin_top = ruler_height;
 
@@ -335,6 +335,12 @@ Canvas::flip ( void )
             cell_t *c = &m.current[ x ][ y ];
             cell_t *p = &m.previous[ x ][ y ];
 
+            /* draw selection rect */
+            if ( m.p3 != m.p4 )
+                if ( y + m.vp->y >= m.p3 && x + m.vp->x >= m.p1 &&
+                     y + m.vp->y < m.p4 && x + m.vp->x < m.p2 )
+                    c->flags |= F_SELECTION;
+
             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 );
@@ -438,7 +444,9 @@ Canvas::draw_shape ( int x, int y, int shape, int state, int color, bool selecte
     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;
-    m.current[ x ][ y ].flags = selected ? F_SELECTED : 0;
+    if ( selected )
+        m.current[ x ][ y ].state = SELECTED;
+    m.current[ x ][ y ].flags = 0;
 }
 
 /** callback used by Grid::draw()  */
@@ -585,6 +593,38 @@ Canvas::is_row_name ( int x, int y )
     return m.grid->y_to_note( y );
 }
 
+void
+Canvas::start_cursor ( int x, int y )
+{
+    if ( ! grid_pos( &x, &y ) )
+        return;
+
+    m.ruler_drawn = false;
+
+    m.p1 = x;
+    m.p3 = ntr( y );
+
+    _lr();
+
+    signal_draw();
+}
+
+void
+Canvas::end_cursor ( int x, int y )
+{
+    if ( ! grid_pos( &x, &y ) )
+        return;
+
+    m.ruler_drawn = false;
+
+    m.p2 = x;
+    m.p4 = ntr( y );
+
+    _lr();
+
+    signal_draw();
+}
+
 void
 Canvas::set ( int x, int y )
 {
@@ -595,6 +635,8 @@ Canvas::set ( int x, int y )
         {
             m.p1 = m.vp->x + ((x - m.margin_left - m.origin_x) / m.div_w);
             m.ruler_drawn = false;
+
+            m.p3 = m.p4 = 0;
         }
 
         _lr();
@@ -620,6 +662,8 @@ Canvas::unset ( int x, int y )
         {
             m.p2 = m.vp->x + ((x - m.margin_left - m.origin_x) / m.div_w);
             m.ruler_drawn = false;
+
+            m.p3 = m.p4 = 0;
         }
 
         _lr();
@@ -659,7 +703,7 @@ Canvas::select ( int x, int y )
     if ( ! grid_pos( &x, &y ) )
         return;
 
-    m.grid->select( x, y, true );
+    m.grid->toggle_select( x, y );
 }
 
 void
@@ -739,7 +783,16 @@ Canvas::_lr ( void )
 void
 Canvas::select_range ( void )
 {
-    m.grid->select( m.p1, m.p2 );
+    if ( m.p3 == m.p4 )
+        m.grid->select( m.p1, m.p2 );
+    else
+        m.grid->select( m.p1, m.p2, rtn( m.p3 ), rtn( m.p4 ) );
+}
+
+void
+Canvas::invert_selection ( void )
+{
+    m.grid->invert_selection();
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/canvas.H b/canvas.H
index f93b68a..1f6d636 100644
--- a/canvas.H
+++ b/canvas.H
@@ -66,10 +66,6 @@ class Canvas : public trackable
 
         int playhead;                                           /* where the playhead is for this canvas. only used for display. */
 
-/*         /\* these are in logical units, not pixels *\/ */
-/*         int w, h;                                               /\* viewport *\/ */
-/*         int x, y;                                               /\* pan position *\/ */
-
         enum { PATTERN, SEQUENCE } mode;
 
         Grid *grid;                                             /* grid currently connected to this canvas */
@@ -81,7 +77,7 @@ class Canvas : public trackable
 
         int rule;
 
-        bool row_compact;                                      /* use row-compaction? */
+        bool row_compact;                                       /* use row-compaction? */
 
         /* tables used for row-compaction */
         int rtn[128];                                           /* row-to-note */
@@ -92,7 +88,8 @@ class Canvas : public trackable
         Viewport *vp;
         int w, h;
 
-        uint p1, p2;                                             /* cursors */
+        uint p1, p2;                                            /* range cursors */
+        uint p3, p4;                                            /* row cursors */
     } m;
 
     int rtn ( int r ) const;
@@ -146,6 +143,7 @@ public:
     void adj_length ( int x, int y, int n );
     void select ( int x, int y );
     void select_range ( void );
+    void invert_selection ( void );
     void duplicate_range ( void );
     void crop ( void );
     void row_compact ( int n );
@@ -157,6 +155,10 @@ public:
     char * notes ( void );
     void randomize_row ( int y );
 
+
+    void start_cursor ( int x, int y );
+    void end_cursor ( int x, int y );
+
     void delete_time ( void );
     void insert_time ( void );
 
diff --git a/event_list.C b/event_list.C
index 90f01f5..4c4e05f 100644
--- a/event_list.C
+++ b/event_list.C
@@ -291,6 +291,24 @@ event_list::select ( tick_t start, tick_t end )
     }
 }
 
+/** select note evenets from /start/ to /end/ within range /hi/ through /lo/ */
+void
+event_list::select ( tick_t start, tick_t end, int hi, int lo )
+{
+    FOR_ALL( e )
+    {
+        tick_t ts = e->timestamp();
+
+        /* don't count note offs exactly on start */
+        if ( ! e->is_note_on() )
+            continue;
+
+        if ( ts >= start && ts < end &&
+             e->note() <= hi && e->note() >= lo )
+            e->select();
+    }
+}
+
 /** select ALL events */
 void
 event_list::select_all ( void )
@@ -306,6 +324,19 @@ event_list::select_none ( void )
         e->deselect();
 }
 
+void
+event_list::invert_selection ( void )
+{
+    FOR_ALL( e )
+        if ( ! e->is_note_off() )
+        {
+            if ( e->selected() )
+                e->deselect();
+            else
+                e->select();
+        }
+}
+
 /** remove all selected events */
 void
 event_list::remove_selected ( void )
diff --git a/event_list.H b/event_list.H
index 80dfd04..a4a9305 100644
--- a/event_list.H
+++ b/event_list.H
@@ -51,8 +51,11 @@ public:
     event * first ( void ) const;
     event * last ( void ) const;
     void select ( tick_t start, tick_t end );
+    void select ( tick_t start, tick_t end, int hi, int lo );
+
     void select_all ( void );
     void select_none ( void );
+    void invert_selection ( void );
 
     void remove_selected ( void );
     void transpose_selected ( int n );
diff --git a/grid.C b/grid.C
index 142c01b..7e8c17c 100644
--- a/grid.C
+++ b/grid.C
@@ -457,17 +457,17 @@ Grid::adj_duration ( int x, int y, int l )
 }
 
 void
-Grid::select ( int x, int y, bool b )
+Grid::toggle_select ( int x, int y )
 {
     lock();
 
     event *e = _event( x, y, true );
 
     if ( e )
-        if ( b )
-            e->select();
-        else
+        if ( e->selected() )
             e->deselect();
+        else
+            e->select();
 
     unlock();
 }
@@ -503,6 +503,20 @@ Grid::select ( int l, int r )
     unlock();
 }
 
+/** select all (note) events in rectangle */
+void
+Grid::select ( int l, int r, int t, int b )
+{
+    tick_t start = x_to_ts( l );
+    tick_t end = x_to_ts( r );
+
+    lock();
+
+    _rw->events.select( start, end, y_to_note( t) , y_to_note( b ) );
+
+    unlock();
+}
+
 /** delete events from /x/ to /l/, compressing time. */
 void
 Grid::delete_time ( int l, int r )
@@ -527,6 +541,16 @@ Grid::select_none ( void )
     unlock();
 }
 
+void
+Grid::invert_selection ( void )
+{
+    lock();
+
+    _rw->events.invert_selection();
+
+    unlock();
+}
+
 void
 Grid::delete_selected ( void )
 {
diff --git a/grid.H b/grid.H
index 58e00cf..061e210 100644
--- a/grid.H
+++ b/grid.H
@@ -214,11 +214,13 @@ public:
 
     void crop ( int l, int r );
 
-    void select ( int x, int y, bool b );
+    void toggle_select ( int x, int y );
     void insert_time ( int x, int r );
     void select ( int start, int end );
+    void select ( int start, int end, int t, int b );
     void delete_time ( int start, int end );
     void select_none ( void );
+    void invert_selection ( void );
 
     void resolution ( unsigned int n );
     int resolution ( void ) const;
diff --git a/gui/draw.C b/gui/draw.C
index 7e99453..1143c23 100644
--- a/gui/draw.C
+++ b/gui/draw.C
@@ -174,15 +174,15 @@ gui_draw_shape ( int x, int y, int w, int h, int bw, int shape, int state, int f
 
     if ( flags & F_PLAYHEAD )
         state = state == FULL ? HIT : PLAYHEAD;
-    else
-        if ( flags & F_SELECTED )
-            state = SELECTED;
 
     if ( state == FULL && color  )
         fl_color( velocity_colors[ color ] );
     else
         fl_color( state_colors[ state ] );
 
+    if ( flags & F_SELECTION )
+        fl_color( fl_darker( fl_color() ) );
+
     switch ( shape )
     {
         case CIRCLE:
diff --git a/gui/draw.H b/gui/draw.H
index 77a9295..e5f496e 100644
--- a/gui/draw.H
+++ b/gui/draw.H
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ enum {
     FULL,                                                       /* dot or dash head */
     PARTIAL,
     CONTINUED,                                                  /* dash tail */
+    SELECTED,
 /* virtual */
     HIT,                                                        /* playhead hit */
     LINE,                                                       /* beat line */
     PLAYHEAD,
-    SELECTED,
     MAX_STATE,
 };
 
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ enum {
 
 /* flags */
 enum {
-    F_PLAYHEAD = 1 << 0,                                     /* playhead is on item */
-    F_P1       = 1 << 1,
-    F_P2       = 1 << 2,
-    F_SELECTED = 1 << 3                                      /* item is selected */
+    F_PLAYHEAD  = 1 << 0,                                     /* playhead is on item */
+    F_P1        = 1 << 1,
+    F_P2        = 1 << 2,
+    F_SELECTION = 1 << 3                                      /* item is part of the selection box */
 };
 
 
diff --git a/gui/input.C b/gui/input.C
index beecbc9..1ad1054 100644
--- a/gui/input.C
+++ b/gui/input.C
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ canvas_input_callback ( O_Canvas *widget, Canvas *c, int m )
                         case 'q':
                             c->grid()->select_none();
                             break;
+                        case 'i':
+                            c->invert_selection();
+                            break;
                         case '1':
                             c->h_zoom( 2.0f );
                             break;
@@ -250,6 +253,11 @@ canvas_input_callback ( O_Canvas *widget, Canvas *c, int m )
                     }
                     else
                     {
+                        if ( Fl::event_state() & FL_SHIFT )
+                        {
+                            c->start_cursor( x, y );
+                            break;
+                        }
 
                         if ( IS_PATTERN && Fl::event_state() & FL_CTRL )
                             c->randomize_row( y );
@@ -258,6 +266,12 @@ canvas_input_callback ( O_Canvas *widget, Canvas *c, int m )
                     }
                     break;
                 case 3:
+                    if ( Fl::event_state() & FL_SHIFT )
+                    {
+                        c->end_cursor( x, y );
+                        break;
+                    }
+
                     c->unset( x, y );
                     break;
                 case 2: