Bars Pattern

The Bars Pattern tool selects a contiguous group of candlesticks (or bars) and replicates their relative structure forward on the chart. The projection copies the open-high-low-close relationships of each bar in the source pattern, creating a mirrored sequence that serves as a reference for what price may do next. It is the closest thing to a standard "copy and paste" for price structure on the chart, but with intelligent scaling that adapts the pattern to current price levels.

This tool is used in harmonic analysis, measured-move projections, wedge-counting, and any approach where the structure of a prior bar cluster is assumed to repeat. The projected bars are ghosted with reduced opacity to distinguish them from real price data. You can adjust the projection length, scaling mode (absolute or percentage), and color scheme to match your analysis needs. The tool bridges the gap between visual pattern recognition and quantitative projection.

The projected bars mimic the relative OHLC structure of the source — they are not exact price copies. If a source bar has a large range, the projected equivalent scales proportionally to maintain the same structural relationship between consecutive bars. This means the projection represents the pattern's structural shape, not its absolute price values, making it applicable across different market conditions and price levels. A pattern that formed at $100 will project the same structural shape at $120, scaled to fit the new price level.

The Padding Bars setting inserts empty space between the source and projection to prevent the projected bars from overlapping with the last source bar. This is important when the projection starts immediately after the source — without padding, the origin line can be visually confusing. A padding of 1–3 bars is typically sufficient to create a clean visual separation between the real source pattern and the projected structure.

1. 1
   Select Bars Pattern

   Click the Bars Pattern tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. 2
   Select the source range

   Click and drag across the bars you want to copy. A highlight shows the selected range as you drag.
3. 3
   Release to project

   Release the mouse — the pattern is copied and placed forward from the last selected bar with current settings.
4. 4
   Adjust the projection

   Drag the projected block to change the start point. Use the settings panel to adjust length, opacity, and scaling.
5. 5
   Compare with actual price

   Watch how actual unfolding bars compare to the projection. The degree of match provides validation.

• Harmonic pattern recognition — copy a 5-bar source pattern and project it forward to see if price replicates the ABCD structure. Frequently used with Gartley, Bat, Crab, and Butterfly harmonic patterns where structural repetition is the core assumption.
• Measured move projections — copy a flag pole or impulse leg and project it forward. If the source is a 100-pip impulse, the projected move target is also approximately 100 pips from the breakout point. This is one of the most reliable pattern projection techniques.
• Wedge counting — copy the bar structure inside a wedge pattern to anticipate the next internal swing and potential breakout timing. The projection reveals whether the wedge is contracting or expanding in its internal structure.
• Elliott Wave structure — project the expected length and structure of wave 3 or wave C based on the structure of the preceding corrective wave. The projection helps anticipate wave proportionality and provides specific price targets for each wave.
• Behavioral comparison — copy a pattern from one market or timeframe and project it on another to compare behavioral similarities. For example, "This EUR/USD pattern looks like what GBP/USD did last week" — the projection makes the comparison visual and measurable.
• Pattern validation — after drawing a projection, compare it with actual unfolding price bars in real time. The degree of match validates or invalidates the pattern hypothesis. A close match confirms the pattern; a significant deviation suggests the pattern is unreliable.
• Cycle replication — copy a completed market cycle (bottom to top to bottom) and project it forward to estimate the timing and structure of the next cycle. Useful for longer-term cycle analysis on weekly or monthly charts.

The choice between absolute and percentage scaling determines how the projection adjusts to different price levels. In absolute mode, the projected bars have the same price range size as the source bars regardless of where they are placed. If the source has a 50-pip range, the projection also has a 50-pip range. In percentage mode, the projection scales proportionally to the price level at the projection point — a pattern that shows a 2% range at $100 projects as a $2 range, but at $200 the same 2% pattern becomes a $4 range, maintaining the same relative volatility.

Use absolute scaling for measured-move projections on the same instrument at similar price levels. Use percentage scaling when comparing patterns across different markets, timeframes, or price levels. Percentage scaling is also more appropriate for long-term projections where the price level may change significantly during the projection period, as it preserves volatility proportionality rather than absolute range size.

• 1.Pattern projection tools — TradingView Help
• 2.Technical Analysis of Financial Markets — John J. Murphy
• 3.Harmonic Trading, Volume 1 — Scott M. Carney
• 4.Elliott Wave Principle — A.J. Frost and Robert Prechter
• 5.The Visual Investor — John J. Murphy
• 6.Measured Move Technique — Technical analysis reference