Abstract: Beat combinations may be used in controlling operations or functions of a handheld electronic device. The beat combinations may be applied via a presence-sensitive interface in the handheld electronic device. The presence-sensitive interface may be implemented using a display or screen of the handheld electronic device. The beat combinations may comprise a series of tap steps, with each tap step comprising an arbitrary tap location, and having specific tap criteria (e.g., number of taps and/or duration of each of the taps.). The beat combinations may also comprise tap-and-slide combinations, involving an initial tap location, which may be an arbitrary location in the presence-sensitive interface, followed by a sequence of preconfigured slides, having preconfigured slide movements, to other tapping locations. The beat combinations may allow for acceptable tolerances associated with each of tap steps (e.g., allowing for acceptable variation of location, tap criteria, and/or slide movements).