diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index c3ec5321df..6dd7377b1e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -1702,6 +1702,7 @@ private:
 	bool canvas_scroll_event (GdkEventScroll* event, bool from_canvas);
 	bool canvas_control_point_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, ControlPoint*);
 	bool canvas_velocity_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*);
+	bool canvas_velocity_base_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*);
 	bool canvas_line_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, AutomationLine*);
 	bool canvas_selection_rect_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, SelectionRect*);
 	bool canvas_selection_start_trim_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, SelectionRect*);
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
index ca475bf40d..8f97062b4f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
@@ -693,10 +693,15 @@ Editor::canvas_control_point_event (GdkEvent *event, ArdourCanvas::Item* item, C
 bool
 Editor::canvas_velocity_event (GdkEvent *event, ArdourCanvas::Item* item)
 {
-	// std::cerr << "Velocity event: " << Gtkmm2ext::event_type_string (event->type) << std::endl;
 	return typed_event (item, event, VelocityItem);
 }
 
+bool
+Editor::canvas_velocity_base_event (GdkEvent *event, ArdourCanvas::Item* item)
+{
+	return typed_event (item, event, VelocityBaseItem);
+}
+
 bool
 Editor::canvas_line_event (GdkEvent *event, ArdourCanvas::Item* item, AutomationLine* al)
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
index adaee1b65c..e6c0d234dd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
@@ -7199,6 +7199,7 @@ LollipopDrag::LollipopDrag (Editor* ed, ArdourCanvas::Item* l)
 	: Drag (ed, l, Temporal::BeatTime)
 	, _primary (dynamic_cast<ArdourCanvas::Lollipop*> (l))
 {
+	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::Drags, "New LollipopDrag\n");
 	_region = reinterpret_cast<VelocityGhostRegion*> (_item->get_data ("ghostregionview"));
 }
 
@@ -7257,7 +7258,10 @@ LollipopDrag::setup_pointer_offset ()
 	_pointer_offset = _region->parent_rv.region()->source_beats_to_absolute_time (note->note()->time ()).distance (raw_grab_time ());
 }
 
-AutomationDrawDrag::AutomationDrawDrag (Editor* editor, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& r, Temporal::TimeDomain time_domain)
+/********/
+
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::FreehandLineDrag (Editor* editor, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& r, Temporal::TimeDomain time_domain)
 	: Drag (editor, &r, time_domain)
 	, base_rect (r)
 	, dragging_line (nullptr)
@@ -7269,13 +7273,15 @@ AutomationDrawDrag::AutomationDrawDrag (Editor* editor, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle&
 	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::Drags, "New AutomationDrawDrag\n");
 }
 
-AutomationDrawDrag::~AutomationDrawDrag ()
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::~FreehandLineDrag ()
 {
 	delete dragging_line;
 }
 
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
 void
-AutomationDrawDrag::motion (GdkEvent* ev, bool first_move)
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::motion (GdkEvent* ev, bool first_move)
 {
 	if (first_move) {
 		dragging_line = new ArdourCanvas::PolyLine (item());
@@ -7293,14 +7299,15 @@ AutomationDrawDrag::motion (GdkEvent* ev, bool first_move)
 
 		/* Add a point correspding to the start of the drag */
 
-		maybe_add_point (ev, raw_grab_time());
+		maybe_add_point (ev, raw_grab_time(), true);
 	}
 
-	maybe_add_point (ev, _drags->current_pointer_time());
+	maybe_add_point (ev, _drags->current_pointer_time(), first_move);
 }
 
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
 void
-AutomationDrawDrag::maybe_add_point (GdkEvent* ev, timepos_t const & cpos)
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::maybe_add_point (GdkEvent* ev, timepos_t const & cpos, bool first_move)
 {
 	timepos_t pos (cpos);
 
@@ -7347,24 +7354,91 @@ AutomationDrawDrag::maybe_add_point (GdkEvent* ev, timepos_t const & cpos)
 		}
 	}
 
+	bool child_call = false;
+
 	if (pop_point) {
 		if (line_break_pending) {
 			line_break_pending = false;
 		} else {
 			dragging_line->pop_back();
 			drawn_points.pop_back ();
+			child_call = true;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (add_point) {
 		if (drawn_points.empty() || (pos != drawn_points.back().when)) {
 			dragging_line->add_point (ArdourCanvas::Duple (x, y));
-			drawn_points.push_back (Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint (pos, y));
+			drawn_points.push_back (OrderedPoint (pos, y));
+			child_call = true;
 		}
+	}
+
+	if (child_call) {
+		point_added (ArdourCanvas::Duple (pointer_x, y), base_rect, first_move ? -1 : edge_x);
+	}
+
+	if (add_point) {
 		edge_x = pointer_x;
 	}
 }
 
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
+void
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::finished (GdkEvent* event, bool motion_occured)
+{
+	if (!motion_occured) {
+		/* DragManager will tell editor that no motion happened, and
+		   Editor::button_release_handler() will do the right thing.
+		*/
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (drawn_points.empty()) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* Points must be in time order, so if the user draw right to left, fix
+	 * that here
+	 */
+
+	if (drawn_points.front().when > drawn_points.back().when) {
+		std::reverse (drawn_points.begin(), drawn_points.end());
+	}
+}
+
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
+bool
+FreehandLineDrag<OrderedPointList,OrderedPoint>::mid_drag_key_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
+{
+	if (ev->type == GDK_KEY_PRESS) {
+		switch (ev->keyval) {
+
+		case GDK_Alt_R:
+		case GDK_Alt_L:
+			line_break_pending = true;
+			return true;
+
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+/**********************/
+
+AutomationDrawDrag::AutomationDrawDrag (Editor* editor, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& r, Temporal::TimeDomain time_domain)
+	: FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints,Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint> (editor, r, time_domain)
+{
+	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::Drags, "New AutomationDrawDrag\n");
+}
+
+AutomationDrawDrag::~AutomationDrawDrag ()
+{
+}
+
 void
 AutomationDrawDrag::finished (GdkEvent* event, bool motion_occured)
 {
@@ -7384,37 +7458,58 @@ AutomationDrawDrag::finished (GdkEvent* event, bool motion_occured)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	/* Points must be in time order, so if the user draw right to left, fix
-	 * that here
-	 */
-
-	if (drawn_points.front().when > drawn_points.back().when) {
-		std::reverse (drawn_points.begin(), drawn_points.end());
-	}
+	FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints,Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint>::finished (event, motion_occured);
 
 	atv->merge_drawn_line (drawn_points, !did_snap);
 }
 
-void
-AutomationDrawDrag::aborted (bool)
+/*****************/
+
+VelocityLineDrag::VelocityLineDrag (Editor* editor, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& r, Temporal::TimeDomain time_domain)
+	: FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints,Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint> (editor, r, time_domain)
+	, grv (static_cast<VelocityGhostRegion*> (r.get_data ("ghostregionview")))
+	, drag_did_change (false)
+{
+	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::Drags, "New VelocityLineDrag\n");
+	assert (grv);
+}
+
+VelocityLineDrag::~VelocityLineDrag ()
 {
 }
 
-bool
-AutomationDrawDrag::mid_drag_key_event (GdkEventKey* ev)
+void
+VelocityLineDrag::start_grab (GdkEvent* ev, Gdk::Cursor* c)
 {
-	if (ev->type == GDK_KEY_PRESS) {
-		switch (ev->keyval) {
+	FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints,Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint>::start_grab (ev, c);
+	grv->start_line_drag ();
+}
 
-		case GDK_Alt_R:
-		case GDK_Alt_L:
-			line_break_pending = true;
-			return true;
+void
+VelocityLineDrag::point_added (Duple const & d, Rectangle const & r, double last_x)
+{
+	drag_did_change |= grv->line_draw_motion (d, r, last_x);
+}
 
-		default:
-			break;
-		}
+void
+VelocityLineDrag::finished (GdkEvent* event, bool motion_occured)
+{
+	if (!motion_occured) {
+		/* DragManager will tell editor that no motion happened, and
+		   Editor::button_release_handler() will do the right thing.
+		*/
+		return;
 	}
 
-	return false;
+	/* no need to call FreehandLineDrag::finished(), because we do not use
+	 * drawn_points
+	 */
+
+	grv->end_line_drag (drag_did_change);
+}
+
+void
+VelocityLineDrag::aborted (bool)
+{
+	grv->end_line_drag (false);
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
index 6ae70539a3..d9eb0ed49e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.h
@@ -1583,27 +1583,56 @@ class LollipopDrag : public Drag
 	ArdourCanvas::Lollipop*   _primary;
 };
 
-class AutomationDrawDrag : public Drag
+template<typename OrderedPointList, typename OrderedPoint>
+class FreehandLineDrag : public Drag
+{
+  public:
+	FreehandLineDrag (Editor*, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle&, Temporal::TimeDomain);
+	~FreehandLineDrag ();
+
+	void motion (GdkEvent*, bool);
+	void finished (GdkEvent*, bool);
+	bool mid_drag_key_event (GdkEventKey*);
+	virtual void point_added  (ArdourCanvas::Duple const & d, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle const & r, double last_x) {}
+
+  protected:
+	ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& base_rect; /* we do not own this */
+	ArdourCanvas::PolyLine* dragging_line;
+	int direction;
+	int edge_x;
+	bool did_snap;
+	bool line_break_pending;
+	OrderedPointList drawn_points;
+
+	void maybe_add_point (GdkEvent*, Temporal::timepos_t const &, bool first_move);
+};
+
+class AutomationDrawDrag : public FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints, Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint>
 {
   public:
 	AutomationDrawDrag (Editor*, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle&, Temporal::TimeDomain);
 	~AutomationDrawDrag ();
 
-	void motion (GdkEvent*, bool);
 	void finished (GdkEvent*, bool);
-	void aborted (bool);
-	bool mid_drag_key_event (GdkEventKey*);
-
-private:
-	ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& base_rect; /* we do not own this */
-	ArdourCanvas::PolyLine* dragging_line;
-	int direction;
-	int edge_x;
-	Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints drawn_points;
-	bool did_snap;
-	bool line_break_pending;
-
-	void maybe_add_point (GdkEvent*, Temporal::timepos_t const &);
+	void aborted (bool) {}
 };
 
+class VelocityLineDrag : public FreehandLineDrag<Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoints, Evoral::ControlList::OrderedPoint>
+{
+  public:
+	VelocityLineDrag (Editor*, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle&, Temporal::TimeDomain);
+	~VelocityLineDrag ();
+
+	void start_grab (GdkEvent *, Gdk::Cursor* c = 0);
+	void finished (GdkEvent*, bool);
+	void aborted (bool);
+	void point_added  (ArdourCanvas::Duple const & d, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle const & r, double last_x);
+
+ private:
+	VelocityGhostRegion* grv;
+	bool drag_did_change;
+};
+
+
+
 #endif /* __gtk2_ardour_editor_drag_h_ */
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_items.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor_items.h
index c8e934b99c..d8925741e8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_items.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_items.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ enum ItemType {
 	SelectionMarkerItem,
 	DropZoneItem,
 	VelocityItem,
+	VelocityBaseItem,
 
 	/* don't remove this */
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
index 7ba0fa4e35..c83f770512 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 #include "mouse_cursors.h"
 #include "editor_cursors.h"
 #include "region_peak_cursor.h"
+#include "velocity_ghost_region.h"
 #include "verbose_cursor.h"
 #include "note.h"
 
@@ -902,6 +903,16 @@ Editor::button_press_handler_1 (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemT
 		return true;
 		break;
 
+	case VelocityBaseItem:
+		{
+			VelocityGhostRegion* grv = static_cast<VelocityGhostRegion*> (item->get_data ("ghostregionview"));
+			if (grv) {
+				_drags->set (new VelocityLineDrag (this, grv->base_item(), Temporal::BeatTime), event);
+			}
+		}
+		return true;
+		break;
+
 	default:
 		break;
 	}
@@ -1569,6 +1580,7 @@ Editor::button_release_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemT
 		/* see if we're finishing a drag */
 
 		if (_drags->active ()) {
+
 			bool const r = _drags->end_grab (event);
 			if (r) {
 				/* grab dragged, so do nothing else */
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/public_editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/public_editor.h
index 2038b4316d..1563a9d124 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/public_editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/public_editor.h
@@ -451,6 +451,7 @@ public:
 	virtual bool canvas_scroll_event (GdkEventScroll* event, bool from_canvas) = 0;
 	virtual bool canvas_control_point_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*, ControlPoint*) = 0;
 	virtual bool canvas_velocity_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*) = 0;
+	virtual bool canvas_velocity_base_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*) = 0;
 	virtual bool canvas_line_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*, AutomationLine*) = 0;
 	virtual bool canvas_selection_rect_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*, SelectionRect*) = 0;
 	virtual bool canvas_selection_start_trim_event (GdkEvent* event, ArdourCanvas::Item*, SelectionRect*) = 0;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.cc b/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.cc
index 9cf6db7799..5328c3a2f8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.cc
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ VelocityGhostRegion::VelocityGhostRegion (MidiRegionView& mrv, TimeAxisView& tv,
 	, drag_did_change (false)
 	, selected (false)
 {
+	base_rect->set_data (X_("ghostregionview"), this);
 	base_rect->Event.connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &VelocityGhostRegion::base_event));
 	base_rect->set_fill_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color_mod ("ghost track base", "ghost track midi fill"));
 	base_rect->set_outline_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color ("automation track outline"));
@@ -70,74 +71,36 @@ VelocityGhostRegion::~VelocityGhostRegion ()
 }
 
 bool
-VelocityGhostRegion::base_event (GdkEvent* ev)
+VelocityGhostRegion::line_draw_motion (ArdourCanvas::Duple const & d, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle const & r, double last_x)
 {
 	std::vector<NoteBase*> affected_lollis;
-
 	MidiRegionView* mrv = dynamic_cast<MidiRegionView*> (&parent_rv);
-	ArdourCanvas::Rect r = base_rect->item_to_canvas (base_rect->get());
 
-	switch (ev->type) {
-	case GDK_MOTION_NOTIFY:
-		if (dragging) {
-			if (last_drag_x < 0) {
-				lollis_close_to_x (ev->motion.x, 20., affected_lollis);
-			} else if (last_drag_x < ev->motion.x) {
-				/* rightward, "later" motion */
-				lollis_between (last_drag_x, ev->motion.x, affected_lollis);
- 			} else {
-				/* leftward, "earlier" motion */
-				lollis_between (ev->motion.x, last_drag_x, affected_lollis);
-			}
-			if (!affected_lollis.empty()) {
-				int velocity = y_position_to_velocity (r.height() - (r.y1 - ev->motion.y));
-				drag_did_change |= mrv->set_velocity_for_notes (affected_lollis, velocity);
-				mrv->mid_drag_edit ();
-			}
-			if (dragging) {
-				dragging_line->add_point (ArdourCanvas::Duple (ev->motion.x - r.x0, ev->motion.y - r.y0));
-				last_drag_x = ev->motion.x;
-			}
-			return true;
-		}
-		break;
-	case GDK_BUTTON_PRESS:
-		if (ev->button.button == 1) {
-			assert (!dragging);
-			desensitize_lollis ();
-			dragging = true;
-			drag_did_change = false;
-			last_drag_x = -1;
-			if (!dragging_line) {
-				dragging_line = new ArdourCanvas::PolyLine (_note_group);
-				dragging_line->set_ignore_events (true);
-				dragging_line->set_outline_color (UIConfiguration::instance().color ("midi note selected outline"));
-			}
-			dragging_line->set (ArdourCanvas::Points());
-			dragging_line->show();
-			dragging_line->raise_to_top();
-			base_rect->grab();
-			mrv->begin_drag_edit (_("draw velocities"));
-			return true;
-		}
-		break;
-	case GDK_BUTTON_RELEASE:
-		if (ev->button.button == 1 && dragging) {
-			mrv->end_drag_edit (drag_did_change);
-			base_rect->ungrab();
-			dragging_line->hide ();
-			dragging = false;
-			sensitize_lollis ();
-			return true;
-		}
-		break;
-	default:
-		// std::cerr << "vgr event type " << Gtkmm2ext::event_type_string (ev->type) << std::endl;
-		break;
+	if (last_x < 0) {
+		lollis_close_to_x (d.x, 20., affected_lollis);
+	} else if (last_x < d.x) {
+		/* rightward, "later" motion */
+		lollis_between (last_x, d.x, affected_lollis);
+	} else {
+		/* leftward, "earlier" motion */
+		lollis_between (d.x, last_x, affected_lollis);
 	}
 
+	bool ret = false;
 
-	return false;
+	if (!affected_lollis.empty()) {
+		int velocity = y_position_to_velocity (r.height() - (r.y1() - d.y));
+		ret = mrv->set_velocity_for_notes (affected_lollis, velocity);
+		mrv->mid_drag_edit ();
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool
+VelocityGhostRegion::base_event (GdkEvent* ev)
+{
+	return trackview.editor().canvas_velocity_base_event (ev, base_rect);
 }
 
 void
@@ -234,7 +197,6 @@ VelocityGhostRegion::drag_lolli (ArdourCanvas::Lollipop* l, GdkEventMotion* ev)
 	 * (event coordinates use window coordinate space)
 	 */
 
-
 	ev->y -= r.y0;
 
 	/* clamp y to be within the range defined by the base_rect height minus
@@ -357,6 +319,22 @@ VelocityGhostRegion::lollis_close_to_x (int x, double distance, std::vector<Note
 	}
 }
 
+void
+VelocityGhostRegion::start_line_drag ()
+{
+	MidiRegionView* mrv = dynamic_cast<MidiRegionView*> (&parent_rv);
+	mrv->begin_drag_edit (_("draw velocities"));
+	desensitize_lollis ();
+}
+
+void
+VelocityGhostRegion::end_line_drag (bool did_change)
+{
+	MidiRegionView* mrv = dynamic_cast<MidiRegionView*> (&parent_rv);
+	mrv->end_drag_edit (did_change);
+	sensitize_lollis ();
+}
+
 void
 VelocityGhostRegion::desensitize_lollis ()
 {
@@ -381,5 +359,5 @@ VelocityGhostRegion::set_selected (bool yn)
 
 	if (yn) {
 		group->raise_to_top ();
-	} 
+	}
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.h b/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.h
index 152569eba8..638e3ccaf0 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/velocity_ghost_region.h
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ public:
 
 	void set_selected (bool);
 
+	bool line_draw_motion (ArdourCanvas::Duple const & d, ArdourCanvas::Rectangle const & r, double last_x);
+	void start_line_drag ();
+	void end_line_drag (bool did_change);
+
+	ArdourCanvas::Rectangle& base_item() { return *base_rect; }
+
 private:
 	bool dragging;
 	ArdourCanvas::PolyLine* dragging_line;