The click track will help to ensure that with all of the copy and pasting you’ll do, the song stays on tempo. Your tempo will vary according to the mood and style of the song, and is typically between 80 and 120. More likely than not, you’ll turn the click track off once you have a basic beat made – this is just a guide right now to keep you on tempo. [2] X Research source
Hip-hop beats have a classic trio – kick drum, snare, and hi-hat. That’s it. Check out DJ Premier’s famous beats on the album Step in the Arena for a classic example. [3] X Research source You can download drum packs, which are recordings of different percussion sounds, to use in your songs for free online. Search the drums you want on a search engine, like “Steel Drum Sounds Pack,” or “Led Zeppelin Drum Sample Pack. "
Bass lines can be a simple, like Nas’ “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in the Park),” or complex, like Common’s “Be (Intro). " A bass line doesn’t need a bass guitar, though they help. Listen to what Daft Punk is able to do with deep synthesizers for another example. Your bass line and kick drum (the deepest sounding drum) should mesh for the maximum effect. Most producers like to have them alternating. [4] X Research source
Play around with sounds constantly– the only way to find out what sounds best is to try out as many different orchestrations as possible.
Great loops don’t feel like loops – they perfectly come back around so it sounds like a real musician is playing the instrument over and over again. [5] X Research source
Add a new melody line: A new sample, some brief vocals, or the re-emerging melody line usually signals a “chorus” or sing-along section of the beat. This is usually the most memorable part of the beat. Drop to a minimal beat: Dropping to just drums and bass, or even just drums, is a great way to lower the energy. You can then blast the beat back to pump the song back up and get the crowd really moving. Building and dropping: Add volume, new instruments, and drums to grow tension and energy, then drop out to a big, bassy, and danceable section.
Tension: Found in juxtaposition, tension is what pulls the song forward. It is the difference between the intense moment before a “drop” in dubstep and the cathartic, slower boom after the drop – this difference creates tension, which creates greater songs. Energy: What is the tempo of the song? How does it change or evolve, and does it bring the crowd with it? Some songs need full energy the entire time, plowing ahead. Others songs benefit from slow builds, changes, and swings in energy. Space: What is the beat for? If it is for a rapper, you best leave some moments of near “silence” so that they can get the words out. Think of how “full” your ears feel – sometimes simpler is good, allowing one instrument to shine. Sometimes you need all 30 tracks at once.
Look up your favorite beats on WhoSampled. com. You’ll be surprised how often samples are used. Heighten and lower the pitch, or slow down and quicken the speed of your favorite songs to create your own sample to be added to a new song. Check out all of 3 Feet High and Rising or Paul’s Boutique for golden-age examples of sampling prowess.
Listen to famous DJ Premier’s samples from his music project called “Re:Generation. ” DJ Premier is known for his signature scratching sound and flawless song constructions. Skrillex is notable for using samples of his own vocals. By using autotune, he is able to change the tone and speed of his voice so that it becomes almost unrecognizable. His song “Father Said” features samples of his own voice auto-tuned, as does “Turmoil. ”[6] X Research source Pete Rock uses samples for the entirety of his songs. He’s known to chop and layer several various samples within the same song. He’s an avid user of horns and drums, as is evident in his sample: “They Reminisce Over You (T. R. O. Y. ). "
Learn how to play an instrument. Since many beats are made with a keyboard, the piano is a great place to start. Listen to as varied a selection of music as you can – great producers pull from great music no matter what the genre.
Trying to remake sounds and beats you love is a great way to teach yourself from the masters. There are thousands of free tutorials online and on YouTube. When in doubt, look it up.
Don’t underestimate the importance of choosing the type of computer that you are most comfortable with. The goal is to make creating beats feel like second nature, and Windows computers are more than capable. Look for a computer that has at least 2 GB RAM, or random access memory. This is temporary storage within your computer that dictates how fast your computer runs.
Take your budget into account. This is most likely going to be an investment that you’ll use for years to come, so consider if saving up a few extra hundred dollars will help you get the software of your dreams. [7] X Research source Consider your experience level. Pro Tools will be hard for beginners to comprehend, and if it’s too daunting, you might give up prematurely. On the other hand, experienced beat makers might not find all the bells and whistles if they go with a beginner’s software, and learning Pro Tools or Logic brings you to near-pro status once you’ve gotten over the learning curve. If you find using the mouse tedious and find yourself more inclined to use knobs, faders, and buttons, then you’ll need to purchase an external controller or MIDI. Just like your mouse would, the knobs on a Midi device control pitch, tempo, volume and more.
Active monitors already include a built-in amplifier. Aside from saving yourself from needing to purchase external equipment, this amp is made to ensure the best performance. Serious audiophiles, however, likely want an external receiver or amplifier. If this sounds too complicated, just stick to a set of speakers and don’t worry about the amp. You want speakers with at least five inches woofers.
Keyboards: Keyboards allow you to input notes straight into the computer. You can then assign these notes to any sound or instrument you want, making a keyboard invaluable for melody making, or even drumming (if you set the keys to drum sounds). Drum Machines: These let you assign a sound to a set of pads you can then hit like real drums. Microphone: You can record voices or raps, but also record any sounds you hear otherwise to incorporate into the beat. MIDI Controllers: MIDI controllers give you the ability to adjust rhythm, drums, loops, tone, and beats with complex but powerful controls. This is the level of precise control needed for professional sounding beats. [8] X Research source
