The human brain is designed in a way that it follows music rhythms and patterns. Being pro at drum programming patterns by using drum programming software or without software can make or break a track on even a subconscious level.
A typical house pattern on an 808 bass machine will sound hard and sterile. On affecting the same loop’s, envelopes, syncopation, and timing, it can convert the pattern so that it comes alive with an excellent swing, momentum, and tons of danceability.
Table of Contents
Drum Programming Basic
Drums are the main backbone of any composition, and a producer cannot move into complex drum programming until a basic structure and foundations are established. A producer can also use free drum programming software, such as Drumatic3, MT power drum kit 2, Mini spillage, Drumtroop etc. And in these some of our best drum programming software.
So, with that in mind, let’s decide how each part of a conventional drum kit works together to create a standard groove and vibes.
Kick: The kick is a bass drum that acts as a rhythmic instrument for most house music nowadays. As such, the kick drum patterns will be the most “on-grid” and rigid of all the percussive elements and yet are the most defining aspect of a track’s major characteristics, mix style, and genre.
Backbeat: It is usually created from a snare or clap sample; the backbeat is the first option of syncopation within the drum pattern and helps define the groove’s momentum and energy.
Cymbals: These percussions fill up the upper register of the harmonic spectrum zone, bring momentum and speed with offbeat hats, and gain energy through ride crashes and cymbals. Tambourines and Shakers can also fall into this zone and add swing and texture to a conventional groove.
Secondary Percussions: The rest of the percussions bring layers, texture, and other complexities to the different drum designs and patterns. So, You get the most creative way in terms of placement and design within your drum programming and sample selection in DAW.
But be careful with the choice, as poorly selected samples of drums will seem to lack power, out of place, and are incohesive with the rest of the drum group and patterns.
A note on using drum Loops as a Beginner producer:
There often is a myth when using drum loops in music production that people may found weird. Using sampled loops can be an excellent way to quickly introduce patterns complexity and help to humanize undeveloped drum programming designs and patterns.
Drum Sampled loops are an excellent way for intermediate and beginner-level music producers to start practicing working with MIDI patterns and audio samples alongside one another. They can help jumpstart the creative programming process by guiding them into the various next stages of the drum patterns production process.
Long story short, you’re making your workflow difficult if you’re not using loops throughout the early stages of music production.
How To Improve Your Drum Programming?
Once you understand drum designing and drum programming basics in DAW, you can majorly start to expand upon these foundations by adding extra details, grooves, and subtle syncopation that can bring your percussion to the next level.
Up to this point, our rhythmic drum foundation has been built upon conventional drum patterns and designs. It’s time to think about some unconventional vision to make this drum pattern design look good and stand out.
Syncopation: Backbeat is one major form of syncopation, but soon other forms will open up so many more different creative possibilities.
Here are the most commonly known forms of syncopation below:
Backbeat: Backbeat syncopation majorly tells that the two and four beats instead of a measure’s conventional downbeats (usually the kick drum and their patterns). Understanding and knowing the way of how to make backbeat syncopation can add energy in drum patterns, desirable and effective laziness, and everything in-between to your drum programming designs.
Offbeat: This syncopation started to tell percussive elements outside of the conventional pulse of the downbeats. Offbeat syncopation happens typically most often in house music when the hi-hats are introduced and the momentum begins to pick up.
Suspension: This holds easy percussion across the stronger emphasis. These patterns easily create a cascading effect and overlapping sequence within the percussion patterns by playing with rhythmic expectations.
Missed Beat: It emphasizes unexpected places, often creating off-key patterns that leave the listener anticipating hits that never arrive earlier than expected. This is common in the future bass and trap genres, where the kick drum is placed in unexpected places to create anticipation and tension.
Drum Envelopes: Successful groove development and drum programming are mainly about the space between the hits. Unlike most instruments rarely fit a mix without a touch of compression and EQing, very few drum samples will be really awesome for the groove without a little bit of tweaking.
Longer percussion can drag the central groove down, making it appear lazier and more detached than intended, but this is where the main samplers start to work in. Playing with many ADSR and other envelopes of the individual hit’s samples can tighten up a groove, sound and create a sufficient space within the drum patterns and arrangement in DAW.
Drum Programming for Experts
By the time being producers reach an expert level, their ears are receptive to the minute details that even beginners are oblivious to. But it is in these sample modulation decisions, unique arrangements and time signatures that a programmed drum groove comes alive.
Sample test modulation helps a drum sample that may sound astounding on its own keep that interest over numerous repetitions. Allotting LFOs to parameters such as a sample’s start point, panning, volume or detune amount will keep each individual hit of the sample slightly different from those that came before it. This recreates the possibility that no drummer hits their instrument precisely the same way twice.
Working With Drum Samples
Even once your drum programming skills reach an expert level, as a drummer or a beat maker, it will still fall flat and basic if the sounds you are using don’t measure up properly. Be aware of the accompanying tips when shaping, collecting, and arranging your drum patterns.
A drum sample can sound awesome on its own doesn’t mean that it will sound great with your other samples in the project, and an appropriate mixdown of song can only do so much. The drum tests MUST seem like they have a place together, or the irregularity can lose audience members. It is imperative to just go with what works; however, investing the additional energy picking the specific wonderful samples will deliver off profits eventually.
Final Thoughts:
Too many producers don’t give the proper attention and time to the hundreds of small variations and decisions needed to program unique drum patterns. Working continuously on skills and going deep in topics will make a difference.
