Make Your Own Beats

So you want to make your own rap beats, huh? Well it’s easier than ever these days to actually make and eventually sell your own productions. This article is for absolute beginners who want to learn about audio recording and music production. Specifically I will explain very basically how to start making your own beats for practically any genre.

You will first need the tools of the trade. You can’t do much with out these things. Luckily they are not too expensive and in some cases free. One example of free software I used when starting out is the DT-110. A small sample based sequencer that helped me understand the fundamentals of beat making. I later moved to FL Studio and really loved it. It is also a sample based sequencer with some seriously advanced features for making your own junk, including tracking and exporting to mp3. If you are serious about beats then you must get this software somehow. For better sound editing (sampling) I would recommend Sony Sound Forge. I’ve used both for years and enjoy the ease of editing and sequencing they provide. Regardless of the amount or type of gear you have, it’s all about how well you make use of it.

Now that you have your gear and know how to do the basics, let me explain what goes into making a beat. The count: actually is the “beat”. Most people know how to count on time with the music. For example: One, two, three, four, TWO, two, three, four, THREE, two, three, four, FOUR, two, three, four. Each completion of the last four is considered a measure or bar. Count is often heard at the beginning of R&B songs, especially 60’s & 70’s classics. You can also use a metronome if this is difficult.

Most beat making gear comes with preinstalled patterns, and also there are free and paid resources for drum patterns. Make a custom pattern based on a concept already in your head. Try to stick to 16 measures or bars per pattern and then alternate it. Use three or four patterns together to make a song for the best results. Try listing to your favorite song and study how they shift beat patterns to change from Intro-Chorus-Verse-Bridge-Outro.

When you have your basic beat made, don’t worry about effects yet. Worry about your bass line. Bass can be any sound with a low frequency that match your beat and give it rhythm. Most instrumentals use the bass. In rap beats they are strongly linked to the kick drum. I suggest hiring or acquiring a professional for the best results with R& B records. Michael Jackson once said he worked very hard on the Billy Jean bass and took some time to get it just right.

When mixing the drums, it’s important that you don’t over step the boundaries. The foundation of modern music relies on recording standards. For one, don’t pan various drums into the far left or right field. Drums are usually centered in the listening field, and if paned, it must be done tastefully. Usually Toms and percussions are panned.

Go and make beats now. You should have the basic idea on how to construct the bed of a song. From here you will move into melodies and other instruments to build on top of your beat. Track a vocalist in and hear your composition come alive. Finalize the mix according to taste and deploy.

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