Ableton Forum

Hello, fellow Ableton Live users, I am a new artist on the block, and I always end up doing the same thing.. I always end up with a kick, a snare, and filling the spaces in between with high hats, and it just happens like muscle memory, and i'm really trying to find more creative ways to introduce drum patterns to my music. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Take drums away
Variate at different durations (1 bar, 2 bars, 4 bars. Hell, for crazy stuff do even variations with odd ones underneath)
Add content on te Macro level, like swooshes or a background 8 bar pattern of minimal foley sounds
Try different grooves
Try different dynamics
Intentionally do something wrong or sound bad (rarely actually ends up bad!)
Maybe check this out: http://www.attackmagazine.com/technique/beat-dissected/

You are doing music a diservice. This isnt a game. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. It takes effort to make it look easy.

Study the masters of beat-ology, analyse, deconstruct, attempt to replicate, fail. Try again, fail better. Try to understand what they do they do could steal for your own genre.

http://www.acertaingroove.com/the-5-gre ... y-opinion/

^^^whoa...that's taking it to a whole 'nother level.

I was just go to suggest buying a sample pack or two and reverse engineering some beats and patches for inspiration...but damn

I always like to chop up existing audio loops or MIDI patterns for inspiration - this always ends up giving me ideas that I otherwise wouldn't think of.

...especially when taking a pattern from a genre outside of what you are making!

You don't always have to input your beats using the same process - have an array of techniques, and you will always have ideas.

Studying drummers ain't a bad idea, either!

That Attack link is also excellent. Attack is a great resource, period.

Also - I like to play a game - 'make a better beat'

Each time you have a beat that you are happy with - duplicate it, mess with it, move notes - see if you can better the last beat. Then repeat, repeat, repeat...

When done, compare your most recent beat with your first ones.

Also, I just wanted an excuse to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FX_84iWPLU

Bookmarked.

Citizen wrote:That Attack link is also excellent. Attack is a great resource, period.

Also - I like to play a game - 'make a better beat'

Each time you have a beat that you are happy with - duplicate it, mess with it, move notes - see if you can better the last beat. Then repeat, repeat, repeat...

When done, compare your most recent beat with your first ones.

Often when I've done that, I have had to admit to myself that the original idea was the best

yur2die4 wrote: Maybe check this out: http://www.attackmagazine.com/technique/beat-dissected/

nice link, thanks!

#reminder

this is similar to an artist sticking to a strict genre.. it limits the artist from being creative. u have to explore and find yourself listening to some uncomfortable music... aka music you've never explored before (not a must, but the whole point of this is for inspiration). it takes time to really take in all the genres and get your own custom results.

stay away from tutorials, books, 3 week music school sessions, and what not. you're not trying to learn how to read. you don't have time to sit and listen to directions. only listen to music & train your ears to listen well. take some ideas from your favorite artists, be inspired.

most importantly, don't be afraid to try new things and hear new things.

I'm more of a fan of learning the so called rules. Sucking in as many influences as possible. Being a musician and learning to Listen in many ways, particularly of you learn a new technique, being able to identify it.

And then dishing out your arsenal when necessary.

Or breaking the rules, an knowing How you're breaking them, so you can really break them.

[quote="132nonamemk\"]stay away from tutorials, books, 3 week music school sessions, and what not. you're not trying to learn how to read. you don't have time to sit and listen to directions. only listen to music & train your ears to listen well. take some ideas from your favorite artists, be inspired.[/quote]

Words of wisdom.

Thank you.

ur2die4 wrote:knowing how you're breaking them, so you can really break them.

jazz bro, dig it
be bop a do bop skiddly bow wow wow