Drum programming

[scottymac]

Hi Guys

Could someone help me with some programming skills please. I'm looking for some in depth tutorials on creating some interesting patterns that I can start to exploit once I understand what's actually going on. I listen to loops over and over on youtube and I know there's not many parts in but I seem to not be able to pick out what's going on to create similar loops myself. For example , what's going on at the beginning of this track when the closed hats come in at 0:17 secs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO566BKY2Jc

and also I really love the drums at 4:26 in this track below? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKEdgf7IDXE

Ideally I'd like some really well made structural tutorials on midi programming drums. Thanks in advance.

[Idonotlikebroccoli]

The closed hihat in Oxia - Domino sounds like a simple closed hihat playing every 16th note, with a bit of swing (every even numbered 16th note is offset a bit).

The Technasia track (sounds awesome!) is mostly just a regular kick-hat-kick-hat pattern, but with another hihat playing like this:



Then there's some more stuff later on, which brings me to this:

My secret for drums is to make really simple main drums, and then go crazy with hihat/percussion loops (highpassed). I mostly make my own loops now, but there's nothing wrong with using pre-made loops - I still do it from time to time.

Ages ago when I read Computer Music Magazine, a guy said that he'd imagine his beats in slow motion. This helped me out a bit.

Overall, I'd say it's about developing a natural feel for rhythm. Do some drumming, listen to rhythms from all kinds of music, remember that instruments make up rhythm too, take up dancing lessons, listen to nature, make a hundred beats - and then a thousand. Good times!

[scottymac]

Thank you very much for the reply my friend I really appreciate it. I have had a look on youtube for some tutorials and there's quite a few on programming. I was hoping to get a proper in depth course though rather than bash away at random tutorials. I like methodology when studying.

Thanks for the pics too I'm going to experiment with them. Stuff like this would be absolutely ideal. That's actually the kind of thing I'm looking for. Pictures af midi patterns with the names of parts so you can apply them yourself and experiment with them. There must be a course somewhere that has an audio example, pictures and some descriptives for a load of different patterns.. I will bring them to me haha

Thanks again for the post I really appreciate it and I especially like the last sentence haha very refreshing by the way. If anything else comes to mind or you come across anything you think may help I'd love to hear about it. Cheers buddy, have a great day.

[Zyko1]

Thank you very much for the reply my friend I really appreciate it. I have had a look on youtube for some tutorials and there's quite a few on programming. I was hoping to get a proper in depth course though rather than bash away at random tutorials. I like methodology when studying.

Thanks for the pics too I'm going to experiment with them. Stuff like this would be absolutely ideal. That's actually the kind of thing I'm looking for. Pictures af midi patterns with the names of parts so you can apply them yourself and experiment with them. There must be a course somewhere that has an audio example, pictures and some descriptives for a load of different patterns.. I will bring them to me haha

Thanks again for the post I really appreciate it and I especially like the last sentence haha very refreshing by the way. If anything else comes to mind or you come across anything you think may help I'd love to hear about it. Cheers buddy, have a great day.

Hi scottymac

Check out this page: https://www.attackmagazine.com/techniqu ... dissected/

Cheerio
Z

[Shift Gorden]

The closed hihat in Oxia - Domino sounds like a simple closed hihat playing every 16th note, with a bit of swing (every even numbered 16th note is offset a bit).

The Technasia track (sounds awesome!) is mostly just a regular kick-hat-kick-hat pattern, but with another hihat playing like this:



Then there's some more stuff later on, which brings me to this:

My secret for drums is to make really simple main drums, and then go crazy with hihat/percussion loops (highpassed). I mostly make my own loops now, but there's nothing wrong with using pre-made loops - I still do it from time to time.

Ages ago when I read Computer Music Magazine, a guy said that he'd imagine his beats in slow motion. This helped me out a bit.

Overall, I'd say it's about developing a natural feel for rhythm. Do some drumming, listen to rhythms from all kinds of music, remember that instruments make up rhythm too, take up dancing lessons, listen to nature, make a hundred beats - and then a thousand. Good times!

That slow-motion tip is awesome!

idonnotlikebroccoli (me neither) suggested swing - absolutely vital if you want to give your drums a more skippy, natural flavor.

One thing to experiment with is velocities. For example, that 1/16 hi hat pattern - changing the velocity pattern of each hit can dramatically change the flavor of the groove. It's something so simple, but really powerful.

[scottymac]

Excellent stuff guys thank you so much.

[Stromkraft]

Ideally I'd like some really well made structural tutorials on midi programming drums. Thanks in advance.

One great way to learn is to use the Audio to MIDI functionality in Live and take apart drums you like. It's far from perfect but enough to get you started recreating grooves. I usually keep the original on another track until my MIDI part is close enough, then I ditch it. Live seems to struggle with open hi-hats but usually that's the notes with the highest velocity.

With a MIDI track in an acceptable I can now analyze and make my own variations and clean things up as I want in the MIDI programming as well as experiment around and extract grooves and so on.

[scottymac]

@ Stormkraft , thanks for the tip bro.