| Drum samples come in a lot of flavors in this golden | | | | somewhat varied, but the bass component is not as |
| age of music production. The trouble of choosing | | | | widespread a phenomenon as it is in the rap |
| genre-pleasing sounds is as much of a blessing as it is | | | | production scene. Soul and RnB music have a more |
| a curse. This mix and match policy employed by | | | | focused tendency towards coherence, and you will |
| program library editors serves to inspire new beat | | | | rarely find mixes with drum samples that just don't go |
| makers but also confuses them. When looking for | | | | together. Sometimes this rhythmic dissonance is |
| complementary sounds to use with the currently | | | | welcomed in rap and hip hop, though. |
| selected sounds, what's a guy to do? Look through | | | | For Dance music: Dance music has a predictable drum |
| potentially thousands poorly and inaptly-named files to | | | | samples choice pattern. Besides the switch-ups which |
| locate the next one? There must be a better way. So | | | | normally involve main low-pass filtered sounds at |
| with this said, let's take at a few modifications you can | | | | increased speeds, dance music focuses on the kick. |
| have a go at immediately. | | | | This is one essential part of the music production |
| For Rap and Hip Hop: The range of urban music is | | | | curve here. Add some tone to your kick drum sample |
| now so diverse that most well-used sounds could | | | | instead of just depth and you will see some great |
| pass in a hip hop song. But how do you spice up | | | | results. |
| samples that were clearly not made for this genre? | | | | Using these tips to make and alter sounds is just part |
| One way is to add some vinyl 'air' sounds to the sound | | | | of the process, of course. What makes the rhythmic |
| wave. This will give this particular sound a sampled | | | | elements of these genres unique is the timing, |
| feel, like it came straight off a hot 70s record or | | | | signatures and syncopation, among other distinguishing |
| something similar. Great for those types of rap tracks. | | | | characteristics. |
| If you're making something and trying to be as new | | | | A final word on altering drum samples: make sure |
| school as possible, consider simply mixing one drum | | | | you're organizing the altered versions so you can |
| with another. If your chosen drum sample is low on | | | | easily relocate them for later use. If you're already tired |
| bass, get some lower frequencies in there. | | | | of having three thousand samples to look through for |
| For RnB and Soul: Sounds for this genre can also be | | | | samples that you like, you'll be much better off! |