| I have been making loops for over ten years & | | | | more time to put in your rock drum fills or, whatever |
| running a beat making classes and song writing | | | | else you want as you have quantise and time on |
| classes for over a year. I am always surprised & | | | | your side! |
| delighted to hear about the stumbling blocks people | | | | Understand what you are doing - Understanding |
| face when they are trying to write either a song or | | | | some basic music theory will help your beat writing |
| a beat.. or a beat to a song or a song to a beat. | | | | ability and will also give you confidence when |
| I am surprised as the most common things I hear are | | | | speaking to others (whether they know the theory |
| normally very similar problems with drum beats or | | | | or not) and it will also have an impact on your self |
| drum loops and they come from all genres not just | | | | belief. You will also be able to read drum notation, |
| problems for programmed drum beats for guitar, | | | | which is very easy and it will improve your drum |
| which is a very common one; especially if the beats | | | | beats being able to drum other peoples' drums, even |
| are not too organic. | | | | if it is played on a pad or programmed in to the |
| I am also delighted as I can give my class a list of | | | | sequencer. |
| helpful insights, hints, tips and answers that have | | | | If you ever see someone you know and they are |
| been tried and tested. | | | | moving ahead of you and you think they are making |
| Here are a few points that I would like you to take | | | | better music than you but you feel you could do |
| on board and blend into your approach: | | | | better. Bets are they have some music theory |
| Get yourself a drum machine or/and a trigger pad - | | | | knowledge. |
| With one of these you can really get the feel for the | | | | Expand your scope - Take some time out to listen |
| drum patterns and drum rhythms. There are plenty | | | | to some different music styles. They will almost |
| of free drum samples around, collect some audio | | | | certainly have different drum styles. If you hate a |
| beats or even some sample beats and assign them | | | | style of music, do not force yourself to listen to it. If |
| to the specific pads and work on some simple beats. | | | | you are a true fan of music it should not be too hard |
| I have come up with some really strong ideas like this | | | | look through your collection of music or go on to an |
| even if you are a drum beginner. Drum beginners | | | | online radio station and find a channel of a genre you |
| need not worry on the trigger pad, if you go out of | | | | know you like. Rock drum loops are probably the |
| time, you can simply quantise your beats/notes in | | | | most versatile and will work well with a lot of cross |
| your sequencer. This also makes beat making a little | | | | over genre style songs. The main thing is to get out |
| more involved and more fun. You will also be able to | | | | of the area most familiar to you so you can come up |
| record and re-record and not feel the pressure to | | | | with something truly original and make what you do |
| perform like a drummer does. You can have a lot | | | | stand out from other peoples solo influence replica. |