How to Make Simple Hip Hop Drum Beats in 30 min
This tutorial is for people who are interested in hip hop beat production, but don’t have the slightest clue where to begin. This will take you through the steps of creating a drum pattern, which will give you a pretty good introduction into beat making. All the software used in this tutorial are free.
By the end of this tutorial you will have covered:
- Sample chopping
- Drum pattern programming
- Basic audio editing
Approx. completion time: 30 min, excluding downloading & installation.
Difficulty: 2/10
Software we’ll be using
Audacity
A freeware audio recording and editing tool that actually is pretty good for it being free. We’ll be using its audio editing capability to chop up drum samples. Audacity is great for first starters. It has all the basic functionality that the expensive professional software like Adobe Audition has. Complete songs can be recorded, edited, and mastered using Audacity. Click the image to download.
Fruity Loops Studio 7 Demo
If you make beats on your PC, this is one of the best and most popular programs. Just to let you know what else is out there, there’s a big debate between Propellerhead’s Reason vs. Fruity Loops among computer producers, but I won’t go into that here. Fruity Loops demo has full functionality except that you can’t save, but you can export as WAV or mp3, which is what we’ll do. Click the image to download.
How Beats Are Put Together, A Quick Summary
A beat is made up of drums, bass, chopped samples, and synthesized or real instruments. We are only dealing with drums in this tutorial. The drum sounds can be obtained by purchasing or downloading free drum kits which contain individual sound files of each type of drum (kick, snare, hi-hat, etc.), chopping up break beats to isolate individual drums, or by recording your own drums. We will be cutting some drums out of a break beat.
Cutting the drum samples
We will use this sample drum loop which comes from ccmixter.org, which hosts a huge collection of free sounds. Right click and download the sample to your hard drive. Open the file in Audacity. (A word of caution: Audacity has a tendency to crash, so always save frequently.)
We are interested in taking the kick, snare, and hi-hat from this sample. Listen the sample, and you can hear several instances of each of these drums. One of the major challenges is finding clean sounds. Luckily, this sample has very little background noise like hiss and static. The best sounds to take are the ones that are most isolated.
Kick drum
All the kick drums are highlighted in green. If you listen to the first two, you can definitely hear the hi-hat on top of the kick. The third and fourth ones also have hi-hats, but it is less apparent in the fourth one, so we’ll use this one.
Selecting the sample
We will have to zoom in to get a good selection. First, select the area around the fourth kick (i.e. a little before it, and a little after it). Then click the button indicated by the red circle. Start your selection at the very beginning of where the sound wave forms and end it at the very beginning of the next sound wave.
Once you have this selected, go to File > Export Selection As WAV… and name it kick.wav. It is a good practice to create a folder for every beat you make to stay organized, so create a folder called “Beat 1” and save kick.wav in this folder.
Snare and hi-hat
Do the same for the snare and hi-hat indicated below in green and name them snare.wav and hihat.wav.
Loading the drum samples
Now we are going to load the drum samples we just made into Fruity Loops.
- Open Fruity Loops.
- Go to File > New
- You should see the default view, which has the default drum kit. We are going to replace these drums with our drum sounds. Click the Kick drum button circled in green and click the load sample icon circled in Red. Browse for your kick.wav and click open. To hear the sample, you can click the waveform at the bottom.
- Do the same for hihat and snare.
- You can go ahead and right click and delete clap, which we will not be using.
Inputting the drum pattern
Understanding the layout
The default view for Fruity Loops is a drum sequencer. What you see in front of you is 1 measure of 4 beats, and it is divided into 16 steps.
Understanding the process
A song is made up of drum patterns. We will create 3 drum patterns (intro, main, bridge) that will make up the song. (Note: this is just an example. Not all songs need to have all these pieces. This just demonstrates the use of patterns.)
Intro drum pattern
We’ll keep the intro simple and program it with just a kick and snare. First we have to set the tempo (speed of the track). Click and drag the tempo down to 96. Generally, hip hop tracks tend to be between 90 to 100 beats per minute. Click in the pattern you see below. If you make a mistake, right-click to unclick a mistake. Notice that this is pattern number 1, and the play mode is pattern.
Main drum pattern
Now we move onto pattern number 2. Click in the pattern number box (right next to tempo) and drag it up one step. You should see your drum patterns become blank. Copy the drum pattern you see below.
Hip hop beats generally always have a snare or clap on every 2 and 4 beat, a kick on the 1 and 3 beat, and hihats on every 2 steps.
Click the play button to listen to the beat. The hihats sound a little too loud, so click the volume knob next to hihat and turn it down to 65%. Look right below File, Edit, etc. to see the actual % volume level.
Bridge drum pattern
Click the pattern number box (right next to tempo) and drag it up one step so that it is 3. Copy this drum pattern.
Programming the song
Now that we have 3 patterns to work with, we can program the song. Click the “View Playlist” button indicated by the red circle. To make it snap to bars, click the “Snap to grid” button and select Bar. Use the pencil and copy in the pattern below. Switch the play mode to song and click play to listen. This is the basic layout of our song.
Exporting (saving) the song as a sound file
Now we will export this song into a file that can be played in an audio player. Go to File > Export > Wav file. Songs are almost always exported as Wav rather than mp3 because of higher quality. Save the song as beat1.wav inside the folder with kick.wav, snare.wav, hihat.wav.
Final touches in Audacity
Open beat1.wav in Audacity. There are a ton of things you can do in here. Just check out the Effects menu, but only a few are logical.
Normalize
Normalize with make the track its maximum loudness without distortion. Select the whole song by pressing ctrl + A (cmd + A on mac). Then go to Effect > Normalize and click OK.
Fade out
A very common feature to end a lot of songs. Select the last 10 seconds or so and go to Effect > Fade Out.
A Note About Equalization (EQ)
For a simple beat like this, you would not need to use the EQ to do something like bump the kick drum. Just turn up the volume on the kick in Fruity Loops. If something can be done more easily in Fruity, then do it there. EQ is useful for a more complete track with instruments, vocals, etc.
So that’s it. Now you are ready to save this song. First, you need to install the LAME mp3 encoder. Instructions are here: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3
To save as mp3, go to File > Export as MP3 and save your song.
Now that you can produce a hip hop beat, try recording vocals over your beat with this 20 min tutorial.
Questions? Comments? Please leave them below.
If you have any general questions as to how to get started in production, try posting your question in the Getting Started forum.
thx said
am September 3 2007 @ 8:32 am
great tutorial
11 Quick Ways to Experiment in Music Production Online | Hip Hop Producer said
am September 3 2007 @ 10:36 am
[...] you are just looking for a tutorial on how to make a beat, see how to make a simple hip hop drum beat in 30 min. aM Laboratory TR-909 Emulator – Flash based drum machine that emulates the Roland TR-90 drum [...]
Cleric said
am November 24 2007 @ 7:16 pm
How would you make a bassline for this beat????
atyanta said
am January 30 2008 @ 4:46 pm
my beat doesnt show up in audacity
handy west said
am April 16 2008 @ 12:53 pm
Its so great for you people coz of yo notes i realy wanna be a producer in Uganda my country for young up coming hiphop musisians.
Am just 20yrs.
I like yo web site.
Thank you.
how to make more professional hip hop beats said
am May 29 2008 @ 7:00 am
[...] where to begin, this 30 min tutorial shows you how to chop up sounds and create simple drum beats.http://hiphop-producer.com/how-to-make-a-simple-hip-hop-drum-beat/Will Clark a new age – Tri Parish TimesIn his music, Clark combines old school flavor with new [...]
james said
am July 14 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Hey man, thanks for this sweet tutorial. I’m not even all that into hip hop!
simon said
am July 29 2008 @ 5:55 pm
fl studio is rubbish, reason + logic are better by miles.
Tawsif said
am July 30 2008 @ 10:32 pm
everything was fine until I cliked “view playlist” none of the bars were showing up
- Tawsif.C@gmail.com
Mally said
am August 26 2008 @ 9:05 pm
How do I take my fruit loop wave files and place them in audacity so that I can audio record to my istrumentals?
DECOMPOZA said
am October 22 2008 @ 5:58 am
Why do you show fruity loops only?
What about Reason?
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cool said
am January 5 2009 @ 3:54 am
coooooooooooooooool
DopeTheUnderdog said
am January 25 2009 @ 12:01 pm
thanks man,this helped me alot
Abbson Hass said
am March 6 2009 @ 4:37 am
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AdamOf93 said
am March 26 2009 @ 1:15 pm
are these downloads genuine, i don’t want to download them if they are a scam
dw2101 said
am April 18 2009 @ 7:25 pm
thanks
sconus said
am May 19 2009 @ 8:11 pm
this be a great tutorial for begginers! I would like to add that both these programs, audacity and flstudio are good starting points. everyone who is interested in beat making should def check em out. thanks for the post!
Johnny Wrecks said
am May 23 2009 @ 1:01 am
FL Studio is the best software for the beginner. Many professional producers continue to use it even after they move on to Reason, Cubase, Logic, etc. Anyone that tells you any different must be too busy taking on multiple penis’ to recognize the capacity of the fl musical interface. Don’t listen to these homo’s, they are just trying to lead you astray.
Phoenix said
am September 8 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Yo thanx for da help now i bet my beats will improve a bit thumbs up
Max Power said
am October 7 2009 @ 3:30 pm
I’m a total beginner with FL Studio but am aspiring to get better and make great hip hop beats. thanks for this tutorial it was a good starting point for us noobs!
chemwile said
am October 21 2009 @ 4:12 pm
yeah men. that tutorial was ok.now i have one hot beat thats everywhere on the radios.
How to Play "Still Dre" on Piano (with notes) | Hip Hop Producer said
am December 22 2009 @ 5:00 pm
[...] Once you get this down, also check out How to Make a Hip Hop Beat in 30 min [...]
20 minute guide: Record Vocals Over A Track | Hip Hop Producer said
am December 22 2009 @ 5:02 pm
[...] This beginner tutorial will guide you through the steps of recording vocals over a beat on your computer using Audacity (free). This is great if you’ve written some ill rhymes and want to spit over a beat, but don’t know where to begin. This will cover basic recording, noise reduction, and compression. If you want to learn how to make an actual beat, check out How to Make a Hip Hop Beat in 30 min. [...]
“Candy Shop” by 50 cent on Piano (with notes) | Hip Hop Producer said
am December 22 2009 @ 5:04 pm
[...] If you want to learn how to make beats, check out How to Make a Hip Hop Beat in 30 min. [...]
masoud said
am January 7 2010 @ 4:28 pm
hi i’m masoud from iran i’m working in lyric writting and beat writting for awhile i know that i have some talent about English rap music but i need some one to support me, to hear my song and to invest on me if you know such person please mail me .thanks masoud63_84@yahoo.com
Dawg said
am January 10 2010 @ 3:43 am
Benefit to Fruity Loops is how easy it is to produce on the fly. You could be on a plane flight and mash out a kickin beat if you got a laptop.
Joe said
am January 12 2010 @ 10:02 pm
Here’s another idea:
Why not learn to actually PLAY the drums and other musical instruments?
It’s really a lot of fun.
mls said
am January 22 2010 @ 5:32 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTXC1eLxwRw what do you think? first beat
sean said
am January 28 2010 @ 6:11 pm
Rojasrecords.com has sick beats and they are all made in fruity loops!! so that guy who said reason and logic are better– is wrong… it only matters WHO is using the program, their talent and their skill level.. duh
bk said
am February 19 2010 @ 4:19 pm
iv seen this site http://www.class4beats.com if you want free drum kits and free downloads check it out!!! its very nice and some kits cost $9.99 and they are very very good
tonyJ said
am February 19 2010 @ 4:21 pm
yo BK sick man.. those drum kits are so good!! WOW ONLY $9.99 and they are are on instant download hahaha awsome
they accept paypal 2 .. u mm 10/10
Ninuio98 said
am February 19 2010 @ 4:22 pm
oww shit !!! teh kits on http://www.class4beats.com are very good.. thankx guys!!! hahah wow $9.99 and the quality is awsome
ty guys
monkey kill'a said
am June 5 2010 @ 11:15 am
I it love man when i was young i use to beat on walls,picnic tables&school tables and the middle of class my mom always told me stop.My classmates and teacher’s to but soetimes they love’d it now i want to persue this but dont know were to begain can you help me pl. ps.monkey kill’a
cj said
am June 7 2010 @ 8:12 pm
if u dont let me record my music i am going to block this fucking website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!