A Guide to Using Drum Samples in Pop Music
Pop music, by it's very definition is the most popular and influential music genre of our time. It has grabbed audiences all around the world thanks to its contagious beats and uplifting melodies. A drum pattern that moves the beat along can be heard behind every great pop tune. We'll look at how to make pop drums from drum samples in this blog post and how it can take your pop music to the next level.
Step 1: Know Your Pop Drum Beats
Knowing the various kinds of pop drum beats is crucial before you begin to create your drum pattern. Pop drum beats can be divided into two categories: contemporary pop and classic pop. While classic pop beats are more traditional and rely heavily on live drums and percussion, modern pop beats (and modern pop sounds) are distinguished by their liberal usage of electronic drums and synths.
Step 2: Get Inspired
Now that you know the different types of pop drum beats, it's time to get inspired. Listen to your favourite pop songs and pay attention to the drum patterns. Try to identify the different beats and rhythms that make the songs so catchy. Take note of the different tempos and time signatures used in each song, and see if you can recreate them using drum samples.
Step 3: Experiment with Different Drum Samples
Making use of drum samples and playing with various sounds is one of the most fun aspects of making pop drums. Numerous drum sample libraries are now readily available, each with a distinctive sound. Play around with several drum samples to find which ones fit your pop song the best. Visit Macdrum.com.
Step 4: Create a Basic Drum Pattern
Now that you've found some inspiration as well as some drum samples, it's time to start making your fundamental drum pattern. Start with a straightforward beat, then progress. Try out various beats and rhythms without fear of failure. Always keep in mind that you want to make a drum pattern that is distinctive and catchy.
Step 5: Add Variations to Your Drum Pattern
It's time to add modifications to your basic drum pattern after you've created it, to make it more interesting. See how your song sounds after adding fills and breaks to your drum beat. To make a beat that is more complicated and dynamic, you can also try including other rhythms into your drum beat.
Step 6: Practice and Refine Your Drum Pattern
Practice and improvement are the last steps in using drum samples to create a drum pattern for your pop songs. Make further adjustments to your pattern until you get the ideal pop drum beat. See how it sounds by attempting to play it along with your favourite pop music. Pick a pop song that you feel is in a similar tempo. Check modern pop music tracks and take note of the production techniques. If required, make changes until you get the ideal percussion that perfectly complements your song.
Pop beats across genres
Pop drum patterns can also be heard in other musical styles including hip hop, disco, and classic pop songs. They are not exclusive to pop music. Hip hop typically uses a more pronounced bassline and a harsher snare beat in its drum patterns, while disco frequently uses a traditional disco groove.
Impact
It's crucial to understand that drum patterns have a big impact on how a song sounds and feels overall. For instance, a faster pace and an upbeat snare rhythm provide an optimistic and cheery ambiance, whereas a slower tempo and a smoother snare sound produce a more laid-back and chill vibe, again often found in classic pop songs.
Grooves
You can add several grooves to your pop drum pattern in addition to using drum samples. Your pattern gains personality and flavour from these grooves, which can set it apart from other pop tunes. Your pop song can have a distinctive twist by, for instance, using a vintage swing groove or a reggae vibe.
Various musical styles
Pop drum patterns are great because they can be modified to fit any musical genre. You can develop a pop drum pattern that is particular to your musical style and distinguishes your pop song from others by experimenting with various drum samples, grooves, and tempos.
Making it memorable
Pop drum patterns play a crucial role in pop music and can help to make your pop song more memorable and catchy. By incorporating drum samples, different drum grooves and experimenting with tempos, you can create a pop drum pattern that is tailored to your musical style and elevates your pop song to the next level.
Kit and sample sounds
The key to a great drum beat is often in the drum kit sound, the performance (if it's a live recording) and a tasteful selection of sounds. A funky kick pattern, hi hats and a great snare drum sound can be a huge factor in the overall impact of pop or rock songs. While classic rock is often more driven with a straight beat and played on an acoustic kit.
Pop songs can often benefit from a cool and quirky percussion arrangement. Think Lady Gaga, The Pet Shop boys, Justin Bieber, the list could go on. Lady Gaga often has varied and interesting percussion on many of her tracks that often cross genres while staying true to her own pop niche.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making pop drums from drum sample is a fun and rewarding process. By following the steps outlined above, you can create the ideal pop drum beat that will elevate your pop tunes to the next level. Take your drum samples, and then start creating your pop tracks as soon as possible.