What a beat is made of
In beat making, a beat is a rhythmic pattern built from drum sounds. Start with a few sounds and decide when each one plays.
- Kick
- Also called the bass drum. On an acoustic kit it is played with a foot pedal. It gives the beat its low thump.
- Snare
- A drum struck with a stick, with a short, bright sound. A clap often plays the same role in electronic music.
- Hi-hats
- Two cymbals. Closed, they give a short tick; open, they ring longer.
Find the tempo
The tempo is the speed of the beat, measured in beats per minute (BPM). At 120 BPM, there are 120 beats every minute. Each style has its usual range:
- Hip-hop60–100 BPM
- House115–130 BPM
- Dubstep135–145 BPM
- Drum and bass160–180 BPM
These are typical ranges, not rules. On the pads of Beat Maker Pro there is no tempo setting: you keep the pace with your taps, and the lessons play each beat at its own tempo so you can follow along.
Build your first beat, step by step
For this 4/4 pattern, count four beats, then repeat. Each group of four beats forms a bar. Build your pattern on that count, one sound at a time.
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Snare | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | · |
| Hi-hats | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● |
Start with the kick
Put a kick on the first beat of the bar. In house and techno, the kick often plays on every beat, a pattern called four-on-the-floor.
Add the snare on 2 and 4
A snare or a clap on the second and fourth beats gives you the backbeat.
Fill the space with hi-hats
Closed hi-hats between the kicks and snares keep the groove moving. Try an open hi-hat now and then for a lift.
Add bass and melody
In Beat Maker Pro, pads are colored by family: drums, bass, lead and effects. Once your drums feel right, add a few bass notes, then a short melody on top.
Record your take
Tap REC on the pad screen and play your beat. More about the pads.
Learn real beats with lessons
Every sound pack in Beat Maker Pro comes with lessons that teach you a full beat in short parts. The app plays each part first, then you play it back as the pads light up, and every tap is scored for timing.
It is a good way to hear how kick, snare, hi-hats, bass and melody fit together before you play your own ideas.
How lessons workQuestions & answers
A few things worth knowing
Can I make a full song with Beat Maker Pro?
Beat Maker Pro is made for playing beats live on pads and learning them with lessons. It has no timeline to arrange a song and no audio effects. You can record what you play and share it as an audio file.
What tempo should I use for a hip-hop beat?
Hip-hop is usually between 60 and 100 BPM. House sits around 115 to 130 BPM, and drum and bass much faster, around 160 to 180 BPM.
Do I need to know music theory to make a beat?
No. Counting to four is enough to start. The lessons of Beat Maker Pro show you which pad to tap and when.