Dubstepforum.com

I just read the drums portion of the dubstep bible and had a question: when making drums for dubstep, preferably half time or glitch hop, should they be simple? I've been listening to dubstep for years now and I've noticed a common trend in todays dubstep producer's drum patterns.

It always seems to go:
1 - First drum beat, fairly simple to introduce the rhythm.
2 - Different from one, but only a little bit. It's a slight variation from one -- normal only a few instruments added or moved.
1 - Repeated for consistency. Keeps a general flow and makes the pattern remember-able.
3 - Completely different from all the others. It's used more like a tail for 1, as it starts out similar to 1 but then develops to a more intricate pattern used to alert the listener. This is the most impressive pattern, and it links well to 1.

Anyone else follow a similar pattern? I've been making test beats to this pattern and it's working well.

Most every dance producer (and musician) thinks in powers of 2s. 4/4 time signature, phrases of 2, 4, 8, etc.

dubstep drum formula

kick on 1
snare on 3



i've heard a lot of good songs with simple drum beats... but ultimately it depends on the focus of your song.

monkfish wrote:Anyone else follow a similar pattern? I've been making test beats to this pattern and it's working well.

Chop out a 4 bar beat from a tune you like, drop it into an audio editor program (i.e. Audacity) and slow it right now. Play it through and you'll be able to 'see' what beats hit where and when.



Although, personally speaking, one of the things that most attracts me to Dubstep is that it's drum programming and structure is a lot less restrictive than other genres, like house or techno. Put beats where they sound good.