There are some simple steps to follow if you are learning how to make beats. The process of making your own beats is fun, however, it can be frustrating if you don’t know where to start. Here are some ideas to help you when trying to make your own beats.

Knowing the style of beat you want to make is the first step. Decide whether you want a rap, hip hop, pop, country, r&b, jazz, etc. type of beat. This will keep you focused on the type of beat you are trying to achieve and help to get you start on the right path.

Thinking of an artist who you would like to make a beat for will help you achieve the type of beat you are looking for. If you choose to make a rap beat, choose an artist that you would like to create a beat for. Knowing the artist’s music will help you focus on the type of beats the artist sings over and help you focus on the type of beat you are trying to create.

Once you have nailed down the type of beat you would like to make, you will need to format the song. The most basic song format is 2 or 4 bar intro, 16 bar verse, 8 bar chorus, 16 bar verse, 8 bar chorus, 16 bar verse, 8 bar chorus or you can just do an 8 bar loop. It would be a good idea to listen to the music of the artist you are trying to create a beat for to see how their songs are formatted.

Next you will want to start creating your beat with drums. Record a pattern for four bars with kick, snare, and hi hat first. Then layer that with some other sounds like toms. Your drums need to hit hard and they are the most important component to making a beat. Now you are ready to create the melody. Add in some other instrumental sounds such as guitar, horns, etc.

Now that you have made the beat you want, you can just layer the beat by using the same pattern you did with one instrument with a different instrument. This will fill in any gaps in your beat and make it sound better.

These tips should help you learn how to make beats with less frustration and have fun while doing it!

Source by Mike Roosa