4 different DnB beat tutorials (For the new beginners)

Mr Fletch

Mr Fletch

aka KRONIX
VIP Junglist
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Location
Essex, England
So I've seen a few threads recently regarding simple drum and bass beats, and how to achieve them. Now I know most of us on here know how to create our drums etc, but this is aimed at the new guys, and this is me trying to be a changed man, and help out the new guys lol.

So, first off I'd like to point out that I'm no master or anything, just a regular joe that hangs around these parts, and wanted to be of help.

Before we begin, I'd like for you to understand what I have done in the patterns, so I have put this simple guide together for you to understand what instruments are what, most of which are self explanitory.

G KICK 1 - A really quiet kick sample
KICK 1 - A simple kickdrum sample
KICK 2 - Another simple kick drum sample
SNARE 1 - A simple snare sample
SNARE 2 - Another simple snare sample
C HAT 1 - A closed hi-hat sample
C HAT 2 - Another closed hi-hat sample
O HAT 1 - An open hi hat sample
G SNARE 1 - A snare sample that is quiet in volume, sitting at the back of the mix
G SNARE 2 - same as G SNARE 1, but a different sounding sample
G SNARE 3 - You get the drift by now, same as before, quiet, and a slightly different sound
RIMSHOT 1 - A rim shot sound, like hitting drumsticks on the side of a snare drum
SHAKER 1 - A shaker sound, like marracca's or something similar.

So, now you understand what each instrument is, on with the simple patterns.

Pattern 1

Pattern1image.jpg


Which sounds like this

https://soundcloud.com/dnbforum-tutorials%2Fpattern-1

Pattern 2

pattern2image.jpg


Which sounds like this

https://soundcloud.com/dnbforum-tutorials%2Fpattern-2

Pattern 3

pattern3image.jpg


Which sounds like this

https://soundcloud.com/dnbforum-tutorials%2Fpattern-3

Pattern 4

This is the pattern that is a little unconventional, and was me just toying with different ideas, this is also the pattern that uses quiet snares and rimshots.

pattern4image.jpg


Which sounds like this

https://soundcloud.com/dnbforum-tutorials%2Fpattern-4

Hope this has been of some help to you. Like I have said, I'm no master, and with a little more time I could have come up with better. But hopefully there is enough here for you to grasp a rough idea of how single hit beats are made, without the use of breaks.

If there's anything else you would like to know, post in here, and if I can help, I'll be glad to. If not, I may know someone who can help.
 
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Nice work.

I'd also like to point out that looking up music notation for drummers is very useful, for instance The Breakbeat Guide by Ydna Murd is full of these patterns http://drumgate.com/Drum_Books/drum_books.html

It's designed as training exercises for drummers, so the score is written out with variation after variation, most of them excellent beats in their own right.
By the way, drum notation has the kick at the bottom, the snare in the middle, and the hats at the top, which makes your images look upside down.. I know it still works, but there's a standard way to do this already :)

Here is an example exercise:
http://drumgate.com/Free_Lessons/Lesson_35/Drum_BassBusyBassdrumGroove.pdf
and a video of the author playing it:
http://www.youtube.com/jungleritter#p/u/54/cakp93ckyQ8

His other videos may very well be of interest too. Like this one on fills http://www.youtube.com/jungleritter#p/u/28/4VOSfJ1_08g
 
Well I didnt know that lol!

Sorry dude, I've always worked top to bottom, and always started my drum patterns with a kick, then snare then hats and other percussions. Just the way I've always worked, didnt realise there was a set way to do it.

Turn your moitor upside down and all will be groovy lol! ;)
 
Cheers for this mate, am i right in thinking that i only need one kick, one snare and one hat tho?
 
Well as you can see I've used two kicks, two snares, both of each hitting at the same time. This is just like layering to help give it more punch. I've also used two different closed hats that hit at different times to give more of a rythym.
 
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