MAKE BEATS FOR RAP

A rap song can be pretty boring without the right beat. The beat is in my opinion the element of the song that takes the rap to the next level and makes it stand out in the crowd. Even 2pac and Biggie would have a hard time if their beats were not up to par.

The two most important elements of a rap beat are its depth and its originality. By depth I mean how it makes you feel when you hear it. Every rap song has a message, and the beat needs to bring that message home.

It is also important that the beat stand out in the crowd. This is where originality comes in. In the first seconds of your beat you have to make it unique so the person who listens to it recognizes the song and are ready to join in on it.

A rap beat typically consists of a loop. A loop is a set of bars repeating over and over. So how to you make a great loop?

Begin with your hi hats. The hi hats sets the basics for your rap beat and let you decide the speed of your beat. There is nothing complex with you hi hats so make it simple. You can add more hi hats later if needed.

Second step is to add the kicks and the snares. The kicks are what most people will consider the baseline. These are the deep elements of the base. The snares are the mid and high tones and are usually lighter than the kicks.

After you have configured the speed and your base line you have your skeleton ready. Next thing is to add your instrumentals and vocals.

It is the combinations all these elements that build the feeling and originality in your rap beat.

There is no need to overdo your rap beats

Many newbies does the mistake of working too much on their rap beats. They add layer upon layer of instrumentals and work the beat line to much.

Keep the beat as simple as possible. It is not how many sounds you have that counts. It is how much the rap beats can bring emotions upon the listener. Spend some time listening to the beats of your favorite producer and you will probably notice that their beats are not very complex. They are simply unique.

Also keep in mind that you are not the Star of your rap beat. This is the rappers job. Your job is to make the rapper have an easy day at work and help him or her bring out the creativity inside.

Hip-hop was initiated as a cultural movement by inner-city youth, mostly Latinos, Hispanics, and African Americans in New York City, in the early seventies. The word "rap" was derived in the sixties, from a slang word that meant conversation.

Hip-hop has two main historical eras, the old school hip-hop era from 1970-1985 and the golden age hip-hop era from 1985-1993. The golden age of hip-hop began only when it entered the mainstream of music and it consolidated the sounds of the West Coast and the East Coast.

The origin of hip-hop music is from African American and West African music. Contributions of griots like The Last Poets, Jalal Mansur Nurriddin, and Gil Scott-Heron were significant in a big way for the advent of hip-hop in the 1960s. Hip-hop had originally begun in the Bronx. Funk and soul music were played a lot in block parties. In the beginning, the DJs at these parties began separating the percussion breaks from hit songs. They started realizing that these breaks were more entertaining and groovy. This technique had become widespread in Jamaica and had spread considerably in the New York community via the Jamaican immigrants.

Kool DJ Herc and Grandmaster Flash were the pioneers in the hip-hop industry and other DJs had extended the short percussion interludes of funk records and created a more danceable sound. As a result, remixes had become popular with the advent of mixing and scratching techniques. Many styles of hip-hop had developed in the golden age of hip-hop.

At present, hip-hop is enjoyed all around the world. In spite, of all the controversies created by hip-hop artists they are still growing in number. Hip-hop music is sold all over the world in stores and even online.

The software available is affordable and of high quality, and YOU retain all artistic license for the great beats you create at home on your computer. Forget about equipment fees and having to schedule your time around other musicians. You'll be creating amazing music from the comfort of your own home.

You will surely be making great beats and loops, but you want to ask yourself - "What makes MY music stand out from others?" You need to be creative and come up with something original any uniquely your own. What great style will you come up with that will want others to hear more and more of your music?

If you have a good ear for music and some creative ideas, you can make your own music at home - even if you don't have much experience.

If you Google "beat making software", you will find many great tools for making music online. You want to be sure that the one you choose has all the bells and whistles the are important in making your style of music. What types of instruments and sounds will you be using? Make sure you get a program with an extensive sound bank.

Maybe you want to break into the rap beat industry. You are going to have to come up with some unique sounds that haven't been heard before. If you persist with enthusiasm, you can do it with these software programs.

If you haven't made music online before, you may be a little intimidated about downloading and using new software. Trust me, though, the interfaces these days are extremely user friendly and they just get more and more easy to use.

You will find that most of these programs offer support in the form of emails. You may run into a problem or just want some advice on achieving what you are after. The answer is most likely just an email away.

You may not have all the skills required when you first start out, but with practice, you can build your talent and skills to levels that will have you amazing yourself!

If you have a good ear for music and the time to practice, you will turn out some fine tracks when you start to make music online.

However, what you need to understand right now is that no one wants to listen to poorly created tunes. Quality is something that people demand nowadays. Therefore, if you want to play a serious part in beat making business, then you need to produce your music in a professional audio recording studio.

I know that running a studio is not exactly cheap, so if you are on a budget, then this is probably not the best option for you. Although, it doesn't that you can't make beats with quality. It is still possible, but you will have to take the advantage of today's technology.

What I'm trying to say is that a beat making software is your only choice. There are loads of different beat maker programs out there on the Internet, which provide pretty good tools for making basic beats. It's a good start for beginners to learn, and then you could progress to advanced software with more features and a bigger price tag.

The key to becoming a professional beat maker is creativity and determination. Don't expect miracles to happen in the first few months, when you begin. It takes hard work and a lot of effort to achieve something in this industry.

The game has changed drastically for beat producers in recent years. Because of the invention of online beat production software. Which means that the software writers can lower their prices by eliminating the costs of packaging and delivering a physical product. And, the competition out there now has increased, so that all the different music software companies wants a top music producer to use their software. These things all work together to make finding a versatile and functional beat maker extremely affordable.

These are the four questions you should ask yourself if you are new to music production when it comes to choosing beat software.

1. Is it Affordable?

As we have already mentioned, beat maker software has become very affordable. And, it should come pre-packaged with good sounding samples. But, it should also be expandable; so you can purchase different sound samples later on, or even record your own.

Most importantly, if it is out of your price range just keep looking. Because you will find something out there that is and has all the features and usability that you need too.

2. Is it Easy?

A well designed software application can mean the difference between spending hours enjoying the creation of your art, or spending those same hours plodding through tutorials and help files. A great beat maker program will be as transparent as possible, and give you the ability to get straight to creating your next big hit without a long ride on the learning curve.

But, don't think for one minute that you have to settle for a trimmed down version just because you're only starting out. Usability and a feature rich interface really can go together.

3. Are the Samples And Sounds High Quality?

The instrument and effect samples should be pre-recorded at least at CD quality sample and bit rates. That is 44.1 kHz and 16-bit PCM wave format, or at least 160 Kbps in mp3 format. Do not settle for anything less than CD quality no matter how cheap the software is. Your creations just don't stand a chance if your raw materials are sub-standard.

A painter always wants to use the finest oil paints to create their masterpieces, right? The same applies to your instrument samples. Otherwise, it may wind up sounding like a wind-up toy.

4. Do the Results Sound Professional?

Here is the bottom line; would you really play this for someone? Friends? Family? How about a Club Owner, or Record Exec? Because, if you wouldn't play the finished beats for anyone; it won't make any difference at all how cheap the software was, or how easy it was to use, or even if the samples are a really high quality. When it comes down to it your beats have to sparkle.

One more thing, when you're ready to output your track; save it in ".WAV" format first. Remember, 44.1 kHz and 16 bit PCM? That way you preserve the dynamic qualities in your "Master". Then, you can also save it to mp3.

If you want to make it big in this industry, you have to make sure that your instrumental beats are really catchy. Whether you like it or not, your song has to have that commercial sound or it would not be profitable on your part. You will also fail to gather listeners if your songs will not appeal to the crowd. If you are new to this, you can learn a lot by simply listening to rap songs. If you want to listen solely to rap beats, you can find tons of samples online.

There are hundreds of websites where you can listen to and download free rap beats. Once you get these rap beats, all you have to do is study how to make one and what it takes to make a catchy beat. The key here is not to put any restrictions and just have fun with what you are doing. If you just have fun, you will surely be able to create instrumental beats that will be loved by the listeners.

Instead of having to spend loads of money on a hobby that you may not like or have loads of time to commit to spending endless hours learning the likes of Cubase, Logic or Pro Tools, you can start to make your own beats today with a software program that takes out all of those variables (especially the frustration!) of making your own music.

This program is DUBTurbo and there is an upgraded version now (DUBTurbo v1.5) that gives you even more sounds, samples, FX and kits that you can use to start making any kind of electronic music from rap, trance, house and even reggae with ease!

DUBTurbo has been getting unbelievable feedback from its users and the music industry in general purely because you do not need to know much about music theory to use it (it has loads of video tutorials if you want to get into the science of it all.) It has been made with the novice in mind and you can be making beats in as little as ten minutes! Just download the software and start adding drums, keyboards and effects over many tracks (64 tracks plus!) using the easy to follow interface.

One excellent part of this software is the ability to import your own sounds so that your music does not become sterile and you won't be hunting for another beat maker in a few weeks as this allows you to be individual with your creativity. There is also a section where you can upload your beats to the DUBTurbo roster for sale.

As DUBTurbo uses WAV files at CD standard, you can be sure that the sound quality that you will be producing is that of industry professionals. All sounds have been produced in professional facilities.

On top of this, you can save your music and burn them to CD track by track which is the norm if you want to make your music commercial.

You could even produce your own album!

I use whatever I want, however I want. Unless I am specifically making a beat of a certain genre.

The best way to get a feel for a style is to listen to some music from it. Ignore everything but the beat and use their rhythms as a starting point. You will find most artists that work in certain genres have similar sounding beats. Just don't rip anyone off, look for inspiration.

The rhythm section of your songs drives the music. There is a reason songs like 'Another one bites the dust' and 'The wall' are almost universally liked. They use simple; yet compelling, percussion and bass. In other words, a great beat.

Lets use Rap / Hip-Hop as an example to start with. I always start with the Kick Drum. I use One or Two kicks, then arrange them in a pattern. In my case, its most often a staggered one-hit,space, one-hit, space, two-hits. After I lay down the kicks I cut their volume low and Duplicate it/them.

I use my EQ to cut everything but the bass on the duplicate, and raise it by 2-5 Db. This gives you that nice deep hit on your sub-woofer.

After I have my Deep Kicks, I either Make a percussion loop, or use one I have bought. I Play the Deep Kick and find a loop I like that fits. I also use Bass Loops. I like to use Rock style Bass Loops, but that's part of what makes my style. Just remember that the bass needs to compliment, not define the beat.
The role of the Bass depends strongly on the style of Hip-Hop / Rap you are making.

In West coast style the Bass is often layered on top of the beat, almost classically inspired, with a cello feel. More a part of the melody than the beat, with the Drums providing the drive. East Coast is more influenced by Battle Beats, so the Bass falls into its traditional role of being part of the rhythm section.

Tempo is also important. Faster beats are fine for some styles of music, and just wont work for others.

Since Rock music is a fluid style of music, trying to tell you there's any short cut to making good rock beats would be a heinous lie.

Similarly Pop music is far too diverse to nail down either.

BUT...here are some general ideas you can use.

1. Decide what style of song you want to make. Aggressive? Something people can dance to? Love Song? Power Ballad? A mix of those?

Figure out what you want to do before you start.

2. Don't try and force it. If you are in a crappy mood, don't try to make a peaceful song. Make a song that says "I want to punch someone".

3. In complete contradiction to number one, I usually just sit down and let my mood carry me through making a song. That's the nature of making music, everyone has their own way of doing it.

Let your feelings compel the rhythms from you. Passion can often carry you through making a song better than thinking about it. The best songs come when you're not deciding anything. The problem is that most people cant do that on command.

When you need to think a song through, do it. When you are feeling the flames of your emotions, don't think, feel!

Chances are that you had a tough time finding much information and found out quickly that you would need to start building your own studio to have a similar quality output. With deep pockets you might be able to fund the acquisition of all the proper equipment you might need, not to mention the major learning curve to figure out all the ins and outs of producing music beats.

This situation poses the question, "What path can I take to start creating hip hop beats quickly?"

Thankfully, there is a program that is a powerful software suite, packed with the technology you need to break into the beat making business. The software is called DUBturbo and the reason it has become so well known is because it offers a holistic answer to the problem of how to get your own beat making home studio up and running.

There are several other fairly popular beat making options available, such as Fruity Loops and Cubase. However, the big barrier is their high cost and investment of time to learn how to use them properly. It could take weeks just to master the basics. With the DUBturbo software you can have your very own Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) downloaded directly to your computer. You will have a fully functioning beat making studio in the comfort of your own home and be able to knock out beats like a professional.

Whether you are a hip hop head or are into techno, rave or rock there is no limit to the amount and types of beats you can create! You will be able to build your very first beat within mere minutes of downloading the software.

Fast-forward from the tribes of Africa to the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the late sixties. The impoverished of Kingston gathered together in groups to form DJ conglomerates. They spun roots and culture records and communicated with the audience over the music. At the time, the DJ's comments weren't as important as the quality of the sound system and its ability to get the crowd moving. Kool Herc grew up in this community before he moved to the Bronx.

During the late sixties, reggae wasn't popular with New Yorkers. As a DJ, Kool Herc spun rhythm and blues records to please his party crowd. But, he had to add his personal touch. During the breaks, Herc began to speak to his audience as he had learned to do in Jamaica. He called out, the audience responded, and then he pumped the volume back up on the record. This call and response technique was nothing new to this community who'd been reared in Baptist and Methodist churches where call and response was a technique used by the speakers to get the congregation involved. Historians compare it to the call and response performed by Jazz musicians and was very much a part of the culture of Jazz music during the renaissance in Harlem.

Herc's DJ style caught on. His party's grew in popularity. He began to buy multiple copies of the same albums. When he performed his duties as a DJ, he extended the breaks by using multiple copies of the same records. He chatted, as it is called in dance hall, with his audience for longer and longer periods.

Others copied Herc's style. Soon a friendly battle ensued between New York DJs. They all learned the technique of using break beats. Herc stepped up the game by giving shout-outs to people who were in attendance at the parties and coming up with his signature call and response. Other DJs responded by rhyming with their words when they spoke to the audience. More and more DJs used two and four line rhymes and anecdotes to get their audiences involved and hyped at these parties.

One day, Herc passed the microphone over to two of his friends. He took care of the turn table and allowed his buddies to keep the crowd hyped with chants, rhymes and anecdotes while he extended the breaks of different songs indefinitely. This was the birth of rap as we know it.

Hip-hop has evolved from the days of the basement showdowns to big business in the music industry. In the seventies and eighties, the pioneers and innovators of the rap record was the DJ. He was the guy who used his turntable to create fresh sounds with old records. Then, he became the guy who mixed these familiar breaks with synthesizers to produce completely new beats. Not much has changed in that aspect of hip-hop. The guy who creates the beat is still the heart of the track. Now, we call him the producer. Even though some DJs work as producers as well as DJs (quite a few start out as DJs before they become producers), today's title "DJ" doesn't carry the same connotative meaning it did in the eighties. Today's hip-hop producer performs the same tasks as the eighty's DJ.

It is, simply put, the vocal quality of your voice. I'd like to take the mystery out of flow in this article. Here's how to strengthen your flow:

MC's are essentially made up of two parts: flow and lyrics. In this exercise you only care about flow. Play a beat and freestyle over it, going as long as you can without stopping to breathe. Don't worry about rhyming; you can just as easily "doo whap" your way through the exercise. The focus should be on developing sounds that connect with each other and the beat.

Try rapping in different accents: English, French, Middle Eastern, whatever. You may laugh, but look at Slick Rick. Next time you freestyle with others, try to focus on lyrics. When you freestyle alone, focus on flow. When you are comfortable with both, try incorporating them together.

Lastly, you want to change your speed. Start off trying to rap as fast as possible, but with a constant beat (early Outkast albums are a lot like this). Then, slow it down and try and keep in time. Now, try to rhyme super fast for eight measures, then super slow for eight measures, then super fast for eight measures, and so on. By working out the extremes, you'll feel much more comfortable changing your speed while rapping, which will make you sound more original and polished.

Well good news!

This article will tell you the 3 methods that you can use to make rap or dance beats online.

There will be more but this article will cover the main ones.

Method 1:  Start reading and swotting up on musical theory as you will need the knowledge as the first way you can get started is to use a powerful tool like Cubase or Fruity Loops - these will allow you to make beats and some really good sounding ones but you will need to know what you are doing.

There are also meant to be used in conjunction with a recording studio so if you want to go the whole hog and do it properly it can end up costing you 00+

Method 2: The second method that you have to do this is to simply do a search for free beat makers online. Now you will not be the next Eminem or Jay-Z with these tools but they are alright for a bit of fun!

Method 3: This method is straight down the middle and my favourite if you want to make some classy beats.

Have a look for some software that will allow you to make beats and that are not as technical as method 1, they are there but you will just have to search a bit harder.

This is my favourite because if you find a good software package and you can make good beats with it, it can also count as a 'primer' for the more advanced software down the line!

I hope this article has told you how you can get started with ease and what you need!

Have fun making music!

Years ago rap music was considered a fad to vanish like the cabbage patch kids. The genre of rap music has thoroughly spread throughout the entire world and not only reaches, but affects and relates to every culture. Many countries histories are connected and deeply rooted in some influence of music, and the gap may be bridged closer.

Music is studied and broken down. Many composers and musicians learn to write scores of music by dissecting, studying and analyzing music of other composers and musicians. Music theory is derived from the analysis of common practices of that music's time and genre. Typical elements that are analyzed in music is it's form, such as intros and cadences, harmonies, rhythm patterns, tempo changes tonality or atonality and melody which are all present in rapping. JackDazey's highly educated world renowned professor tells the class that Rap is not music because it does not contain a melody. Rap is certainly not musically dissonant as the likes of Pierre Schaeffer's Mosque Concrète, whose genius attempt at innovated music technology was difficult to notate on paper like traditional classical music, but it may resemble more the expressionistic era as that of music theorist Arnold Schoenberg. Schoenberg's Sprechstimme is singing in a restricted way to maintain a constant pitch unlike the ups and downs melodic contour most melodies would have when they are played or sung. An example of this would be in Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder or later works by Pierrot Lunaire.

Rap can be notated the same as Schoenberg did for Sprechstimme. However, rap actually has inflection in its speech delivery. This is relative to some exotic scales in which a micro tonality exist like Burmese or Indonesian music. Today's rappers like 50 cent and Ja Rule have distinctive melodic flow. Groups like Bone Thugs and Harmony are actually harmonizing in their rap flow. Rappers like Nelly are practically borderline singing or sprechgesang-ing. Not to mention, the entire above named have been Grammy nominated.

It is always said "to know where you are going, you must know where you are from." Rap is today's urban music. Its techniques are deeply rooted for over 100 years in American music. History serves as a blueprint that has been forged for us to learn from. Does this mean that Germany is the birthplace of rap music? Not quite, though Schoenberg is Austrian he is a well known early American composer, but it puts an end to the debate for historians or ignorant professors on whether the fad of rap is indeed at all music. In a world in which music is a huge part of every one's life, many cultures have been influenced by and incorporate rap into their own native language and music. Billions of profitable dollars have been earned from rap, it is not only grandfathered in as a style of music to last, but worthy of and honorary degree in which the success of hip hop can now afford to buy.

Copyright 2008 Rubin Einstein reprint leaving author and original article intact

Beats in hip hop music is slang for music production and is defined as the entire instrumental, non-vocal part of a song. Beats are basically instrumental music compositions used for rhyming too or recording rap vocals over to make a demo song and in many cases hit music as heard on the radio today.

How can I use Beats for my music project?

Nowadays even singers and songwriters are buying beats online to download and record their vocals over to make a demo cd or hit music. With the proliferation of downloadable music, beats can now be previewed (listened to) online, purchased and downloaded from a host of beat stores. Though predominately hip hop, beats can be found online in a variety of flavors. You can buy professional quality instrumental beats online in just about any genre that suits your style, lyrics and vocal range. Beats are sought by a wide audience of independent artists, rappers, singers, songwriters, pod casters, gaming companies, and filmmakers just to name a few.

A Cheap way to Take your Music to the Next Level!

Traditionally, producing a song with a music producer in your local music studio could cost at a minimum 0 for just one track (beat), and many have experienced times when they were unsatisfied with the results. With beats offered online you can minimize the risk of not getting a track that suits your style. How? You can preview the beat over and over again and sing or rap along to the beat with you lyrics to see how it flows before you buy it. If you don't like a selection simply continue browsing and previewing beats until you find the one that suits you. Beats found online come from a wide variety of music producers worldwide and are diverse and surprisingly cheap.

Many independent artists are raving over the fact that they were able take their music and their career to the next level by improving the quality of their songs with inexpensive pro quality music production found online. Even with a tight budget artists, singer, rapper or songwriter could find several beats that complement their vocal style and delivery for as little as each!

Beware before your buy. Understand your purchasing (licensing) options.

Non-Exclusive Licensing: You can buy (license) and download beats online from as low as .95 each and up to 0 or more. Typically beats in this price range would be non-exclusive and royalty free. In general terms this means that the copyright of the beat remains the property of the creator (Licensor) and is not transferred to you the buyer (Licensee). It also means that the creator can sell it (license it) to an unlimited amount of buyers. Though the terms of a non-exclusive license vary it typically gives you the licensee the right to synchronize your vocals with (record your vocals onto) the music track to make a demo song or in many cases to make a song that can be sold individually or on your album or used for commercial purposes. In this case the buyer (licensee) is not responsible for paying the music producer/creator (licensor) royalties. The nature of non-exclusive licenses vary from site to site and from producer to producer so be sure to verify that you can use the beat for your intended purpose before licensing it.

Exclusive Licensing: You can also buy (license) and download exclusive beats online. Typically these beats are much more expensive than non-exclusive beats and can range anywhere from 0 to ,000 or more online.

Though exclusive licenses vary from site to site and producer to producer the creator (Licensor) transfers copyright ownership of the beat to the buyer (Licensee) upon purchase. The beat (complete musical composition) becomes the property of the buyer, thus the concept of exclusivity. When considering purchasing an exclusive license for a beat be sure to make sure that copyright ownership is transferred to your name and registered with the Library of Congress located here: http://www.copyright.gov/

We talked about dissonance in the melody first. "Why would a song about Winter have intervals that create dissonance?" I said that it was because the cold of winter creates dissonance in us, as we try to brave the cold, bundle up and try to move from one warm area to the next. What about the steady four - four rhythms followed by violin flurries that last an unpredictable number of measures (actually most of them last 3 measures).

We decided that the unmeasured bursts would be the wind.The steady beats could be the sound of one of us trudging through the snow with each laborious footstep with violin flurries blowing the cold air down our throats making it hard to breathe. My favorite thought was the shivering violins in the song's most stable section. Really the most memorable part of the song. In songwriting that would be called prosody---musical sections that represent what is happening in the lyrics.

In my original band Freerider, we used a lot of prosody. We have a song called Ageless Veins, which is all about the Nashua River and some of its history. The introduction uses tapped harmonics on the guitar making a very dripping watery sound. Further in the song, the guitar solo has a whammy bar dive with delay and chorus on it which sounds like a dive to the bottom of a River. From there, the solo seems to flow very dramatically rising to climax. Like Vivaldi's Winter, "Ageless Veins" musically resembles the theme that drives the lyrics.

Understandably, the thought of making your own beats can be rather daunting. Still, you must do your best to see this as a challenge rather than allowing it to discourage you from pursuing your dreams.

Make Your Beats Count...Start by Mastering Your Genre

Of course, don't take this advice to the extreme and challenge yourself into developing a totally new genre. While that's certainly doable, you might need to widen your repertoire a bit before targeting your goal. Meanwhile, there's nothing wrong with devoting your time to polishing your skills and broadening your understanding of your chosen genre. Explore the works of your peers and see if they can inspire you into making your own beats better than ever.

By taking the time to master your genre, you've already placed yourself a step ahead of similarly debuting artists and increasing your potential as a music artist.

One great thing about today's music industry is the improved accessibility to the necessary equipment for hopeful musicians such as yourself. Nowadays, you don't need to spend a huge amount of cash just to afford the requisite technology for making your own beats.

Creating the right beat for your music consists of three major components: midi drum patterns, audio loops, and bass line. These components are applicable to all kinds of music so it's imperative that you understand how they work and what they can contribute to your music.

A song's bass line is its underlying frame. It is composed of a set of notes or beats that will be played from start to finish and which all other elements of your song would have to work with in order to maintain an audible sense of harmony.

Spend as much time as you want refining your bass line. If your bass line doesn't work, the rest of the song won't work either.

The second component you need to concentrate on is the audio loop. This is a general favorite among rap & hip hop beat makers. They are commonly used for altering your music's primary theme or mood. To create one, you simply mix a set of notes from musical instrument or any other viable source of sound. With audio loops, you're free to play and experiment in any way you wish until you hit upon the ideal set of beats.

Last but not the least, you need to create midi drum patterns which go well with the rest of the piece. You can use one set or pattern of notes or merge different sets. Anything goes as long as it enhances rather than detracting from your work.

Sometimes, midi drum patterns aren't a pattern at all. Instead, they're made up of a diverse set of beats but played as repeating loops and acting as something akin to a secondary tier of melody or beat.

To summarize: making your beats always start with building a compelling bass line to stand as your music's foundation then solidifying it with equally well-developed audio loops and one or several midi drum patterns.

If you're ready to make your beats then don't let anything stop you from creating beautiful music for the entire world to hear.

Depending on your situation as far as finances, this article deals with how to make your own beats for free, but there are many pay programs available to those for who that isn't a problem.

In matching your software also shop the features of the different ones available, and match that against your goals for your tracks. They differ in what they offer, so there may be one that offers one thing you need, and another has something else but not that, and then there may be one that has both. Knowing your music goals will help you in shopping the software.

The first brick in this wall is a good sequencer. Two popular ones are Propellerheads's Reason, and Image-Line's FL Studio.

Sound editor comes next. These you will use for editing wave files, a must when using samples. (Samples are parts of audio tracks used as a foundation for your music).

You can obtain samples from numerous places - CD samples, or old records, etc. You'll see once you start to lay your tracks how invaluable a good sound editor is when making your own beats.

To summarize, this article has given you some good general advice on how to start making your own beats.