How to Write StandoutDrum Beats. Free PDF Tutorialincludes multitrack MIDI file If the link above does not work, paste this into your browser:https://hackmusictheory.com/album/2515384/standout-drums Intro. A standout drum beat can make or break a song. Want proof? Listen to the new Aphex Twin single “Blackbox Life Recorder 21f”. He’s actually reversed the roles of the instruments in this song, as the melody, chords and bass step into the background while the drums take centre stage. In other words, if this song was played by a live band, the spotlight would be exclusively on the drummer. Drummers rejoice! So, what makes the drums deserving of the spotlight? Well, compared to the “regular” beats you hear in most songs nowadays, Aphex Twin has added a whopping 5 standout features to his drum beat. Each standout feature elevates Aphex Twin's drums to the next level, and in this tutorial you’ll learn all 5 levels of that standout-ness. But, these levels are totally independent (they’re not accumulative), so you can use only the levels that your song requires. And remember, if you use all 5 levels, your drums will demand the spotlight too, so your other instruments will have to step back. If they don’t, you’ll have a fight on your hands, and no producer wants an instrument fight, not in your DAW at least. Right, click the link below and subscribe to learn how to make your drums worthy of the spotlight. But first… Tea! Level 1. Off-Beat Before we can elevate a regular drum beat, we need that regular beat to start from. So, create a 4-bar loop on your drum track, with the grid on 1/8 notes and your tempo at 134 BPM. Now, throw in a kick on beat 1 in every bar. Then, draw in a standard 1/8 note pattern on the closed hi-hats, and lower the velocity of every off-beat hit, so it doesn’t sound rigid. Lastly, add a regular backbeat snare to each bar, which is on beat 2 and beat 4. Right, so arguably the easiest way to make your drums stand out, is by disrupting that regular backbeat snare. This is because snare hits punch through your music (and the mix), so to the average listener, the snare is the most noticeable element of the drums. Mess with the backbeat snare, and you’ll instantly get people’s attention! So, move one of your backbeat snare hits on beat 4 over to beat 4+. This accenting of the off-beat is called syncopation. Drum beat with one syncopated snare hit (highlighted) Level 2. Cross-Stick We’re still on the snare for level 2, but instead of moving hits, we’re adding hits. And not just more snare hits, we’re gonna add cross-stick (or side-stick) snare hits. What on earth is a cross-stick snare hit? It’s when the drummer lays the drumstick on the snare drum with the end of the stick going over the side of the drum (i.e. the rim). The drummer then plays the snare by lifting that end of the stick up like a lever and hitting it back down on the rim, all while the other end of the stick stays on the head of the drum. This cross-stick snare technique creates a sound that’s similar to hitting a wood block (but with a little rattle added, from the snares), and while it may be common in genres like jazz, it’s rare in most popular music genres. What makes this even more unique is the fact that Aphex Twin uses both regular snare hits and cross-stick snare hits in the same beat. Usually when you hear a cross-stick snare in a beat, you won’t also hear a regular snare. The reason for that is because the drummer has to change their grip to play these two techniques. Aphex Twin plays the cross-stick snare on every beat 2+. You can play it wherever you want though, as long as it’s syncopated, otherwise it won’t stand out. Drum beat with syncopated cross-stick snare hits (highlighted) Level 3. Toms Now, change your grid to 1/16 notes, as things are about to get even spicier. Level 3 is not just about adding 1/16 note syncopation (which stands out even more than 1/8 note syncopation), it’s also about adding more drums. Yes, it’s time for toms! Toms are usually only used in drum fills*. It’s exceptionally rare to hear any toms in a drum beat, but that’s exactly where you’re about to put them. So, at the end of bar 2 and bar 4, add a few syncopated toms. You don’t want too many, otherwise you’ll end up making it sound like a fill. And be sure to play at least one tom on a syncopated 1/16 note, like beat 4a (see last note in bar 2 below). Drum beat with syncopated toms (highlighted) *Visit Drums if you want to learn about the function of each element of a drum kit, as well as getting your hands on all our essential hacks for better beats and fills. Level 4. Triplets Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more syncopated… Change your grid to 1/16 triplets. Spicy!! Aphex Twin uses maximum level syncopation here, by adding a couple 1/16 triplet kicks. These kicks will ...
