Drum Samples – Sequencing and Bars

The number of bars with drum samples in the average song can actually vary quite a bit. Usually, when determining bar length, one would look at the total run-time of the song and make calculations based on that. It can get complicated with certain loops, however. When composing an average loop, four bars is a good, solid number to start with musically. Often enough, this number can give your listener a good idea of the outline of the song and the way things will end up sounding eventually. Going any more isn't really worthwhile, while a few bars less (let's say, two) will not be a good enough sample to base any opinion on. Four bars is usually enough to also add some variance in the drum samples towards the end. While velocity modification is a great technique to make use of, also introducing instruments towards the end can be a great way to spice things up in your beat. You want to keep the listener comfortable and on the edge of his or her seat at the same time. The second most popular number of bars to base a musical loop on is sixteen. Why is this? Well, in hip hop and rap, 16 bars is the standard length for a rapper's verse. So it turns out that using this figure to structure a loop on is great. Your creative limits are really tested, and to keep things moving through the whole verse length can be quite a challenge. One common tip is to introduce the hi-hats at the half-way point, and this will add another layer to the variance required to develop a great beat. At the end, start working on your pre-chorus skills. When considering changes to the music, you can easily look beyond drum samples and even instrument patches and notes. The more advanced composers will start some new harmonic progressions or expand the note selection in current form. If you change multiple things at once, this is a very powerful message to your listener that things are not at rest; movement is in the air! If you really are serious about sequencing and arranging the next smash hit, think outside the box as well. Combine some methods, and utilize the vocals more, don't just focus on the drum samples and instrument patches. Your singer could suddenly go from boring and predictable to wild and energetic in a matter of just a single bar. Keep your listener guessing 'til the end! With all of this on the table, you may be asking, "so what's the easiest way to switch up the music?" The answer is indeed drum samples. It's so easy to change the sequencing here, and your singer does not need to do anything different, and your keyboard player doesn't need to come in again to lay down new harmonies for the song. It's that easy. Want to find out more about drum samples? Then visit the web's number one hip hop samples portal for all your needs.