Simple Sampling FAQ

Alright I've been making music for about 2 years now. And I love sampling. But my problem is I just pick whatever sample I come across. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.....So what Im trying to do is start from scratch. So my question is this (1)How do you know what to sample? (Meaning how do you know what sample/record/song to look for) I know it might sound like a simple question but if you don't know what your looking for then how do you know what to sample? I think once I know the answer it will make my sample digging alot easier. Any suggestions would be great thanks.

NICE AVATAR REFERENCE...!


but seriously what flavor ice cream should I eat tonight......?

ok.......I don't think i understand that....Anyway, I know it sounds silly but this is actually a good question. I mean, if your just starting off, you need to know the basics. And I think this is a good question that will get people on the right direction to go. Yeah you can dig all day but what do you look for, how do you know what record to sample?

reampcc wrote:how do you know what record to sample?

just imagine if this was a cooking forum and the question was

"how do you know what ingredient to cook with"

there would be no answer. There is no real "record to look for". Listen to what you like, sample what you like, make what you like.

The obvious is to dig up old Soul records but its to the point where anyone grabs a soul record and loops it up and all of a sudden they're soulful producers.

first records I sampled were hand me downs. I sampled everything on them and worked with what I had.

ask yourself this question........

think of the greats in the hip hop production game.......i.e. Premier, HiTek, kanye, whomever you fancy.....

unless their friends gave them suggestions, i don't think strangers/ or anonymous competition gave them any competitive edge.


There is a art in diggin too.....! People spend YEARS and $$$ collecting music, whether it be obscure or popular..........so why give away secrets or good finds.....?

let ur EAR, become the baseball glove....... catch every little thing possible....

Alright....I see what you guys are saying. I just thought there was an easier way to digg. Like I said I've been doing this for only 2 years so Im sorry. Im not fully educated on the art of sampling. I just sample whatever I hear or if someone uploads it. I just wondered what made producers go about finding or sampling a certain records. Mainly how do you know what records to sample....But it's all good. 'Preciate the responses. Peace.

"Like I said I've been doing this for only 2 years so Im sorry. Im not fully educated on the art of sampling."

Not an excuse, its actually quite alright....no need to apologise sometimes guidance is better than the answer outright

"I just wondered what made producers go about finding or sampling a certain records. Mainly how do you know what records to sample."

could be horns, or drums, or they are just a fan of the genre, artist, melody made them do a double take, record ti, chop it, re-arrange it.......

Cool thanks

damn people!

this is art, there are no rules.


it is about conveying feelings, and emotions.


sample whatever makes your head move,
or gives a special feeling in your chest.

DONT SAMPLE JUST TO SAMPLE!!!!!

LISTEN FIRST OPEN YOUR EARS OPEN YOUR MIND TO DIFFERENT MUSIC MUSIC OUT OF TE NORM.

WHEN A SAMPLE IS PRESNET YOU WILL KNOW YOUR EARS WILL TELL YOU YOUR HEART WILL TELL YOU.

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN FIRST AND FEEL THA MUSIC YOUR LISTENING To.

if you sample just to sample you wont last long in this sport and you will collect JUST samples.
train your ears by listening, hard to do this day and age,but theres so much music out there