How do you start when making beats?

Just got an MPC2000 and tried to make my own basic beats with drum sounds but they sound like shit. I'm totally new to the whole thing but really want to learn.

A lot of times when I'm listening to songs, I can recognize a lot of similar basic beats. When making a beat, do most people select from breakbeats and just add samples or do most make their own beat starting from scratch using just individual drum sounds and beating on the pads?

PS: if any of y'all live in the DC Metro area and can help me out in learning this thing, all I want is someone to show me in person the basic process. I've bought beattips manual, a prosounds dvd on making beats, and some other vhs tape but still want to talk to someone in person.

i think it would be safe 2 say that most of us start from scratch and build up with individual sounds...... Not much creativity in using a whole drum sample as your drums..... thats lazy, lol, no offense to those of u who do it

I think the best way to get into making beats is to analyze professional songs, look at what type of samples they use, what type of drum patterns, study their arrangement and take some time out and try to duplicate it exactly and you'll be surprised at how much that teaches you, it's almost like you're learning techniques from the pros. After that you'll have the confidence and know how to make your own original jams.
I hoped that helped.

Props to DC Metro. I'm from Reston. Live in LA now. If I was still there I would help you. All I can tell you is:

A) be a sponge - listen and analyze any and everthing. Try to get an intern gig at a local studio. See how cats are gettin' down. Ask questions.

B) Practice and experament. Don't expect your first beat to be a monster. Make 100 whack ones. Its ok. You should get better each time you sit down in front of your MP. Maybe the 101st will be the block buster.

C) There aint really no set formula to it. Tried and true for sure, but inspiration comes from probably some of the most obscure places.

D) Be original. self explanatory. Also stock sounds are whack. You've got to start building your own library. (Been working on mine for ten years)


Enough for now. Hope this helps

bi1lion wrote:When making a beat, do most people select from breakbeats and just add samples or do most make their own beat starting from scratch using just individual drum sounds and beating on the pads?

On the real homie, everyone is different. Peeps got their own lil formulas, ya know? Personally, I don't make beats by the same method each time. Like jonespnice said "analyze professional songs, look at what type of samples they use, what type of drum patterns, study their arrangement and take some time out and try to duplicate it exactly and you'll be surprised" Throw on some of your favorite songs and try to listen to every sound that is used in the track. Look to that for some beat making inspiration. Or find a basic loop and try to build a drum loop over it. Turn off your quantize so you can have total freedom to go buck-nutty on the drums if you'd like LOL Have fun homie...peace

Billi-yon;
I usually start on the one...the kick drum.
Once I have a interesting spacial thang going wit the heart beat of the song, just using the kick drum. Then I move to other instruments. But the one is the key. If that ain't dope, it's really hard to continue. (although we all do) And with the one, you either feel it or you don't.

There is a god article floating around online about drum programming. Do a search here and elsewhere. It will really help you out.

The other thang is to sample a drum loop that you like and try to replay it with you own sounds. Slowly, you'll get it down.

Peace and good luck.

wassup man? I stay in maryland. I work in va around tysons corner (mclean)...

where in VA you live? Maybe I can help. I stay in Largo, MD. Im in and out the city always everyday...as well as VA. let me know

But to answer your question, I love to work around drums that are already looped. I have thousands of drum loops. From simple to complex. But it all depends on where Im tryna go wit the beat. But if you do decide to start from scratch, you gotta know how to keep the beat movin'.

Seems like the best way is to just put in a lot of time messing with the mpc to gain as much experience as possible. I'm also gonna PM my man from Largo, MD since I also work in Tysons Corner, VA and hopefully I'll be able to get things poppin soon. Any additional comments are definitely welcomed, I can never get enough advice at this point.

i start with whatever catches my ear.

if the first thing that catches my ear is a melody. thats my start. bassline? start there. just found some dope drums. chop em up and get em goin.

whatever catches your ear to give you the sound you want. then build from there.

I sample breakbeats and cut them up in trim with the zome option. I isolate the whole beat into how many beats or what sounds I need. 2 bar breakbeat would = 8 zones. I then slice them into a new program and replay that beat back switching pads around while Im playin. You just mix up the order of the chops and just make your own beat outta it. When you do it like this, use FULL LEVEL and turn timing:off. Full level is used because these breaks already have dynamics like velocity. Then I chop some other stuff or loop someover ish. And make a bass line on my synth. Tahdow

Yeah, Usually I start with a melody first, cuz i'll be practicing the piano, and end up thinking of a melody, but don't think thats the only way to do, because thats not even the only way that I do. Sometimes i won't be able 2 think of a melody and just throw a drumline down and then later try 2 put a melody to it.....

put on some sample friendly vinyl, boot up the mpc, check this site for some added inspiration, and go...

incurablebeatlust wrote:put on some sample friendly vinyl, boot up the mpc, check this site for some added inspiration, and go...

lol fasho

Time in the MPC is important but study and advice can not only be a major timesaver, but you might actually be good People that are pretty confined are missing out on what people mingling can get

I start off by finding the center part of the song and then building on that. It can varies from song to song.