Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By daddy_Q Tue Apr 25, 2023 2:32 pm
Hello all!
I’m producing rnb, pop music using mpc live 2 (mostly for drums and some sample chopping, but heavy sample chopping done inside of ableton).
I’ve been learning some drum patterns by ear, playing them exactly same or just use step sequencer(or use pencil mode in piano roll.) also. i’ve been playing key/piano for a longtime in different bands so that I usually try to think like drummer.

But I want to expand my language(more patterns).
Are there any good resources for different drum, percussion patterns?

How did you guys start when it comes to programming drum patterns?
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By MPC-Tutor Tue Apr 25, 2023 2:39 pm
I've released an expansion featuring over 300 drum grooves in MPC pattern format, this one covers hip hop, boom bap, lofi, neo soul and a few others:

https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php ... -patterns/

I've got a funk one coming out hopefully on Friday. You can use the patterns straight or examine them to see how they are structured to get an idea how to build your own similar performances. These are all created from real drumming performances, so no quantizing.

My recent 1977 Session Kit expansion also features many MIDI patterns covering different styles such as rock, pop, blues, reggae, jungle, etc (as well as including a fully multisampled acoustic drum kit):

https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php ... ssion-kit/

Dirty drummer also contains many hip hop drum patterns:

https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php ... -complete/
By daddy_Q Tue Apr 25, 2023 4:41 pm
Ok I’m checking it out. Btw appreciate for mpc bible! Loved it!

But as you make all these patterns, apparently you know how to play all of them.
So I guess to answer my question, transcribing and playing on drum pads would be the answer..
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By MPC-Tutor Tue Apr 25, 2023 5:10 pm
daddy_Q wrote:Ok I’m checking it out. Btw appreciate for mpc bible! Loved it!

But as you make all these patterns, apparently you know how to play all of them.
So I guess to answer my question, transcribing and playing on drum pads would be the answer..


I personally don't know how to play most of those patterns, they were originally played by real drummers, but once in MIDI format you can see how they are structured in terms of MIDI events and timing grids. That's one way of learning, but I would also recommend you check out some actual drummer tutorials on youtube where they'll teach common patterns, e.g. straight 8th, 16ths, swing, triplets, different time sigs, half time, etc.

On the flip side there's various resources dedicated to more standard 'drum machine' step sequencer patterns, e.g. http://808.pixll.de/index.php and various drum pattern books which come up on Goggle searches.