Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By OldSchool969 Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:31 am
I usually break my beats down to an 8 bar hook/ 16 bar verse (in the latest case just bass filter) in the 80-100bpm range, but I swear it seems like 12 bars is the sweet spot to bring the hook back in.
It just seems like it gets repetitive after 12.

Any input?
User avatar
By Thebluformula Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:05 am
OldSchool969 wrote: I swear it seems like 12 bars is the sweet spot to bring the hook back in.
It just seems like it gets repetitive after 12.


Traditionally 8 bar-hooks is the way to go, but its whatever sounds good to you!!

Music is always going to have that straight repetitiveness
but usually your not able to tell if you have a singer/Mc over it.
If its just a straight instrumental, its gets repetitive after the first 4 bars. So my thing is if its catchy and interesting people won't notice.
User avatar
By damien907 Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:27 am
i feel it on not noticing, although i like to give a emcee 16 bar verses usually.

i think with beat tapes or something, i might try out some 12s.

i do 4 bar hooks alot more often than i will make a 12 or 24 bar verse.
User avatar
By Ill-Green Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:27 pm
Anything that works. I do 10, 11, 15 or even 19 bars if I have to. Nobody knows too its dope. Its how the music grabs and stabs you.
User avatar
By es-k Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:39 pm
if it flows, it flows.. i usually do 4 bar hooks w 12 bar verses.. two or 3 sections that change up every 8 bars is fun too
By OldSchool969 Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:30 pm
Thanks for all the input guys. I mostly just upload for fun so I'll stick with what I want it to feel until I find some MCs.
By jjbing3 Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:41 pm
I think this is my problem. I make beats for an emcee with no emcee so they start sounding repetitive. It has to be repetive though so the rapper can do his thing. If you change it up too much too often, he/she gets lost. Pick your poison.
User avatar
By Ill-Green Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:21 pm
**** an emcee, I make beats without any type of emceeing in mind. That comes in when I get kooky and be like "I'm gonna rhyme over this bwahahaha!!!"
User avatar
By Sm0keydaBear Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:34 am
Yah, I too sometimes follow the 16/8 bar verse/hook but mostly it's coming down to what I can feel best. I mean, when fingerdrumming, I'll bust an 8/8 but more often than not, it will sound like it's all 1 bar, so I dunno the diff.
By witch Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:15 pm
girls love the 12 bar groove -keeps em frisky as hell
User avatar
By chrisrob101 Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:02 am
I think it depends very much on the beat. You can have any length of verse or chorus that is boring just because it doesn't really work or sounds a bit flat or overworked or you can have something that bangs but is very simple or catchy.

The main thing for me is the progression, I'll start with something simple but dope, keep it and then just change all the little details so if I have a little glitchy sound effect come in on bar 2 I'll have something similar but not the exactly same come in on 4 and so on and so on, I'll change up the drops and the breaks every chance I get, bring in a little subtle percussive layer at a certain point, take something away, work with the space, let an 808 kick sound out on its own at the start of the loop and have everything cut back in immediately, whatever.

Basically, I think the key to keeping it interesting is to work with the little details as much as possible so long as it doesn't detract from the main idea - you'll be surprised how these little changes every five-seven seconds or so keep it fresh and keeps the listeners attention. It's pure pop (**** horrible word) really.

Oh and blaze a fatty.