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Drum patterns

Where the kick, snare and hi-hats go in each style the editor knows, on a step grid at the style’s tempo. Hear one, then open it in the free editor and change any step.

TrapBoom bapHouseReggaetonUK drillLo-fiHip hopAfrobeatsRockDrum and bassJersey clubAmapiano

The basic drum beat

Most beats grow from the rock beat: the kick on steps 1, 7 and 9, the snare on steps 5 and 13 and the closed hi-hat on steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. Each step is a sixteenth note, four to a beat: step 1 is beat 1, 5 is beat 2, 9 is beat 3 and 13 is beat 4. A lit square is a hit; a fainter one is played softer.

  • Hit
  • Softer hit

More about it on the rock drum pattern page.

Every drum pattern

Each style at the tempo it starts at in the editor, and the range it is usually played in.

Trap

Trap drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Trap140 (130–160)
Trap-soul140 (120–150)
Pluggnb130 (130–150)
Rage155 (140–170)
Plugg150 (140–160)
Detroit / Flint210 (200–220)
Cloud rap140 (130–150)
Latin trap140 (130–160)
Melodic trap145 (130–160)

Drill

Drill drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
UK drill142 (138–146)
NY drill144 (140–150)
Chicago drill140 (120–150)
Jersey drill142 (135–150)

Hip hop

Hip hop drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Lo-fi80 (70–90)
Boom bap90 (84–100)
West coast95 (88–105)
Hip hop90 (80–100)
Trip hop85 (70–100)
Memphis rap136 (120–150)

Phonk

Phonk drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Phonk145 (130–160)
Brazilian phonk130 (125–135)
Drift phonk115 (90–120)

R&B

R&B drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
R&B90 (85–115)
Slow jam R&B72 (60–80)
Neo soul82 (70–100)
New jack swing102 (95–110)

House

House drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
House124 (118–128)
Afro house122 (118–124)
Deep house122 (118–124)
Tech house126 (124–128)
Disco120 (110–130)
Future house126 (124–130)
Slap house122 (118–126)
Tropical house108 (100–125)
Chicago house123 (118–127)
Progressive house125 (120–128)

Techno

Techno drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Techno130 (125–140)
Melodic techno124 (120–128)
Hard techno150 (140–160)
Detroit techno125 (118–138)
Dub techno120 (110–135)

EDM

EDM drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Dubstep140 (138–150)
Trance138 (130–145)
Hardstyle150 (145–160)
Future bass150 (130–160)
EDM128 (124–132)

UK bass

UK bass drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
UK garage132 (128–136)
Grime140 (138–142)
UK funky130 (128–132)
Bassline house138 (135–142)
Speed garage135 (130–140)

Drum and bass

Drum and bass drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Drum and bass174 (170–178)
Jungle165 (160–172)
Breakbeat128 (100–140)
Breakcore180 (160–200)
Liquid drum and bass174 (168–176)
Neurofunk175 (172–178)

Club

Club drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Jersey club140 (130–145)
Footwork160 (155–165)
Baile funk130 (125–135)
Gqom124 (120–127)
Baltimore club130 (125–135)
Miami bass132 (125–140)

Afro

Afro drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Afrobeats106 (98–115)
Amapiano113 (108–116)
Afroswing102 (95–110)
Fela afrobeat112 (100–130)
3Step118 (112–126)

Latin

Latin drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Reggaeton94 (88–100)
Cumbia92 (85–100)
Moombahton108 (100–115)
Dominican dembow125 (115–135)
Salsa180 (160–220)
Bossa nova130 (120–145)
Bachata128 (120–140)
Corridos tumbados112 (100–130)

Caribbean

Caribbean drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Dancehall96 (90–105)
Reggae75 (60–90)
Soca158 (150–165)
Rockers reggae72 (60–85)
Steppers76 (65–90)

Pop

Pop drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Pop110 (95–125)
Synth-pop118 (110–130)
Synthwave100 (80–140)
Hyperpop160 (140–205)
City pop112 (100–125)
K-pop120 (100–160)
Dance-pop124 (115–130)

Soul and funk

Soul and funk drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Gospel100 (65–170)
Funk104 (88–115)
Soul112 (70–135)
Doo-wop66 (55–80)
Southern soul108 (100–115)

Jazz and blues

Jazz and blues drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Jazz140 (100–220)
Blues60 (45–160)
Jazz waltz150 (100–200)
Latin jazz160 (100–220)

Rock

Rock drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Rock120 (90–160)
Punk170 (140–220)
Metal160 (100–200)
Country110 (80–150)
Indie rock124 (100–150)

More styles

More styles drum patterns and their tempos
StyleBPM
Waltz90 (84–180)
Chiptune140 (100–180)

Questions about drum patterns

What is a drum pattern?

A loop of hits for each drum: where the kick, snare, hi-hats and the rest play over a bar or two. Producers program one on a step grid; drummers count it as 1 e & a 2 e & a.

How do you read a drum grid?

Each row is one drum and each square a step. In 4/4 a bar has sixteen steps, four to a beat, so steps 1, 5, 9 and 13 are beats 1 to 4. A lit square is a hit, and a fainter one is played softer.

What is the most basic drum beat?

The rock beat: the kick on beats 1 and 3, the snare on 2 and 4, and the hi-hat on every eighth note. Most pop, rock and hip hop beats grow from it.

What is swing in a drum pattern?

Playing every second step a little late, so the groove bounces. 50% is straight; around 58% is a light hip hop swing, and 66% a shuffle.

Can I use these drum patterns in my own beats?

Yes. They are common grooves, written out as steps. Open one in the free editor, change it, and build your beat on it.

Build a beat on any of them

Open a pattern in the free editor and it plays on a step grid. Change any step, then add bass, chords and a melody, each as its own part.

Open the basic beatChord progressions

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