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Chicago house drum pattern

Jacking four on the floor, swung 55-60% (jackin' 60-65%); the kick on the grid, everything else swung. Here are its drums on a step grid, at the tempo it starts at, to hear and to change.

123 BPM · 909 kit · 2 bars · 58% swing

The pattern, step by step

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
The Chicago house drum pattern: the steps each drum plays, bars 1 and 2
DrumBar 1Bar 2
Open hat3, 8, 11, 153, 8, 11, 15
Closed hat1 (soft), 2 (soft), 4 (soft), 5 (soft), 6 (soft), 7 (soft), 9 (soft), 10 (soft), 12 (soft), 13 (soft), 14 (soft), 16 (soft)1 (soft), 2 (soft), 4 (soft), 5 (soft), 6 (soft), 7 (soft), 9 (soft), 10 (soft), 12 (soft), 13 (soft), 14 (soft), 16 (soft)
Clap5, 13, 155, 13, 15
Rim2, 4, 10, 122, 4, 10, 12
Kick1, 5, 9, 131, 5, 9, 13, 15
Open these drums in the editor

They open as one drum lane on a step grid, at 123 BPM. No account needed to start.

How Chicago house drums go

A 707 or 909 kick on every beat with a soft turnaround kick on the and of 4 closing the phrase; clap on 2, 4 and the and of 4; closed hats on every sixteenth except where the open hat plays (the and of 1, the a of 2, the and of 3, the and of 4), in one choke group; 707 rimshots on the e and a of 1 and 3; jackin' takes a ghost kick on the and of 2 and a ghost clap closing bar 2.

Questions about Chicago house drums

What BPM is Chicago house?

Usually 118 to 127 BPM. This pattern plays at 123 BPM.

How do you make a Chicago house drum pattern?

Start with the kick on steps 1, 5, 9 and 13, the clap on steps 5, 13 and 15, the rim on steps 2, 4, 10 and 12, the closed hi-hat on steps 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 16 and the open hi-hat on steps 3, 8, 11 and 15, then follow the grid for bar 2. 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. Open it in the free editor to change any step.

Do Chicago house drums swing?

Yes, about 58% swing: every second step comes a little late, so the groove bounces. The editor plays it that way, and its Steps view can change it.

Make a Chicago house beat

The free editor opens with a whole Chicago house beat: drums, bass and chords, each part yours to change, add to or take away.