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Slow jam R&B drum pattern

Smooth and laid back, felt as written at 60-80 with the backbeat on 2 and 4 (trap-soul is the same feel written at 120-150 with the snare on 3); sixteenth hats swung lightly. Here are its drums on a step grid, at the tempo it starts at, to hear and to change.

72 BPM · 808 kit · 2 bars · 55% 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
  • Roll: quick hits inside one step
  • Lands between two steps
The slow jam R&B drum pattern: the steps each drum plays, bars 1 and 2
DrumBar 1Bar 2
Open hat77
Closed hat1, 2 (soft), 3, 4 (soft), 5, 6 (soft), 8 (soft), 9, 10 (soft), 11, 12 (soft), 13, 14 (soft), 15, 16 (soft)1, 2 (soft), 3, 4 (soft), 5, 6 (soft), 8 (soft), 9, 10 (soft), 11, 12 (soft), 13, 14 (soft), 15 (roll, soft), 16 (between steps)
Clap5, 135, 13
Rim4 (soft), 5, 6 (soft), 12 (soft), 13, 14 (soft)4 (soft), 5, 6 (soft), 12 (soft), 13, 14 (soft)
Kick1, 9, 151, 7
Open these drums in the editor

They open as one drum lane on a step grid, at 72 BPM. No account needed to start.

How slow jam R&B drums go

A soft kick on 1 and 3 with a ghost on the and of 4; a rim and finger snap on 2 and 4 with ghost rims around them; sixteenth hats with strong accent contrast; an open hat on the and of 2; an occasional gentle triplet roll.

Questions about slow jam R&B drums

What BPM is slow jam R&B?

Usually 60 to 80 BPM. This pattern plays at 72 BPM.

How do you make a slow jam R&B drum pattern?

Start with the kick on steps 1, 9 and 15, the clap on steps 5 and 13, the rim on steps 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14, the closed hi-hat on steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 and the open hi-hat on step 7, 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 slow jam R&B drums swing?

Yes, about 55% 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.

More R&B drum patterns

R&BNeo soulNew jack swing

Make a slow jam R&B beat

The free editor opens with a whole slow jam R&B beat: drums, bass and chords, each part yours to change, add to or take away.

Make a slow jam R&B beatAll drum patterns

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