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Steppers drum pattern

Reggae tempo with the kick on every eighth: a relentless marching pulse under the off-beat skank, hypnotic and heavy. Here are its drums on a step grid, at the tempo it starts at, to hear and to change.

76 BPM · Live kit · 1 bar

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 steppers drum pattern: the steps each drum plays
DrumSteps
Closed hat1, 3 (soft), 5, 7 (soft), 9, 11 (soft), 13, 15 (soft)
Cross-stick9
Kick1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
Open these drums in the editor

They open as one drum lane on a step grid, at 76 BPM. No account needed to start.

How steppers drums go

A kick on every eighth note (beats louder), the cross-stick on beat 3 as in the one drop, eighth hats; no snare backbeat.

Questions about steppers drums

What BPM is steppers?

Usually 65 to 90 BPM. This pattern plays at 76 BPM.

How do you make a steppers drum pattern?

Start with the kick and closed hi-hat on steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 and the cross-stick on step 9. 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 steppers drums swing?

No: every hit lands straight on the grid. The editor’s Steps view can add swing if you want the groove to bounce.

More Caribbean drum patterns

DancehallReggaeSocaRockers reggae

Make a steppers beat

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

Make a steppers beatAll drum patterns

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