
Nail this one and you can start programming or recording beats immediately. It’s all about the hi-hats playing those 8th notes, including those that fall between the kick and snare hits. It’s a good starter because it’s so adaptable and works at any tempo.

Read more: Six drum patterns from popular genres explained Drum pattern one: The 8th-note groove These classic beats are the building blocks of constructing your own drum patterns whether you’re working with a trackpad or a kit. Most DJs who move into production start off wanting to add custom beats, and it doesn’t hurt to learn some of the fundamentals that drummers employ. It is a really powerful and creative technique, but eventually, you’ll need to know more about how beats are made so you can construct your own. Sometimes that means sampling taking a slice from a record and rehashing it for your own needs. You may or may not be a drummer, but if you’re a producer you need to know about drum pattern basics.
