01-19-2018, 08:21 AM
Oh geez, where do I begin.
A drumbeat is the metronome of the song. It should be able to augment the melody while still keeping time. It can be fancy, but you don't want to be too extravagant as you might do it in a way that confuses with the beat. I'm not one that really uses the other percussion instruments besides what's in a drumset (as I'm most accustomed to the drumset since I play it in real life), so someone else will have to help you with that.
Hi-hat:
8th's and 16th's: A fast tempo* combined with a hi-hat playing 16th notes can give the song a driving beat, whereas a hi-hat on the 8th notes makes it feel less intense. Generally, a more moderate tempo with an 8th or 16th note hi-hat is a rock song (in any form). 8th note beats are typically used in this case, as 16th notes tend to overpower the song. With a slower tempo, I don't really recommend 16th notes...
Triplets and swing: Playing a hi-hat on triplets generally works for slower and moderate tempos, but generally not for fast tempos. The standard swing (beats 1, 4, and 6 in 2 repeating triplets). This beat is a classic and generally works with all tempos. The shuffle (beats 1 and 3 of a repeating triplet) generally work at all tempos except really fast tempos.
Other hi-hat patterns: First of all, I'm just gonna say, a hi-hat playing 32th notes does not work (unless in a fill sometimes). If you are going to use the hi-hat on quarter notes, then I might suggest turning on reverb (or using the open hi-hat) in order not have it feel like there are gaps in the drum beat. Any other more advanced or unique beats generally only work with a certain genre.
*please note that tempo is relative to the melody in this case.
Crash or open hi-hat: in some songs I play these on the quarter notes in order to give the song some more reverb to it.
Snare and bass drum: There are 2 other quintessential parts to a drum beat. In this case, I generally fashion them to have similar patterns (or sometimes even opposite patterns, its the same principle as dissonance) to the melody (or the accompaniment if the melody is too spaced apart) while still keeping somewhat of the bass drum on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4 standard drum beat. A good example of this is in this song, which shows off both:
.
Other drum set instruments: generally I just reserve these to fills.
I think I covered everything....
A drumbeat is the metronome of the song. It should be able to augment the melody while still keeping time. It can be fancy, but you don't want to be too extravagant as you might do it in a way that confuses with the beat. I'm not one that really uses the other percussion instruments besides what's in a drumset (as I'm most accustomed to the drumset since I play it in real life), so someone else will have to help you with that.
Hi-hat:
8th's and 16th's: A fast tempo* combined with a hi-hat playing 16th notes can give the song a driving beat, whereas a hi-hat on the 8th notes makes it feel less intense. Generally, a more moderate tempo with an 8th or 16th note hi-hat is a rock song (in any form). 8th note beats are typically used in this case, as 16th notes tend to overpower the song. With a slower tempo, I don't really recommend 16th notes...
Triplets and swing: Playing a hi-hat on triplets generally works for slower and moderate tempos, but generally not for fast tempos. The standard swing (beats 1, 4, and 6 in 2 repeating triplets). This beat is a classic and generally works with all tempos. The shuffle (beats 1 and 3 of a repeating triplet) generally work at all tempos except really fast tempos.
Other hi-hat patterns: First of all, I'm just gonna say, a hi-hat playing 32th notes does not work (unless in a fill sometimes). If you are going to use the hi-hat on quarter notes, then I might suggest turning on reverb (or using the open hi-hat) in order not have it feel like there are gaps in the drum beat. Any other more advanced or unique beats generally only work with a certain genre.
*please note that tempo is relative to the melody in this case.
Crash or open hi-hat: in some songs I play these on the quarter notes in order to give the song some more reverb to it.
Snare and bass drum: There are 2 other quintessential parts to a drum beat. In this case, I generally fashion them to have similar patterns (or sometimes even opposite patterns, its the same principle as dissonance) to the melody (or the accompaniment if the melody is too spaced apart) while still keeping somewhat of the bass drum on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4 standard drum beat. A good example of this is in this song, which shows off both:
Other drum set instruments: generally I just reserve these to fills.
I think I covered everything....