Hip Hop Drum Samples - FAQs | Lifestyle

by JohnGellei

In this piece, we're going to be addressing a few questions about hip hop (or another urban music genre) drum samples. These questions are often posed on the most popular music production and beat making forums, and the range of answers provided is sometimes disturbing. Getting correct and unbiased opinions can be a difficult feat this in day and age, with e-rep so prevalent in forums and online communities. The music production communities are not exempt from this observation. Let's begin!

First Question: Do I need to buy drum samples? The answer to this question is a plain no. In some cases, you may wish to opt for paid-for drum samples, but many producers have started out great with just stock sounds and instruments, and some even continue to do so to this day. So while samples can be purchases both online and offline, you probably have some good sounds right in front of you!

If you're knowledgeable on audio compression and other filtering and processing techniques and have the time (you can probably make time!) then you can certainly develop your own little set of go-to drum samples that you will come back to time after time. The only downside of getting your samples from one source is the common denominator - in this case you. Make sure that all your drum samples don't sound alike, otherwise your songs will start to feel stale.

Question 2: Can I Use Dance Sounds for Gangster Rap? Yes, you most certainly can. There are no differences in the samples that can be used for hip-hop with those used for dance music. There are, however, rules about the arrangements. Everything else being the same, a pattern with the kick on every beat will immediately spell dance music, while hip hop is a little bit more flexible when it comes to using drum samples in different arrangements.

Speaking on the patterns, you can learn some patterns by listening to your favorite artists and trying to replicate what is going in their songs rhythmically. Compare the different styles and find common elements, and then try to expand on those to make your own style out of this. You can also find some great free MIDI loops on the internet by performing a Google search.

Why are some drum samples louder than others? The reason some sounds are simply louder than others is a direct effect of today's loudness war in music. More than ever, drum samples are make-or-break elements in even the most decidedly non-mainstream songs! So for sample companies selling their product, making them seem louder by over using compression or simply dialing up the volume could increase sales. I'm not sure how much better they fare, but the honest companies selling well-treated drum samples that aren't abused and lifeless are losing out - for doing the right thing! So it's all about volume. This is why ads are louder on TV than the actual viewing program. Because companies think that noise influences sales.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

There's more to a beat than rap drum samples. If you want to make hip hop beats, there is music theory and arrangement to be learned. Do you have what it takes to be a music producer?