Anyone that is interested in producing rap beats should understand that there is an significant amount of effort and skill required to create a quality hip-hop beat.
Although many producers are unfamiliar with physical instruments, creating a rap beat does not require knowing how to play a specific instrument. The skills required to produce a rap beat include knowing how to organize, sample, and master a track.
Currently, there are multiple styles of rap that incorporate considerably different beats. However, in order to produce a basic hip-hop beat, there is a general formula used by most producers.
Understanding The Structure
Prior to mixing the kicks and the snares, the producer must understand the structure of a hip-hop beat. There are several universal elements. These elements include layout, pattern, and song structure.
The layout consists of three essential components. According to WikiHow, these components create the drum loop and provide the beat with a bouncy feel. The main three components are the hi-hats, the kick, and the snare. These important components must be aligned within a sequencer using a consistent method. When these essential drum elements are positioned randomly, the sound it produces will offer a poor listening experience.
Tempo: The tempo is an important aspect of producing a good hip-hop beat. The tempo normally ranges from 80 to 120 BPM. However, the tempo can vary significantly in order to create a certain mood or style for the song.
Song Structure: Producers must understand how normal rap songs are structured. A typical rap song is structured with an introduction, followed by the first verse, then the chorus, the second verse, a chorus, the third verse, and then the final chorus/outro.
Each verse of a hip-hop song consists of 16 bars which is equivalent to 32 lines. The chorus consists of 8 bars which is equal to 16 lines. These measurements tell the producer how long each section of the song will last. However, these measurements can vary significantly depending on the artist and style of song. This kind of structure is common in most modern and commercial styles of hip-hop production.
Melody: The melody is an extremely important aspect of producing a rap beat. This portion of the beat is generally catchy and grabs the listener’s attention. This aspect of the beat helps create a quality sound and a lasting appeal.
According to Scottie Jax Beats, a useful tip many producers use when creating hip-hop beats is to listen to several songs and isolate a specific melody. They said, “In some cases, the producer will search the internet for song notes and incorporate them into a beat. However, it is important to only use a small portion of the melody as a result of strict copyright infringement laws”
Bass Line: This is the most important aspect of a quality rap beat. The bass line helps bond all the elements of the track. The melody, the drum line, and loop are all united within the bass line. This element of the beat forms a direct relationship with the melody and normally incorporates similar key notes.
Use Quality Samples and Sound Kits
Samples: Producers that desire to create an amazing rap beat must pay attention to samples. Selecting an appropriate sample make the difference between a good beat and a mediocre beat. The sample also helps create the tone of the song. According to Wikipedia, samples can come from weird noises, vocals lifted from other songs, or sounds from a movie. In some cases, producers can find free samples online. The sample is an aspect of the beat that makes it unique and exclusive to the producer.
Sound Kits: Listeners will not enjoy a beat if the drum kits or sound kit is outdated. Moreover, listeners dislike beats that lack flair and crispness. Producers must use a variety of premium quality sounds that are completely mastered. The more diverse the sound selection, the more creative the sound of the beat.
When producing rap beats, it is important to experiment with different types of samples, drums, melodies, and instruments. The more the producer experiments with these elements, the easier it is to produce a distinct rap beat.
