Prompts for Making
Beats
Name:_______________________________ Date:________________
Name of Song/Beat/Track: _________________________________________
A Pre-Lesson On Counting Beats
Counting Foundations of a “backbeat” Context Most rhythms from the
African diaspora; rock n’ roll,
HipHop, blues, funk, etc, are
Think: “Billie Jean” organized into a cycle of 16 beats;
or 4 sets of 4 counts each
Step 1: Make a “backbeat” by following this rhythm pattern
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Context Most styles from the African diaspora; rock n’ roll, HipHop, blues, funk, etc, are organized into 4, 8, 12 or 16 bar phrases or verses.
Step 1: Make a “backbeat” by following this rhythm pattern
Context Most rhythms from the African diaspora; rock n’ roll, HipHop, blues, funk, etc, are
organized into a cycle of 16 beats; or 4 sets of 4 counts each
Step 2: Create different sections by adding “kicks” & “snares” to your “backbeat”
Context Drummers vary their drumbeats slightly to give the songs/beats a sense of freshness, and creativity. Different
drumbeats can shape the way a song feels, and distinguish different song sections.
Step 3: Loop each section for 8 or 16 “bars” (ie: Verse, Hook, Instrumental)
Context Most styles from the African diaspora; rock n’ roll, HipHop, blues, funk, etc, are organized into 4, 8 or 16 bar phrases or verses.
Step 1: Set up a “bass” track
Context Most songs have a specific
harmony; a set of chords that sound
“good” when played one after another.
The “Bass Line” determines the “chord
progression”
Steps: Click on “play the synth”. Then
click on “Guitar and Bass”. Then
choose the kind of bass.
Step 2: Make a “bass line” for the verses.
Steps: The harmony for our song will be in the key of C
major; which uses only the white keys. Choose 4 notes.
Play each “note” for 4 counts.
N V Z B
1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4
You can record the bass line by clicking on the notes on
the screen, or you can type the characters assigned to
each note.
Disclaimer: You don’t have to use 4 bass notes per song
section. You can use 1,2,or 3.
Steps: The harmony for your new
Step 3: Make “bass lines” for the hook, and for a bridge section section can include new notes, or you
can re-arrange the order of your verse
section. You can also play shorter
notes, or quicker notes.
Be Creative with the rhythms of your
chords!
Hint: You can also use any “pad”
Step 1: Set up a “piano & keyboards” track sound from the “sythensizer” tab.
Context Chords are collections of 2 or
more notes played together. We are
going to use the “triad” formula; by
following a “1-3-5” pattern of notes
starting where our bass note started
the “chord.”
Step 2: Add “chords” for the verses. Steps: The harmony for our song will be in the key of C
major; which uses only the white keys. The “scale” is
arranged as follows:
C= Z D= X E= C F=V G=B
A=N B=M C= , D= . E= Q
N, . VN, ZCB BM.
1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4
Disclaimer: You don’t have to use 4 bass notes per song
section. You can use 1,2,or 3.
Step 3: Add “chords” for the hook, and for a bridge section Steps: The harmony for your new
section must include the “1-3-5”
formula starting on the bass note that
you chose previously.
Be Creative with the rhythms of your
chords!
You can also use any sounds! Try sounds from the
Step 1: Set up a “Riff / Melody” track “Sythensizer”, “Strings” or Brass & Woodwoinds” tabs.
Step 2: Add “riffs” for the verses.
Context: “Melodies” are collections of musical notes that sound “good”
when played in sequence.
Step 3: Add “riffs” for the hook, “Riffs” are melodies that are short, simple, and memorable. You can
and for a bridge section make a riff with as little as 1 note, or as many as you want. You should be
able to “sing” our riff.
You can record the riffs by clicking on the
notes on the screen, or you can type the
characters assigned to each note.
Step 1: Set up a “Voice & Microphone” track
Tips: Explore the different
effects that the studio has.
Make sure you find a quiet
space to record your vocals.
You must use earphones to
record vocals, otherwise, the
sounds from the track will be
re-recorded and create
distortion.
Step 2: Record the “vocals” for the verses and hook by singing or rapping.
Tips: If you have access to
an external USB microphone,
do use it! Your track will sound
better!
Step 3: Record background vocals on a different track
Step 1: Set up a “File” track
Context: “Sampling” is a defining element of HipHop.
Sampling means to take/borrow a sound a sound that was
previously created it, and including it on your song.
Sampling is traditionally done as a tip of the hat, or a
“homage” to the OGs.
You can also sample sounds from your environment; like the
sounds of your friend’s voices, cars from the street, a TV
show playing in the background, the Subway
announcements, a door opening, footsteps, etc.
Step 2: “Sample” sounds from your environment.
Steps: Use your smartphone to “sample” sounds, or use this website to save mp3 files from Youtube videos. www.onlinevideoconverter.com
Step 3: Save & Upload your File to your studio session.
Steps: Save your file to the desktop, then click on “Upload File”. Finally, click on “choose file”
Step 1: “Chop” a sound
Context: “Chopping” is another
defining element of HipHop.
Chopping means to cut up a pre-
existing sound, and using it as a
“new sound” in order to give the
sound a new life, but also to create
a sound that didn’t’ exist before.
Steps:
Right Click on the section of the
track that you want to “chop.”
Slide the beginning or end of the
track back & forth until you only
have the section of sound that you
want.
Step 2: Repeat/FX a sound
Steps:
Right Click on the section of the
track that you want to “chop.”
and copy/paste it to repeat it.
You can also “auto-tune” it, or
change the pitch of it.
Click on “edit” on top of the
sound-wave, and experiment
with all these different effects.
Step 1: Add a “percussion” track
Steps: Set up a new percussion track.
Click on “Instrument” as opposed to
“Patterns”
Now that you have an almost full track,
add some “extra” percussion hits by
improvising; making them up as you go.
These will make your song feel more
organic, fun and exciting.
Hint: Your “percussion Hits” can accent
your riffs or hooks.
Step 2: Add an “FX” track
Steps: Set up a new synth track.
Click on “Instrument”
Play around with improvisation;
making things up as you go. These
will make your song feel more
organic, fun and exciting.
Hint: keep these notes very sparse.
Think of them like a condiment!
Steps: Now that you have a full song, it is time to mix all sound/volume
Step 1: Mix your track/beat/song levels. Here you can also change the “panning” (whether the sounds go
to the right or left speakers, or both.
Step 2: Download your track/beat/song
Track Name Yes No Incomplete Notes
Drums
Bass
Chords
Riff/Melody
Vocals
Samples/Chops
