REWIRE MUSIC THEORY 

Learn

2.2 DRUM GROOVE WRITING

When a drummer plays a new groove, they hear it in their head first. Actively listening, singing, and playing grooves from different songs develop this skill. Drum patterns can also be written using the rules grooves tend to follow.

  • Watch the walkthrough video.

  • Sing along to drum grooves in the music you listen to using sounds that feel comfortable to you.

  • Find new ideas and sing along to the drum tracks on This Spotify Playlist →

ANATOMY OF A DRUM GROOVE

Drum grooves can be written by ear or by following guidelines. When writing using guidelines, be sure to listen back to what you create and adjust the groove for improvement.

 

Improvise

CREATE A GROOVE

Vocalizing a groove is a great way to communicate an idea to your bandmates, a producer, or yourself. Part of the composition process is improvisation. Hearing a drum part in your head is an important step to being able to write one out.

  • Listen to the drum loop on Soundtrap and create a groove by vocalizing a drum part.

  • Read the recording instructions, and record yourself speaking the groove.

 

    1. Add new track > Voice + Microphone Track.

    2. Turn the reverb down.

    3. Record yourself speaking the drum part by clicking the record button.

    4. Listen back and change if needed.

 

Transcribe

BEAT TRANSCRIPTION

Transcription is playing and writing what you hear. Copying music you like is the best way to get it in your playing and compositions.

  • Find a song you like or choose one from the transcription examples below.

  • Listen for the drum groove until you can pick out different instruments in the recording.

  • Repeat the groove until you can sing it with and without the recording.

  • Write the drum groove down on the Drum Groove Transcription Organizer →.

I

II

III

IV

 

Compose

DRUM GROOVE WRITING

Write a drum groove to music that has already been written. In this project, you will write a drum part to an epic movie trailer sequence.

  • Write a drum groove using eighth note, eighth note triplet, or sixteenth note subdivisions with the
    Drum Groove Writing Organizer →

  • Practice your groove until you have it mastered.

  • Read the recording instructions, and record your groove on Soundtrap.

 

    1. Add a drum + beat track.

    2. Arm the track + make sure the metronome is on.

    3. Record four measures of your drum groove followed by two measures of the kick drum playing on every beat.

    4. Quantize your recording to the correct subdivision.