I love using my Launchpad Pro and Push 2 for step sequencing. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a fast way to lay down a new beat. The only problem when you are first starting is figuring out some basic patterns to play with. I made The Drum Pattern cheat sheet to help me draw out some quick drum patterns. The idea was I wanted to print them off to have next to my push while jamming with friends as a reference. It really helped me get started.
Here is an example page from the collection. At the top, it says the style and BPM. To make this pattern you would set your Push, Launchpad, or any other MIDI step sequencer to 1/16th note. You would then program the Open hats on the 3rd and 6th pad of step sequencer on the first row and the 3rd and 6th pad on the second row. Your closed hats are on every 1/16th note and so on.
With this sheet, you can have it next to you, or loaded on a screen, and quickly set up a beat. This is a simple place to start and from here you can start experimenting and making it more unique.
You can also make these drum patterns directly in Ableton Live. This short video shows how you would take the sheet and set it up in Live. I also showed this example so you can set up the sequence on your push and look at this video to see if it looks correct as a clip in Ableton Live.
Thanks for the post, this is great! I used your house pattern to throw together the below in about 10 minutes:
https://soundcloud.com/joecacti/house1
W00t! Music!
That is fantastic Fred. Glad to see this helped you make a new track so quickly. Thank is what I am talking about!
This is super helpful and might inspire me to actually use my Launchpad as a drum sequencer instead of dragging around MIDI notes. One request: I would LOVE to see a hip-hop template, both because I make some hip hop stuff and because the basic beat is transferable to a lot of other genres.
Come to think of it, though, a lot of hip hop is basically just slowed down funk, so maybe what I’m asking for is a funk pattern? Either would be very much appreciated!
Funk huh… I got some funky rhythms made up. I will tray and transpose them soon and post them up.
Thanks for the suggestion No Rush.
Awesome post! Thank you for it! I’m not so familiar with different subgenres so what about tech house pattern?
Funk and Tech house… Got it… I will try and make something up soon.
Great!
Just added a new pattern for you No Rush.
Brilliant article! Thanks. Any chance you could do a 2 step uk garage one please? Much appreciated
The problem with 2 Step is it’s WAY off the grid. Anything broken beat wouldn’t really work in a step sequencer. I would have to do 32nd or even 64th for that.
The problem with 2 Step is it’s WAY off the grid. Anything broken beat wouldn’t really work in a step sequencer. I would have to do 32nd or even 64th for that.
I do have this collection of 2 step midi patterns though: http://subaqueousmusic.classtrack.org/shop/drum-racks/aq-future-step-alp/
Can you do a G-House? Something similar to destructo.
can this be use in fl studio ?
Of course
this is great! very easy to understand, any chance we can get a tech house one?
same as house with random snares thrown in.
Very cool, and very useful. Thanks for posting this.
I’m gonna be using some (all?) of these on my Novation Circuit.
Re: the question about 2 step UK garage… I have no idea how to create that beat, but on the Circuit you can link together up to 8 x 16 step patterns, so I guess if you need 64 steps then use four patterns and up the tempo.
THANK YOU!!
Which beat would you call in this track of mine
http://tejax.bandcamp.com
I am unable to figure out the genre of my track.
thabks
think this is great, but whats the use of the double lines?? every instrument has 2 line`s of steps..
It’s 8 beats x2… so over 16 beats per measure.
Excellent stuff, what’s the meaning of the yellow steps?
Super helpful! I just got an Octatrack and am learning to make hip hop beats on the step sequencer. Coming from a pad banging, quantized live record background im scratching my head alot. Thanks a million for this epic chart!
Very nice Article. I am looking for a book or website, that provides a collection of many possible Techno patterns. Does anyone know?
Hey I used your house pattern to make this … https://soundcloud.com/fergmoney/hi-rulers…..
Thanks for sharing really helpful!
Rad! Nice track man. Thanks for sharing.
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This is for anybody that can share some light are drum patterns protected by copyright because my understanding is that drum patterns are not protected and one can use the pattern
Yeah, not protected. There are only so many slots on the grid. Do you really think you’re the first person to try out that combination.
Drum patterns aren’t rocket science. This is not why intellectual property rights protection was devised.