Drum Pattern “Recipes”

 

About these pattern grids

Why a grid?
A drum grid is a common way of visually notating a drum pattern. It makes it easy to transfer the
information to the digital drum machines that can be found in music software and apps. In software and
apps, drum patterns are generally programmed into a ​ step sequencers ​
(like the DM1 app for iPad or the
HTML5 Drum Machine) or a ​ piano roll editor ​
(such as the one you would find in GarageBand, Mixcraft,
Soundation or Soundtrap).

Sequencer position and Beat Subdivision

Most drum step sequencers have 16 “slots” which represent 16th notes (semiquavers) in a single measure
of music in 4/4 time. In other words, the 4 beats of the measure fall on slot numbers 1, 5, 9 and 13. I have
given both the sequencer position (so you know where to place the sound for a specific instrument) and the
beat subdivision in the grid below (so you know where you are in the measure!).

If you are working with software that has a piano roll editor, you may need to adjust the “snap to grid”
settings (to 16th notes or 8th notes) so that you are able to place sounds on the correct subdivision of the
beat.

Instruments
An icon in the pattern grid indicates that the instrument plays on that beat of the measure/sequencer
position.

Kick Kick drum (bass drum)

Snare Snare drum (with snare on)

HH Closed Closed hi-hat

HH Open Open hi-hat

Clap Single hand clap

Crash Crash cymbal

 
1. Pop/Rock
Tempo: BPM 105­120
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

HH Closed

2. Metal
Tempo: BPM 100­130
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

Crash

3. Hip Hop
Tempo: BPM 75­95 
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

HH Closed

HH Open

 
4. R&B
Tempo: BPM 85­98
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

HH Closed

HH Open

Clap

 
 
 
5. Techno
Tempo: BPM 108­120 
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

HH Closed

HH Open

Clap

 
 

 
6. Country
Tempo: BPM 80­130 
 
Sequencer
position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Beat
subdivision
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick

Snare

HH Closed

 
 
 
Credits 
 
Free icons from the ​
Noun Project 
 
● Bass drum by Artem Kovyazin 
● Hi Hat Closed by Artem Kovyazin 
● Snare by Artem Kovyazin 
● Crash cymbal by Artem Kovyazin 
● Hi Hat Open by Dmitry Mirolyubov 
● Clap (Applause) by Hum 
 
Created by Katie Wardrobe from ​
Midnight Music 
 

About Katie
Hello! I’m Katie Wardrobe – a music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music
teachers. I’m a qualified teacher (but no, I don’t currently teach in a school) and I run hands-on
professional development workshops in Australia and overseas. I have a series of online courses and
digital products that help support music teachers and I have presented at more than 50 conferences
and other music education events.

My workshops, courses and presentations focus on easy ways to incorporate technology through a
range of creative projects into what you are already doing in your music curriculum. I write regularly on
my blog and focus on practical ideas and resources that can be used in the classroom or teaching
studio.

 
You can find out more about what I do on the ​
Midnight Music website​
. 

Want more? Come and join me in the

MIDNIGHT MUSIC COMMUNITY