Drum and bass identity

[Redse7en]

Hey guys, If you have listened to my stuff you'll notice I generally only make techno. Well I wanted to break that barrier and was wondering... If you had to make a general set of rules for drum and bass besides the *obvious* what would they be? Im guessing fast like 150 or 160 ish bpm and higher but are there any others you can think of? And also if you can give some pointers of how to make drum and bass sound better I'd like that too.

[jarrydn]

Two step and triplets don't get used enough!

[Noe3]

From my experiences with it (not that I've actually really made any), they are ussually:

- Repetitive (Which doesn't mean its bad)
- Is fast like you said (I would even be bold enough to say 180 or higher)
- and if you are making one, focus a lot of time on the percussion, after all it is Drum 'n Bass

Other people will probably give you more and better advice than me so if they contradict me, I'd have to say go with what they say.

[jarrydn]

At 9/2/06 12:07 AM, CptnJarrrrrydn wrote: Two step and triplets don't get used enough!

Sorry! I meant three step. Lol at getting drum and bass and hardcore punk confused :P

[DSMagnum]

At 9/2/06 12:08 AM, Noe3 wrote: From my experiences with it (not that I've actually really made any), they are ussually:

- Repetitive (Which doesn't mean its bad)
- Is fast like you said (I would even be bold enough to say 180 or higher)
- and if you are making one, focus a lot of time on the percussion, after all it is Drum 'n Bass

Other people will probably give you more and better advice than me so if they contradict me, I'd have to say go with what they say.

That's pretty much what I do. I've got a few pointers though.

When you're doing DNB, start it off 160 to make sure you are getting things right, and then speed it up. 180 is a great speed for DNB because while it's fast paced, it's still pretty clear.

Focus a lot on the drums. They drums must be perfect. Add multiple effects to the drums to give it a nice feel, and try to keep the distortion levels low. Make them smooth, but loud. Mix them up a lot too. Don't keep the same beat for the entire song. Start them off kinda weak and quickly build them up.

As for doing the bass, that's a little tough at first. I'm still having problems myself. I can get a good sounding bass, but it's challenging to make a good bass line. Just mess around with that to make it sound good. Make sure you have the drums done first. That way it'll be easier to get a bass line made. The drums practically make the bass what it is. Never have the drums and the bass offset as that often times causes problems.

I'm not too great with DNB, but I'm getting better at it. Everything I've said above is all I know about making it. Hopefully it'll help you.

[PERVOK]

At 9/2/06 12:10 AM, CptnJarrrrrydn wrote:

At 9/2/06 12:07 AM, CptnJarrrrrydn wrote: Two step and triplets don't get used enough!

Sorry! I meant three step. Lol at getting drum and bass and hardcore punk confused :P

LOLZ

I always try to use 3 step break ins and outs in my songs as often as possible. 3 step = best groove.

In my opinion, of course.

[dj-padman1]

16 note hats/shakers are a must I'd say, and a ride cymbal generally goes down really well playing an eighth note pattern.
Distorted, rolling bass lines always do the business!

[FoxxieCreations]

If I were you, I wouldn't have any rules, but that's entirely up to you.

[FoxxieCreations]

...apart from making it 180 and stuff, you know! :{

[jarrydn]

At 9/2/06 08:22 AM, FoxxieCreations wrote: If I were you, I wouldn't have any rules, but that's entirely up to you.

No disrespect, but I tend to disagree...there are certainly a few rules one should follow if they want to make a pumping dnb track.

[FoxxieCreations]

At 9/2/06 08:29 AM, CptnJarrrrrydn wrote:

At 9/2/06 08:22 AM, FoxxieCreations wrote: If I were you, I wouldn't have any rules, but that's entirely up to you.

No disrespect, but I tend to disagree...there are certainly a few rules one should follow if they want to make a pumping dnb track.

That's fine. Only cause I'm experimenting!

[boney-man]

Gosh, it's not that complicated.

Their speed of 180 is good, but obviously, make a very interesting drum beat, and a cool melody with a higher part over it. I guess you could consider all my music (which is not in the Audio Portal) DnB, because all I use are bass instruments and some kick drums, cymbals, and snares.

I'm looking forward to listening to your DnB when it's done!

[jarrydn]

At 9/2/06 08:34 AM, FoxxieCreations wrote: That's fine. Only cause I'm experimenting!

I guess drum and bass without rules (even though you still need at least a few very loosely enforced rules for it to actually be drum and bass) would be IDM?

[SpamWarrior]

No rules dnb would be drill n bass, tho many drill n bass artists make idm they arent quite the same, i think thats the case anyway.

If its messy and heavy, its drill n bass, if its a bit more obscure its idm basically :S

[jarrydn]

I wish I could keep up with DnB and all it's different permutations. I guess it's like a metal noob calling black metal, death metal or something :P

[StrangeEncounters]

First off, you can't give someone pointers for making a style of music. They have to study the style, experiment. These days alot of dnb is ruined by trancey synths. IT'S CALLED DRUM AND BASS. Jeez.
Photek is amazing, he inspired me to make IDM/Drum and Bass. Roni Size and Reprazent are fuckin awesome. Pendulum, not that good. Excellent producers, But not that good. Equinox is awesome. Baron's new stuff.

All I'm saying is. Listen to Drum and Bass anywhere and study the style.

[DJ-Redd]

Yay, drum & bass!
I make drum and bass too...just view my profile

[FoxxieCreations]

At 9/2/06 09:19 AM, CptnJarrrrrydn wrote: I guess drum and bass without rules (even though you still need at least a few very loosely enforced rules for it to actually be drum and bass) would be IDM?

Intelligent Dance Music, eh? Sounds just about the right pigeon-hole for my style of music, only that I'm aiming sort of a more popular area. Thanks for that!

[dj-padman1]

Well, if you're aiming for a more popular area then you can't avoid the breakbeat/drum and bass style of guys like Pendulum. Like Watercolour says, their not exactly pushing the boundaries or doing anything interesting, but they've got that simple and effective 1---2......1.2... going on that people really dig.

Also who says drill-n-bass doesn't have rules? Last time I checked it does preserve the template of the two step jazz beat in there, the hallmark of d'n'b.

Also, to people who think drum'n'bass means the song contains drums and bass as the only requirement, please remember that Aqua do not produce d'n'b.

[SpamWarrior]

I thought i had some vague idea of what a two step jazz beat is. enlighten me.

[dj-padman1]

Ok, in the 16 note grid, it would look like this for a 1 bar loop.

K - x - x - x - S - x - x - x - x - x - K - x - S - x - x - x

Ahh, the good ol' two step. Such a faithful beast.
The x's may as well be shakers. (they'd be one under the kick and snare hits too)

[SpamWarrior]

I disagree that all drill n bass is based on that loop. Tho that loop may be present, its usually buried under even more drums and crossrythms, or similar but syncopated to be different.

[dj-padman1]

At 9/2/06 07:34 PM, SpamWarrior wrote: I disagree that all drill n bass is based on that loop. Tho that loop may be present, its usually buried under even more drums and crossrythms, or similar but syncopated to be different.

Ok, fine, but then you'll get people saying saying that thats breakcore or thrashcore, or phreak-core....I mean, when does this end?

Lets just accept that there's 100 twists on every genre, no point bickering about it.

[DJCityScape]

can i get an Amen? (by which i mean the breakbeat) that and some bass synths and live instruments like guitars or strings. it's all good.