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                             HipHop Drum Programming    
                                                       
                                   By Kon Wilms       
                                                     


Introduction

Aren't  you tired of the same old MIDIfile drumbeats?  Always the same mixture
of  a 4/4 beat, rock beat or if your sequence is really living on the edge, an
awesome latin beat complete with maybe one or two bongos.

Well, if that's the case, here's what you've been waiting for!

A  number  of  classic hip-hop grooves and a demonstration (Midi/Music-x) tune
have  been  included  with this issue.  Also you will find a SYSEX dump with a
Korg  Wavestation  EX/AD  perf.   Have a look at a WS article in this AMFM for
more information on the sysex data itself.

You will need to use 'Nast-E Kit-Ty' performance for the drum grooves.


Configuring the drum-layouts

In  case you're having hassles, we'll start out by giving you a rundown on the
key-layout used for the drum-sounds.  WS owners should ignore this.

   C 2 Combination of a tight and hollow bassdrum (or 808/909 BD)
   C#2 Combination of a tight bassdrum and tight snare (or 808/909 SD)

   F 2 Tight snare (808)

   A 2 Hollow Claps

   F 3 Low pitched and high pitched closed hihat combination
   F#3 Low pitched closed hihat and high pitched open hihat
   G 3 Low pitched open hihat

   G#6 Shaker or Cabasa
   A 6 Tambourine

This should be all you will need.  Any other instruments not listed are snares
in  the  low  end, toms in the mid-end and bongos in the middle to higher end.
(C1-C4).


Using and abusing the grooves

You'll  find a NUMBER of grooves in the Midifile.  Inspiration has come from a
Keyboard  Issue  which  contains  tips on Dance Grooves (you might want to get
hold of that issue) and sample-CD hip-hop grooves.

The  grooves  should  give  you  insight into the methods used for programming
hip-hop  grooves.   You  should  note  the following - these are all EXTREMELY
important points - when attempting to program your own grooves :

   1. Hip-hop's use of hihat-velocities is extremely important. Use
      velocity changes from full to half volume to keep a rhythm going
      within a rhythm. I have demonstrated this in some of the grooves.

   2. Note the quick succession between snare-leading-to-bassdrum
      combinations. Proper use of this will either make or break your
      groove.

   3. Do NOT always keep the rhythm going in a set sequence. Try the
      use of polyrhythmic sequences. ie for example a 5 bar rhythm
      repeating over a 4 bar rhythm will come full circle after 20 bars.

   4. Lastly, emphasize the offbeat notes at certain positions where it
      might prove effective. It might sound wrong changing an on-beat
      snare to an off-beat position but you will find that if you use it
      correctly with the rest of your mix it will work wonders!

The  grooves supplied show only a skeleton upon which to base full grooves.  I
have  not  attempted  to  provide  a  full  groove.   This  is up to you.  Try
combining grooves, adding extra percussion etc.


The DemoTune

Also  on  this  disk  you'll  find a demotune demonstrating the use of hip-hop
grooves.   The  tune  is  not really hip-hop in nature but it shows how timing
delays can work even if they sound totally out of place by themselves.

Have  a  look  at  the  drums.   Find anything out of the ordinary?  Well this
aspect  of hip-hop programming will be explained in next issue in depth.  It's
another aspect of drum programming which few people know how to use!

Observe  the  combination  of  offbeat  grooves  from  position  36 which come
together to form something that actually makes sense!

Feel  free  to  jam away with any solo instrument of your choice over the tune
while it's playing...  that's also what it was written for!  Have fun!



Last Notes

Hopefully this will provide a welcome change to the monotonous drum-beats that
we always hear in Midi-sequences.  :-)

In  a  coming  issue  of  AMFM  there  will  be  featured a collection of live
sequenced  hip-hop  grooves  programmed by yours truly.  These will conform to
standard Roland drum specs; unlike this issue's mappings.  :-(

Until  then enjoy the grooves.  Please write to us if you have any suggestions
or tips regarding this series.

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