Guide 06 of 10

Beats: pads, sounds and a beat per part

Play the drum pads, write on the grid, pick presets, add sounds, record the pads live and give each part its own beat.

5 min3 steps

  1. Play the pads

    Open Beats and tap the pads: kick, snare, hi-hat, open hat, ride, clap, tom. Press record (●) and play along. What you play lands on the grid, in time.

    1. 1Pads (keys A, S, D, F, J, G, H on a keyboard)
    2. 2Drum kit or Electronic
    3. 3Press ● to record the pads
    Play the pads: the matching Notes to Play screen with numbered callouts

  2. Write a beat on the grid

    Below the pads, every sound has a row of steps. Tap to add or remove hits, choose a preset (Rock, Boom Bap, Four on the Floor, Funk, Trap, Waltz, 6/8, 12/8 Blues, 7/8, 5/4), or Clear and start fresh. Each row has its own volume.

    Write a beat on the grid: the matching Notes to Play screen

  3. A beat for every part

    Every part keeps its own beat: busy in the chorus, half-time in the bridge. Use in every part copies this one everywhere. + Add a sound adds a crash, toms, a second snare or electronic sounds as new rows.

    1. 1Presets
    2. 2Use in every part
    3. 3Write on the grid or play the pads
    A beat for every part: the matching Notes to Play screen with numbered callouts

Hear it in a sample song

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