The number of bars used when sequencing drum samples can vary quite a lot. Usually, the total number of bars will be equal to the length of the song as a whole, and if you’re making loops to start with, it can be a bit more complicated.
One of the most common looping numbers of bars is four. This is usually enough to develop an indicative portion of a song, and then four bars can give groove, tempo and feel to a song, and so is great as a foundation or ’skeleton’ sample. The drum samples in the four bar loop can be organized as one total unique sample, with each bar being totally different from the last. However, most music producers in rap and RnB prefer to keep some element of comfort with the listener, and variance is the keyword. Varying drums from bar to bar using changes towards the end or velocity is much more effective at not inducing stress into your listener.
The second most popular number of bars to base a musical loop on is sixteen. Why is this? Well, in hip hop and rap, 16 bars is the standard length for a rapper’s verse. So it turns out that using this figure to structure a loop on is great. Your creative limits are really tested, and to keep things moving through the whole verse length can be quite a challenge. One common tip is to introduce the hi-hats at the half-way point, and this will add another layer to the variance required to develop a great beat. At the end, start working on your pre-chorus skills.
Looking beyond drum samples can expand your horizon a little bit and it actually opens a whole bunch of doors. One common switch-up in a 16 bar loop, for example, is the introduction of a new instrument after 8 bars instead of anything drum-related. However, at this point – or anywhere else in the loop – you could mix up the drums to coincide with this change, and this can be very powerful.
You can even try to see past the instruments and drum hits if you’re serious about arranging a masterpiece. Think vocals! Common techniques include allowing the singer or rapper to vocalize the first few bars in a very boring, monotonous way, before really showering in the feeling after that. Again, anything that keeps the listener guessing is viable.
Drum samples are one of the easiest ways to introduce variance, as it requires no extra input on the vocalist’s part and can accentuate vocal parts and instruments without anything being different in those departments.
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