Click here to view the embedded video.

Here it is, you hooligans. You thieving scoundrels. My precious Maschine mapping for Traktor. Why don’t you just take my wallet? Or key to my car? Why don’t you spit in my food and tie my shoelaces together? Why don’t you shave off my eyebrows and paint on new ones with a magic marker? Have you no decency? Have you no compassion? Where is your common courtesy? Stealing a man’s Maschine mapping (even though he’s willingly giving it to you for free)? For shame! For Shame!!! FOR SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – Shiftee

The music playing in the background at the beginning of this video tutorial is the lead track from Rx & Shiftee’s Space Ace EP. Earlier this week, the remix edition of Space Ace Remixes came out courtesy of Rad Summer. You can stream the entire EP here.

Rx & Shiftee – Space Ace by Rad Summer

Related Dubspot Courses Starting Online & in New York City:

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program starts February 5th Online.

MASCHINE Program starts in NYC January 30th and Online the week of January 22nd.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Native Instruments MASCHINE redefines hardware and software integration for music production and creative performance. Upon completion of this program, you will have written a full original track using multiple plug-in instruments and effects, produced a remix based on rearranged source material with your own musical additions, and made recordings of yourself improvising with both projects while creating break downs, build ups, and effect manipulations.

What’s Included:

• MASCHINE Level 1: Programming and Beat Making Basics
• MASCHINE Level 2: Sampling, Slicing and Composing
• MASCHINE Level 3: Advanced Production and Performance Techniques

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

First, we’ll connect the iPad to the Lemur Daemon using an Ad-Hoc WiFi network. After both the iPad and computer are connected to the same network, the Lemur Daemon is relatively simple to use. The Daemon will translate incoming Lemur messages from your iPad to MIDI that can be used in your DAW.

In Ableton’s MIDI preferences, select the appropriate Daemon Input. Enable MIDI Learn by hitting cmd+M on your keyboard. Now click on a parameter in Live, and move the object on the Lemur you’d like to control it. For faders, this is a relatively straightforward process, but for Lemur’s Multiball object, it can be helpful to move the ball to the bottom left corner so that you can be sure and learn only one axis at a time.

The Effects Rack in this Ableton Live set features Redux, two Auto Filters, Corpus, Chorus, Frequency Shifter, Beat Repeat, and Auto Pan. Additionally, there is a Reverb on Send A, and a Granular Delay on Send B. Many of the effects are set so that when the relevant fader is moved, the effect is engaged. When the fader for any of the effects is set to zero, the effect is bypassed.

Once all of your controls are set up, it’s time to get busy.

- Dubspot Instructor Evan Sutton

Evan Sutton is an electronic music producer, sound designer, and audio engineer. He is an instructor of Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, as well as a Curriculum Designer and Developer of the Sound Design Program at Dubspot. You can hear music, and find more about him at his outfit, Astrolith.net and SoundCloud.com/Astrolith.

Become fluent in the language of sound design with this comprehensive program. This six-level Sound Design program uses Native Instruments’ Komplete as a platform for learning synthesis and sampling techniques. Starting with an introduction to the properties of sound, this comprehensive series of courses covers most common synthesis methods available for music production in the DAW of your choice.

Discovering the right sound is like finding a needle in the digital haystack. Learn the fundamentals to make this easier, and gain the depth of knowledge to make a good sound better. Factory content is great, but everyone has it – your mix needs something special.

What’s Included:

• Sound Design Level 1: Introduction to Komplete 8
  
• Sound Design Level 2: Synthesis with Massive, FM8 and Absynth
• Sound Design Level 3: Sampling with Kontakt and Battery
• Sound Design Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Sound Design Level 5: Reaktor Ensembles and Instruments
• Sound Design Level 6: Reaktor Programming

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In this video tutorial, Ableton Certified Trainer Martin Delaney explains and demonstrates how to sync Liine’s Lemur controller app for iOS with Ableton Live. Martin starts by explaining the basic setup process; from downloading the app from Liine’s site, creating and connecting the software to an ad hoc network to synchronizing the Lemur Editor on your computer with the Lemur app on your iPad and Live’s MIDI preferences. At the end of the tutorial, you should have a strong idea of how to setup the Lemur with Live and have the two programs talking together. If you’re unfamiliar with the Lemur Editor, check out our previous video tutorial in which Evan Sutton explains how to create a Lemur template. Please stay tuned for more.

Our music production program is custom-tailored to fit your musical style. You can choose from several Digital Audio Workstations including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or Propellerhead’s Reason.

After completing this program, you will leave with 4 completed tracks (EP), a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

What’s Included:

• Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
• Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
• Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

“So far the experience through Dubspot is incredible, and I can’t wait to go through the next levels. It’s just getting better each week, and I can not wait to start putting an EP together, not just being able to put a successful track together!” - Dan Carter, United Kingdom

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Whatever your genre of choice, whatever your skill level, Dubspot trains DJs with real-world skills. Our DJ Extensive program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced DJing techniques. Students learn to execute perfect blends, clean mixes, and create unique sounds in any style of music. In this new video, students in Level 6 of our Digital DJing w/ Traktor program, including Minstra: The King, DJ Rokin, The Architect, STRING TH3ORY, DJ Foon, and Alice D also talk about their experience at Dubspot and how they’ve developed as DJs, ahead of their graduation party at Lower Manhattan’s White Rabbit.

Related Dubspot Courses Starting Online & in New York City:

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program starts February 5th Online.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In part one of the latest Shiftee Trilogy video tutorial series, DJ Shiftee demonstrates his ‘Slaughterhouse’ routine that was constructed for his appearance on the highly regarded Rinse FM radio show in the UK. In the second installment, Shiftee explains how to map LEDs and lights Traktor Pro 2 using a MIDI controllers and further sinks in the wonderful world of modifiers, using buttons not merely to control specific functions but also to change the state of the program. Please stay tuned for the third and final installment in which Shiftee gives away his precious mapping for Maschine.

Related Dubspot Courses Starting Online & in New York City:

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program starts February 5th Online.

MASCHINE Program starts in NYC January 30th and Online the week of January 22nd.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Native Instruments MASCHINE redefines hardware and software integration for music production and creative performance. Upon completion of this program, you will have written a full original track using multiple plug-in instruments and effects, produced a remix based on rearranged source material with your own musical additions, and made recordings of yourself improvising with both projects while creating break downs, build ups, and effect manipulations.

What’s Included:

• MASCHINE Level 1: Programming and Beat Making Basics
• MASCHINE Level 2: Sampling, Slicing and Composing
• MASCHINE Level 3: Advanced Production and Performance Techniques

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The original Lemur was a hardware unit, introduced back in 2004. Used by the likes of Björk, Richard Devine, and Modeselektor to name a few, it was one of the first multitouch touch screen controllers. After years of woe and longing, the legendary Lemur software is available for use on iOS devices. The main advantage of using a touch screen controller is the fact that you can create your own unique interfaces, full of buttons, knobs, pads, faders, or whatever else you’d like. The Lemur Editor (formerly called the JazzEditor), is software that runs on your computer, and is where custom interfaces are created for use with Lemur.

In part one of this two-part series, basic setup of the Lemur and Lemur Editor are explained. To start, an Ad-Hoc network is created. Once the iPad running Lemur software is connected, it will automatically update with the changes made in the editor. As far as objects go, we’ll start with the Fader and MultiBall. A great thing about the Lemur is its physics engine, which we can use with both objects. After MIDI is set up, it’s time to take a look at the Lemur Daemon. The Lemur Daemon brokers internal MIDI connections between incoming Lemur control signals and other programs running on your computer, such as Ableton Live. Here, we set up the connection manually.

Stay tuned for part two where Evan will put the Lemur to use with an Ableton Live set. Both the Lemur interface, and the Ableton Live Effects Rack will be available for download.

Evan Sutton is an electronic music producer, sound designer, and audio engineer. He is an instructor of Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, as well as a Curriculum Designer and Developer of the Sound Design Program at Dubspot. You can hear music, and find more about him at his outfit, Astrolith.net and SoundCloud.com/Astrolith.

Become fluent in the language of sound design with this comprehensive program. This six-level Sound Design program uses Native Instruments’ Komplete as a platform for learning synthesis and sampling techniques. Starting with an introduction to the properties of sound, this comprehensive series of courses covers most common synthesis methods available for music production in the DAW of your choice.

Discovering the right sound is like finding a needle in the digital haystack. Learn the fundamentals to make this easier, and gain the depth of knowledge to make a good sound better. Factory content is great, but everyone has it – your mix needs something special.

What’s Included:

• Sound Design Level 1: Introduction to Komplete 8
  
• Sound Design Level 2: Synthesis with Massive, FM8 and Absynth
• Sound Design Level 3: Sampling with Kontakt and Battery
• Sound Design Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Sound Design Level 5: Reaktor Ensembles and Instruments
• Sound Design Level 6: Reaktor Programming

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 1 – Routine with “Slaughterhouse” by Joker

Click here to view the embedded video.

“This is a routine I put together for my recent appearance on the legendary Rinse FM (big shouts to DJ Wonder for having me on!).  It’s meant to show my softer side. Yes, you may know me for my manly feats of strength and untapped primal aggression on delicatessen waiting lines.  When you think Shiftee, you probably think of a brute force who opens jars, lifts heavy boxes, and attends the gym regularly (big shouts to my trainer Sergi for keeping me toned!).  But there’s more to me.  I take long walks on the beach.  I gaze wistfully at setting suns and old people.  I once watched a trailer for The Notebook and felt something deep inside (it was indigestion, but still).  Please watch the following video, and get to know the real me.” – Forever Yours, Shiftee

.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro: Pt 1/3 – The Routine w/ DJ Shiftee

Click here to view the embedded video.

Optimize Your Windows PC for DJing & Music Production Pt. 2

Click here to view the embedded video.

Digital DJing Tutorial w/ Traktor Pro 2: Pt 2/3 – Loop Recorder w/ DJ Shiftee

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to Sync Traktor & Ableton Live: Routing Audio w/ Dubspot’s DJ Endo

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to Sync Traktor & Maschine With Only 1 Computer

Click here to view the embedded video.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

When the original JazzMutant Lemur was introduced in 2004, it immediately generated a buzz. It was the first controller of it’s kind: A highly customizable touch screen controller with advanced features and multitouch functionality. The concept was simple. Customize a layout of knobs, sliders, buttons, and various other unique objects to create your own MIDI or OSC control surface. Many high profile artists began using the Lemur, including Björk, Modeselektor, and Richard Devine to name a few.

I felt that it was (and still is) the future of controllers and performance surfaces, because it frees us from the clunky, outdated grasp of MIDI controllers, by offering a more elegant, and intuitive solution. Future Music Magazine named it “Innovation of the Decade”. The cost was around $2,000.

Then came the iPad. At $500, it was far more affordable than the Lemur, and there was music and DJ software available for it right out of the gate. It seemed the Lemur was doomed. JazzMutant decided to stop manufacturing the Lemur last year, which left many of us wondering what was to become of the fabulous software that was miles ahead of anything else out there. There are many music and DJ apps available for the iPad at the moment, but most of them are either too constrictive, and lack the power to take advantage of the customization options that a touch screen affords, or they’re unrefined, and can’t do half of what the original Lemur could.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fortunately, the good folks at Liine have come to the rescue. After a brief scuttlebutt, they’ve taken the original Lemur software, with its nearly ten years of development, and released it for iOS. All you need is a device sporting iOS 4.0, and you’re in the building. The new software includes all of the things we loved about the original Lemur, without the Lemur. Possibly the best and most unique feature is the incredible physics engine, which enables you to have objects such as sliders (and even a bouncing ball) bounce around with varying amounts of friction as you fling them across the screen. There are seventeen types of objects that you can duplicate, customize, and even write scripts for, including knobs, faders, pads, bouncing balls, LEDs, switches, and scopes.

The new Lemur software is by far the most advanced touch screen controller software out there, as it gives users the ability to create scripts for their controllers, and build intelligent systems much like in Max/MSP or Reaktor.

Lemur communicates either over Wi-Fi, or USB MIDI. It’s important to note that the software is compatible with Open Sound Control, which is a control protocol much like MIDI, with significant advantages. The latency is much lower, the resolution is higher, and frankly, it can be even simpler to set up. The downside of OSC is that most software (such as Ableton Live) doesn’t support it. It’s useful with programs like Max/MSP, Max 4 Live, Csound, Reaktor, and Modul8. Most users will connect the Lemur software to their computers using an ad hoc network, which is a decentralized wireless network coming from your computer that your iPad can connect to.

Using an ad hoc network as opposed to a router cuts down on latency, and helps you avoid showing up to a gig asking the sound guys if they have a wireless network you can sponge off of. If you want to use USB MIDI, you’ll need something along the lines of a Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer, and a USB MIDI interface.

Once Lemur is connected, you can either load a template, or customize and assign on the fly using the editor software that is available for download at no extra cost from the Liine website.

One great feature is the instant updating of the Lemur software on your iPad. It’s endlessly handy to be able to see what your interface will look like instantly, and make simple tweaks and changes without having to do any pesky syncing or manual updating. There is also a template available for controlling Ableton Live called Mu, which is specifically awesome.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There are many other great features associated with using the new Lemur software from Liine. Every step of the way, from building a layout, to connecting MIDI or OSC, to playing the gosh darn thing, is elegant and streamlined like a proper piece of software should be. The iPad is finally seeing its full potential.

Lemur is available for $49.99 from the App Store.

Evan Sutton is an electronic music producer, sound designer, and audio engineer. He is an instructor of Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, as well as a Curriculum Designer and Developer of the Sound Design Program at Dubspot. You can hear music, and find more about him at his outfit, Astrolith.net and SoundCloud.com/Astrolith.

Measures and Time Signatures

Back in the day, like the 15th century when Renaissance composers were figuring out how to notate music for the lute (the ancestor of the guitar), they wanted to devise a system that would make it easy to see where the strongest beats occurred on the page. Eventually they came up with the measure (a.k.a. bar). Beginning and ending with bar lines, the measure allows us to see 1) where the strong beats occur in the music, 2) how many beats are in a given segment of time (quantity) and 3) what kind of beats they are (quality). There were patterns in the music and by the 17th century the most common among them was 4 beats per measure with each beat being a 1/4 note (said as “quarter note”)

Click image to enlarge

By the 18th century, European composers fully adopted the practice of adding evenly spaced bar lines and time signatures to their scores which we still see in the modern day DAW. The time signature stated that every measure that followed was comprised of the same number and kind of beats.

Don’t be fooled. Some people will tell you that the time signature is a fraction, but it is not a fraction. The top number tells us how many beats are in each measure (quantity) while the bottom number states what kind of beat each one is (quality). The most common time signature, as I alluded to above, is 4/4 meaning that there are 4 beats in each measure, and each beat is a 1/4 note (OK, there’s a fraction for you).

Remember – the time signature tells us about every measure. So in the picture below, all 4 measures have 4 beats in them and each beat is a 1/4 note in length.

Click image to enlarge

A Quick Word on Drum Sounds

Do you remember learning about graphing in your math classes in school? You know, the thing with the x and y coordinates. Imagine that everything we just discussed about time as the x-axis. If time is our x, what is our y for building drum beats? Answer: The drum sounds. There are three sounds that usually show up in drum beats and they are 1) the kick drum, 2) snare drum, and 3) hi-hat. Are there drum beats out there that don’t use these sounds? Yes, of course and variety is a good thing. But have you noticed anything interesting about the combination of these three sounds? Check it – the kick drum is a low sound; the hi-hat is a high sound; the snare sits somewhere in the middle between the kick and hi-hats. See it? Low, mid, and high. The combination of these three sounds fills out the frequency spectrum, generally speaking. When building your own beats, this will be something you’ll need to take into consideration.

I mentioned above that we’re going to break down one of my favorite drum tracks. The track is “You Got Me” by The Roots and the drummer is ?uestlove (personally my favorite drummer). Check this song out now and listen for the kick, snare, and hi-hats – you’ll hear it. We’ll break it down in the next section.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Roots “You Got Me” Break Down – Measure by Measure

Here is the main drum beat from “You Got Me” played twice through (please note that this isn’t the beat for the entire song but it doesn’t stray too far away, and it’s the first thing we hear so it’s our point of reference):

Click image to enlarge

A quick recap: The time signature is 4/4 (4 beats per measure, each beat is a quarter note), there are 4 full measures, and it has the low, mid and high drums sounds as mentioned above – We got our x and y axes covered. So now what? How did ?uestlove build that drum beat? What secrets about rhythm does he know that we don’t? There are many things that he’s doing in this track, so let’s break it down measure by measure.

Measure 1

Click image to enlarge

You can do the research on the norms for certain genres of music and how drum beats are built in them, i.e. dubstep is at 140 BPM with the kick on beat 1, the snare on beat 3 to create a half-time feel, and a quicker hi-hat part borrowed from 2-step. That’s great and all, but what about the details? How / Why / When do you add the extra drum hits? Allow me to introduce you to the secret rule of 2s and 3s.

No matter what the genre, tempo, time signature, etc., all drum beats can be broken down into small groupings of two or three units of time. If you look at the MIDI note editor for Measure 1 (and all of the other measures), you’ll notice that the measure is separated into 16 equal parts. The notes that fill up those spaces are called 1/16 notes (said as sixteenth notes). In this track you will find a strategic placement of groupings comprised of two or three 1/16 notes.

To the details: The hi-hat part is just straight 16th notes – very simple. It allows you to focus on the kick and snare drums while still adding to the overall rhythm (sometimes referred to as the “Composite Rhythm”). So this hi-hat part is not where we’re going to find the 2s and 3s. It must be in the kick or snare part, or both.

Take a look at the yellow and orange hi-lights that I’ve added to the picture. What do you notice? The yellow shows us where the grouping of two sixteenth notes are and the orange shows us where the grouping of three sixteenth notes are. As you can see in Measure 1, ?uestlove is mixing the two together. Go back and listen to the loop of Measure 1 and see if you can hear the 2s and 3s.

Measure 2

Click image to enlarge

Hopefully you could see and hear the 2s and 3s in Measure 1. In Measure 2 we have eight groupings of two 1/16 notes (8 x 2 = 16). This one might be a little difficult to see how some of the groupings count as 2s, but suffice it to say that when I listen to the track I don’t hear the “round” sound of 3s as I do in Measure 1. Use and trust your ears on this one.

One other point to make: What do you notice between Measure 1 and Measure 2? They’re different from each other, and that’s part of what makes this beat so interesting to listen to. More on that at the end.

Measure 3

Click image to enlarge

The astute listener will notice that Measure 3 is exactly the same as Measure 1 so nothing new here. But one cool thing to point out is the use of a palindrome in the sequence of the groupings: 2 2 3 2 3 2 2. See how it’s the same thing backwards and forwards? That’s called a palindrome. Anyone know Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music” (1972)? That entire piece is based on the use of a shifting palindrome – a true minimalist masterpiece.

Measure 4

Click image to enlarge

Wouldn’t you expect Measure 4 to be the same as Measure 2 based on what we saw in Measure 3? What he did instead is give us new material to listen to. Now take a look at the 2s and 3s – see a pattern? Here’s what I see / hear: 2 3 3 | 2 3 3. It’s not the repetition that we might have expected, but it’s repetition nonetheless.

Final Thoughts

OK – so we now know a lot about the anatomy of a drum beat: 1) time is a huge factor (measures and time signatures), 2) the sounds that make up the drum kit cover a large portion of the frequency spectrum, and 3) the combination of the 2s and 3s is important to the overall (composite) rhythm and the all important groove.

One final thought for you. How much do you know about rhyme schemes in poetry? Take this example from William Shakespeare’s “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”:

(A) Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
(B) Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
(A) Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
(B) And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:

Look at the last word of each line. “Day” rhymes with “May”. “Temperate” rhymes with “Date”. The day/may lines are labeled A and the temperate/date lines are labelled as B. The pattern you get when you analyze it is ABAB.

Now the fun part: Transfer that knowledge of rhyme schemes in poetry to ?uestlove’s drum beat. What is the rhyme scheme of this beat? The answer: ABAC.

Click image to enlarge

Let’s be realistic – Do you think ?uestlove was thinking about all of this while working on this beat? Probably not all of it, but I bet he was thinking of some details like the “rhyme scheme” for example. The rest must have just come naturally to him, and that comes with years of practice and experience. For an added bonus, check out the drum and bass section at the 3:25 mark for some artful “linear drumming”. I hope this helped you see what drum beats are made of while studying one of the greats. Next time we’ll dig a little deeper and play around with different time signatures.

Written by Patrick Cupo, Director of Curriculum Development

Unravel electronic music’s origins, build your chops, learn the language and theory, and make and play music the way you want. Students will develop a deeper understanding of the roots and lineage of a variety of electronic and dance music, strengthen their keyboard skills, and learn valuable music theory skills, deepening their creative practice and facilitating effective collaborations with musical partners.

What’s Included:

• Essential Music Foundations Level 1: Electronic Music Appreciation
• Essential Music Foundations Level 2: Keys & Melodic Theory
• Essential Music Foundations Level 3: Pads & Rhythmic Theory

This course exceeded my expectations. I went through everything I needed to have a solid knowledge of basic music theory.
- Jonathan Crespo, Miami

EMF has been an amazing experience! I didn’t realize I was going to learn so much about electronic music history, something my generation missed.
- Yianno Koumi, United Kingdom

Our music production program is custom-tailored to fit your musical style. You can choose from several Digital Audio Workstations including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or Propellerhead’s Reason.

After completing this program, you will leave with 4 completed tracks (EP), a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

What’s Included:

• Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
• Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
• Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

“So far the experience through Dubspot is incredible, and I can’t wait to go through the next levels. It’s just getting better each week, and I can not wait to start putting an EP together, not just being able to put a successful track together!” - Dan Carter, United Kingdom

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.