Intro to Redrum_pt.2

Discussion:
So now we've started to get into making our own beats it's important to understand a little bit about what the different sounds are and what role they play in making a drum beat.

Take a look at the picture of a standard drum kit below:


Out of all the different parts, the three most important ones are:

1. the Snare
2. the Bass Drum (aka "Kick")
3. the Hi Hat

These three instruments hold down the core of the beat, while all the others just add extra excitement at certain times. In general...

The Snare holds the beat steady. That's why it usually hits really steadily and doesn’t switch up too much. In hip hop, a clap or snap can do the same thing.

The Bass Drum defines the rhythm and tells you when to nod your head! That's why you almost always hear the Bass right on the first beat.

The Hi Hat accents the rhythm and adds flavor to the overall feel of the beat. One important thing to know about the Hi Hat is that it can open and close. When it's closed, it makes a nice, tight sound ("tick, tick, tick"). When it's open, it makes a loud ringing sound ("TSHH!")

Let's take a look at this video of a guy playing the drums. Pay attention to which instruments he's hitting and what kinds of sounds they make. Try to count along with him ("1,2,3,4...") as he plays. Pay attention to how the snare hits on the 2 and the 4!

Click here to watch video.

Now that we know something about real drums are played, let’s use this information to put together our own beats using the Redrum...


Please do the following:

1. Open Reason.
2. Set the Tempo to 108 bpm3. CREATE a Redrum Drum Computer (Create>Redrum Drum Computer).
4. Click on the Browse Patch button in the bottom left hand corner of the Redrum.5. Click on the red icon on the left side called Reason Factory Sound Bank.6. Double-click the Redrum Drum Kits folder.
7. Double-click on the RnB Kits folder.
8. Double-click on the file called RnB Kit 03.
9. Push SELECT on Sound 2. Click on Boxes 5 and 13 in the Step Sequencer.


10. Push SELECT on Sound 1. Click on Boxes 1, 4, 7 and 11.


11. Push SELECT on Sound 3. Click on all the odd numbered boxes. (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15).


Now click on Pattern 2 and create your own beat with a Clap/Snare, Bass Drum, and Hi Hat.
12. Remember to start with a Clap (clp) or Snare (sn) on 5 and 13.
13. And put your Bass Drum (bd) on 1 and a few other boxes.
14. Put your Hi Hat (HH) anywhere.

Now let's save the beat...
15. Go to the File menu and click SAVE AS.
16. Save your beat in the folder you made last time.
17. When the window pops up, click on My Documents (Windows) or Documents (Macintosh).
18. Double-click on your folder.
19. Name the beat: your name_2nd beat
20. Click Save.