Hi my name is Stefan. In this beat making
tutorial, we're going to be looking at my
approach to making a beat for an artist like
Ella Mai.
The first thing I added to the beat was the
kick and the 808 bass.
I then played this pattern over the top of a standard
808 clap which I added some reverb to.
Once I had that down. I then added. Three
different hi-hats. One playing 1/16th notes,
an open hi-hat accentuating second kick. And
finally a pitched down version of the first
hi-hat. Adding a bit of flavour and breaking
up the repetition.
Next I introduced a piece of percussion that
I used to fill in the gaps in the beat where
the kick and clap were not playing.
I then looped this ambient recording.
And it just fills up the empty space a bit
more, making the track sound more full and
more round.
Finally I added some 808 percussion. Rim shots,
cow bells and these 808 toms.
Skipping ahead to the chorus. I was really
catching an Isley Brothers, "Between the Sheets"
and Bill Withers "Just the Two of Us" kind
of vibe here.
So I used that in my approach to my bassline.
Using the same 2-5-1 movements and chromatic
walk downs.
If you're interested in learning more about
R&B basslines. I have a mini series on that
and the link is in the description below.
I then turned to the piano and played this
chord progression over the top of that bassline.
If you're interested in using chords like
this in your own music production, I have
a pack with over 30 of these R&B chord progressions,
plus an additional 50 for other musical genres.
Soul, Pop etc.
You can check that out via the link in the
description below.
Next I got this guitar loop from Splice and
put it in the right key and tempo.
Nothing too fancy here. I did a bit of chopping
and cutting and pasting just to make it fit
in with my chorus but nothing to write home
about.
Finally I pulled up a soft square lead synth
and I really wanted to go to town here. I
really wanted to go crazy and play something
intricate, something complexed. But I reminded
myself that the track does not yet have vocals.
So not to fill it up too much and go too crazy
with all of these different melodies.
In the verse however I really pulled it back
and kept it simple. The 808 bass comes back
in and the verse has a very simple chord progression
that I played on the piano. I'm just using
two chords here, with a third that we introduce
towards the end of the four bar loop.
But I've kept it simple which leaves plenty
of room for the vocalist to be creative with
their vocal melody.
The pre-chorus is pretty much the chorus just
with the bass, piano and percussion but the
bassline does differ slightly.
If you found this beat making tutorial useful,
be sure to let me know by giving it a thumbs
up and letting me know down in the comment
section below.
Also why not share it with your friends, that
would help me out tremendously. If you're
into making R&B like me, be sure to subscribe.
I've been Stefan and as always Happy Beat
Making.
