Arpeggiators on the Beat

This may seem to be a “no-brainer,” but it’s actually so simple that it is often overlooked. A quick way to lay down a basic beat to create a groove on which to build upon is to use any available arpeggiator on a synth or sampler (hardware or software) with a drum kit preset called up. Since individual drums are almost always mapped across certain keys or notes on your keyboard (which may be real or virtual), playing random chords may just create a beat that you probably would never have thought of yourself. The element of randomness actually works in your favor here, as a C major or A minor chord would trigger different drums or percussion. The more sophisticated the arpeggiator, the more complex the drum track may be. Try it if you’re stuck and need a bit of inspiration to create your next hit single!