How to Make a Boom Bap Beat in FL Studio: Step by Step
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Boom bap is the sound of classic hip hop: a heavy kick (the boom), a hard snare (the bap) and a loop that sounds a bit dusty. It's simpler than trap, and that's exactly why you hear every choice. In this guide you'll make a boom bap beat in FL Studio, from tempo to a loop a rapper can write to.
What makes a beat boom bap?
- A slower tempo, often around 85 to 95 BPM.
- The snare on beats 2 and 4. No half-time like trap, just a straight backbeat.
- Swing. The drums sit just off the grid, which makes the beat groove.
- A sample or loop with soul, jazz or piano chords.
- A warm, slightly dirty sound instead of a clean, modern one.
Step 1: set the tempo
Set the tempo in FL Studio somewhere between 85 and 95 BPM. Around 90 BPM there's room for a wordy flow without it sounding rushed. See what BPM hip hop is for more.
Step 2: pick a sample or play your own chords
A lot of boom bap is built on a sample: a few bars from a soul or jazz record, chopped up and put back together. In FL Studio you can chop a sample with Slicex, for example. According to Image-Line's manual, Slicex cuts a sample into pieces that you can then play separately from the Piano roll.
Be careful with samples. If you use a piece of an existing song, you need permission from the rights holders before you release or sell the beat. Without it you're taking a risk, like a claim on YouTube. Read what a Content ID claim is. A royalty-free sample is safer, or just play the chords yourself.
Playing them yourself? Pick warm chords on a piano, Rhodes or strings. With the free chord generator you choose a mood and download the MIDI. More on chords in which chords go together and R&B chord progressions with free MIDI.
Step 3: build the drums
Kick and snare
Put the snare on beats 2 and 4 of every bar. Put the kick on beat 1, then play around with a few extra kicks between the snares. The kick and snare pattern is the heart of your beat, so take your time here. Moving a couple of kicks a little changes the whole feel.
Hi-hats
Start with eighth notes. Make some hits quieter by lowering their velocity, so they don't all hit equally hard. An open hat at the end of a bar gives an extra push.
Swing
Swing is what makes boom bap groove. If you program your drums in the Channel rack, use the Swing knob. According to Image-Line's manual, Swing changes the length of odd and even steps. Image-Line describes that knob for the steps in the step sequencer. Working in the Piano roll? Read how to add swing in FL Studio. Start with a little swing and turn it up until the beat starts to move.
Step 4: add a bass
A bass that moves with the kick fills out your beat. Mostly play the root notes of your chords. Don't let the bass and kick work against each other. Read how to mix 808 and kick, the tips there work for a regular bass too.
Step 5: make it dusty
- Filter your sample. Take the low end out of your sample or chords, so your kick and bass have room.
- A bit of saturation on your drums or the whole beat makes it warmer.
- Vinyl noise in the background can help, but don't overdo it.
Step 6: turn your loop into a beat
A 4 or 8 bar loop isn't a beat yet. Give it a structure a rapper can work with. A 16 bar verse and an 8 bar hook are common. Read what a bar is in rap. Pull out a layer in the verse so the voice has room, and drop the drums for a moment before a new section.
Common mistakes
- Everything tight on the grid. Without swing, boom bap quickly sounds stiff.
- Too many layers. A good sample with drums and bass is often enough.
- Releasing a sample without permission. Sort it out first, or use something you're allowed to use.
- Too much low end. Sample, bass and kick end up fighting for the same space.
Rather make trap or drill? Read how to make a trap beat in FL Studio and how to make a drill beat in FL Studio. Want something calmer? Read how to make a lo-fi beat in FL Studio. Mainly a rapper? Browse the beats by NameOnTheBeat.
FAQ
What BPM is boom bap?
Often around 85 to 95 BPM. But slower or faster works too.
Can I use a sample in my beat?
Only if you have permission from the rights holders, or if it's a royalty-free sample and you know its terms.
How do I get swing in the Piano roll?
Image-Line describes the Swing knob for the steps in the step sequencer. In the Piano roll you can also move notes a little yourself, with the Snap set to a smaller value or to (none).
Source: Image-Line's FL Studio manual.