How to Make a Trap Beat in FL Studio: Step by Step

Trap might be the most popular sound in rap right now. The good news: with FL Studio and a few fixed building blocks, you'll have a loop going in no time. In this guide you build a trap beat, from an empty project to a loop a rapper can write to.

What makes a beat trap?

• A tempo between 130 and 150 BPM, often around 140, in half-time. That's why it feels slower than the number says. More on what BPM is trap.
• The snare on beat 3 instead of 2 and 4.
• Fast hi-hats with rolls in 1/16 and 1/32.
• A heavy 808 that follows the root notes of your chords.
• A dark or emotional melody, usually in a minor key.

Step 1: tempo and key

Set your project tempo to 140 BPM. That's a safe starting point. Working from a sample or a reference beat? Find the BPM and key first with the free Beat Lab. Then you know right away which key your 808 and melody need to be in.

Step 2: chords or melody

Pick a minor key and keep it simple. Two to four chords on repeat often work better than something complicated. Don't feel like clicking it all in yourself? With the free chord progression generator you pick the Dark or Sad mood and download the MIDI. Need ideas? Read dark trap chord progressions.

Step 3: drums

Snare or clap

In a four-beat bar, put a snare on beat 3. That gives you the half-time feel. Layer a clap on top for more snap if you like.

Kick

Start with a kick on beat 1. Then add a few kicks that move with your 808. In trap the 808 often carries the low end, so keep the kick simple.

Hi-hats

Start with hi-hats on every 1/8 or 1/16. Then add rolls: put a few notes in 1/32 in the Piano roll or use a triplet. Vary the velocity so not every hat hits equally hard. That sounds less robotic. More tricks in how to make hi-hat rolls in FL Studio.

Step 4: the 808

Load an 808 into the Sampler and play the root notes of your chords. Let it ring out on the important moments. Make sure your 808 is in the key of your beat, or everything sounds slightly off. New to 808s? Read what an 808 is first. Want gliding 808s? How to make slides in FL Studio is explained in how to make a drill beat in FL Studio.

Looking for drum sounds and 808s? NAME The Trap Oneshot Pack Vol. 1 includes 26 808s, 22 closed hats, 12 claps and 20 kicks, among other sounds, all royalty-free.

Step 5: from loop to beat

An eight-bar loop isn't a beat yet. Give it a structure:

• Intro: just the melody, maybe filtered.
• Hook and verse: everything in, but take something out in the verse so the rapper has room.
• Transitions: drop the drums or the 808 for a moment before a new section. That silence makes the comeback hit harder.

Beat done? How to get it out of FL Studio as a WAV, MP3 or separate tracks is explained in how to export a beat in FL Studio.

Common mistakes

• Kick and 808 in the same spot. Two low sounds at once make your mix dull.
• 808 in the wrong key. Check your key and tune your 808.
• Too busy. A rapper needs space. Fewer layers is often better.

Into classic hip hop? Read how to make a boom bap beat in FL Studio. Or dark and distorted? Read how to make a phonk beat in FL Studio. Working in Ableton Live? Read how to make a trap beat in Ableton Live. Rather start rapping right away? Browse all beats.

FAQ

What BPM is a trap beat?

Usually between 130 and 150 BPM, often around 140. Because trap is in half-time, it feels like half that.

What's the difference between trap and drill?

They often sit around the same tempo. Drill stands out with shifted snares, bouncy hi-hats and lots of gliding 808s. Trap usually has a fixed snare on beat 3.

Do I need expensive plug-ins?

No. FL Studio's stock instruments, good drum sounds and a solid 808 get you a long way.