How to Make a Lo-Fi Beat in FL Studio: Step by Step

Lo-fi hip hop is calm, warm hip hop: jazzy chords, soft drums and a bit of noise in the background. A lot of people know it as music to study to, but you can rap on it just as well. In this guide you'll make a lo-fi beat in FL Studio, from the tempo to the sound that makes it lo-fi.

What makes a beat lo-fi?

• A slow tempo, often between 60 and 90 BPM.
• Jazzy chords on a piano, Rhodes or guitar.
• Soft drums with swing. Nothing sounds hard or rigid.
• A muffled sound, with less top end and a bit of noise.

Step 1: set the tempo

Set the tempo in FL Studio somewhere between 60 and 90 BPM. Around 80 BPM is a good start. Slower feels dreamier, faster moves closer to boom bap. Check BPM by genre to see how lo-fi compares to other styles.

Step 2: start with the chords

In lo-fi, it's all about the chords. Chords with a seventh or ninth added, like maj7, m7 or m9, give you that jazzy color. Play them on a warm instrument, like a piano or Rhodes.

With the free chord generator you pick a mood and download the MIDI. More on chords in which chords go together and R&B chord progressions with free MIDI. They work great for lo-fi too.

Don't let every chord hit equally hard. According to Image-Line, Randomize in the Piano roll's Tools menu (Alt+R) can also vary the velocity of existing notes. A little goes a long way.

Be careful with samples. A lot of lo-fi is built on a piece of a jazz record. If you use part of an existing song, you need permission from the rights holders before you release or sell the beat. Read what a Content ID claim is. Playing it yourself or using a royalty-free sample is safer.

Step 3: build soft drums

Lo-fi drums are like boom bap, just softer. Put the snare on beats 2 and 4 and the kick on beat 1, with a few extra kicks in between. Pick samples that sound a bit dull, without a hard click or sharp top end.

Do the hi-hats in eighth notes, with a low velocity. If you program your drums in the Channel rack, use the Swing knob. Image-Line describes that knob for the steps in the step sequencer. More on swing in how to add swing in FL Studio.

Step 4: add a soft bass

Keep the bass simple. Mostly play the root notes of your chords and pick a round, soft sound. Don't let the bass fight the kick. Read how to mix 808 and kick, those tips work for a regular bass too.

Step 5: give it that lo-fi sound

• Filter out the highs. Fruity Filter has a Low Pass mode. According to Image-Line, it leaves only the low frequencies. Put it on your chords or your whole beat and turn the cutoff down until the top end sounds a bit muffled. Don't go too far, or it gets muddy.
• Add movement. According to Image-Line, Vintage Chorus in FL Studio is modeled after the chorus of the Roland Juno 6. On your chords, that gives a warm, analog sound. It even has a bit of hiss built in, like the original.
• Vinyl noise. A loop of crackle in the background can help. Keep it quiet, you shouldn't really notice it.
• A bit of reverb on your chords adds space. Keep your drums drier.

Step 6: from loop to beat

A lot of lo-fi is a short loop that keeps repeating. If you want a rapper to use it, give it some structure. A 16 bar verse and an 8 bar hook are common. Read what a bar is in rap. Take out a layer in the verse so the voice has room, and drop the drums for a moment before a new section.

Common mistakes

• Too much noise. Crackle and hiss are a layer, not the lead.
• Everything at the same volume. Without differences in velocity, it quickly sounds like a computer.
• Too much filter. If you cut all the highs, your drums lose their clarity too.
• Releasing a sample without permission. Sort it out first, or use something you're allowed to use.

Want something else? Read how to make a boom bap beat, how to make an R&B beat or how to make a trap beat in FL Studio. Mostly a rapper? Browse the beats by NameOnTheBeat.

FAQ

What BPM is lo-fi?

Often between 60 and 90 BPM. Around 80 BPM is a good start.

What chords do you use for lo-fi?

Often chords with a seventh or ninth added, like maj7, m7 and m9. They sound warm and jazzy.

Can you rap on a lo-fi beat?

Yes. Lo-fi hip hop is basically hip hop. The calm tempo works well with a relaxed flow.

Source: Image-Line's FL Studio manual.