How to Make an Amapiano Beat: Tempo, Log Drum and Piano
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Amapiano sounds relaxed, but it's cleverly built: a laid-back tempo, lots of percussion, jazzy piano chords and that deep log drum that makes everything bounce. In this article you'll see how a beat like that is put together and how to make one yourself.
What is amapiano?
Amapiano comes from South Africa. It took shape in the mid-2010s in townships around Johannesburg, although Pretoria is also named as a place of origin. In the early 2020s it became popular around the world. The name comes from the isiZulu word for "pianos". The style draws on deep house, soul and kwaito, with piano melodies and log drum basslines as its signatures.
The tempo: around 110 BPM
Amapiano usually sits between 108 and 115 BPM, so quite a bit slower than house. Read more on our amapiano BPM page. Not sure about the tempo of a reference? Check it with the free Beat Lab.
Step 1: kick and shakers
Start with a calm kick on every beat. It gives you a solid base without taking over the groove. Put a shaker loop on top that runs through the whole track. Shakers and other small percussion create the movement that makes amapiano flow. Keep the kick softer and rounder than in house.
Step 2: piano chords
The piano is where the style gets its name. Use a warm electric piano and play seventh chords, like minor 7 and major 7. Don't play them too hard: a lower velocity gives a softer, jazzier character. Add a pad underneath for a fuller sound if you like. Need a chord progression? Try the free chord generator.
Step 3: the log drum
The log drum is amapiano's best-known sound: a deep, percussive bass that carries the rhythm. You can make one with a synth. Pick a deep waveform, set a short decay and give the note a quick pitch drop at the start. Play a rhythmic pattern that falls between the kicks, and let the notes follow the root notes of your chords. Make sure the log drum and kick don't fight each other in the low end.
Step 4: arrangement
An amapiano track can take its time to build. Start with a drums-only intro and add or remove an element every four or eight bars. That keeps it interesting without breaking the groove. Making the beat for a singer or rapper? Leave room in the midrange, where the voice sits.
Amapiano for rap and vocals
Thanks to the laid-back tempo, amapiano works well for melodic vocals and relaxed flows. Want to start writing right away? Listen to these amapiano instrumentals:
Into afrobeats? Read how to make an afrobeats beat in FL Studio.
Find all beats under Beats.
FAQ
What BPM is amapiano?
Usually between 108 and 115 BPM.
What is a log drum?
A deep, percussive bass that carries the rhythm of an amapiano track. It's the sound that gives the style away fastest.
What's the difference between amapiano and afrobeats?
Amapiano comes from South Africa and leans on house, with a log drum and jazzy piano. Afrobeats is a different style, with its own rhythm and tempo. Read more on our afrobeats BPM page.