The example above is taken out of a Cubase session but it should look pretty similar in Pro Tools, Logic, and all the other DAWs as well. The screenshot below shows how that might look in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Now you can start refining your groove from there. Add the accompanying element (Hi-hat or a Ride or Crash cymbal) of your choice to each hit and you’re good to go. Now, when you are trying to program a groove for this kind of music but you don’t know where to start there’s a little trick you can use: Just put a Bass (Kick) drum hit on beats one and three and a Snare drum hit on beats two and four. I’m sure you’ll instantly feel how it works. We don’t have to get to technical but if you are not sure about the concept just turn on a mainstream radio station and count along to the music: One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, and so on. What that means is basically that there are four beats in each measure (or bar). When you are working on a song in genres such as Pop, Rock, and Metal chances are it’s going to be in 4/4-time. Programming Drum Grooves: From 4/4-time to odd time signaturesīy: Chris Nothdurfter Programming drums for mainstream hit songs