How to write easy dumb step beats.

[Quarl]

Dumbstep

So dumb step is obviously not for everyone. I'm thinking of working my senior thesis around it though so I want to try and encourage people into making some. If you don't know what dumb step is at this point here's something Spikrod wrote up a while ago. This is just a quick little tutorial on making syncopated beats. I'm trying to keep it really simple to encourage all kinds of producers to give it a shot. These tips don't even have to be applied to dumb step at all. You can apply these little rhythmic ideas to any genre for instant win. Let's start with what in my opinion is the easiest division to work with.

5/4

Making dumb step is surprisingly simple. Just make a dub step chorus and add an extra beat to the measure. This will give you a simple 5/4 rhythm instead of the typical 4/4. It's an easy division to work with but the difference can really add some funk to your beat. You can include the snare on the typical 3rd beat of a basic dub step rhythm too. A good simple structure to work with is a kick on the count of one, a snare on three and a hi hat on every quarter note. Spikrod used this exact structure in his last DumbStep track:

• 

  [S,J] Spectral [WIP]

  by SmithCommaJohn

  liquid dreamy dumbstep

  Loop

  Dubstep

  1,201 Views

  PLAY

After you have the bare bones of the beat you can start experimenting with adding drum notes here or there. In this 5/4 rhythm it's really easy to just sustain that 4th melodic note for an extra beat if you can't think of anything to place in that added space.

To help you write the rhythm you might want to consider how you might change it up in the following measure. You can keep it the same, or you can modify an element within it to help give the beat some character.

If you're interested in keeping a dancier rhythm, keep the snare in the following measure symmetrical to the snare in the first.

9/4

Remember when I said you could write something in 4/4 and add a beat to the measure? You can do it to a count of 8/4 or 8/8 as well. Also, as I said before you can sustain that last melodic note if your having trouble. That's really all there is to 9/4.

7/4

Fish sticks.

[Laqur]

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote: Dumbstep

5/4

wow! that info on 5/4 was so easy to follow. i'm gonna try that with my next dumb step track. thanks quarl!

[Mich]

At 1/18/11 09:50 AM, Chronamut wrote: why must you people strive to create worse and worse genres of music, even if its just for parodie's sake..

As I see it, they're only promoting creativity. Instead of the usual lame dubstep that everyone can easily follow, they're making more complex rhythm variations of it, which creates something more interesting to listen to.

[Rucklo]

lolol, this is great. as soon as my ears chill out a bit more (im in slight pain due to over-using them for two weeks...) i'm totally gonna get my dumb on and make some spiffu Dumbstep!

At 1/18/11 09:58 AM, Chronamut wrote: "Sometimes, the danceable aspect is tossed out the window for a more insane, nearly unlistenable music that still keeps a half-step pattern and twisted basslines."

nearly unlistenable music doesnt sound more creative to me..

tings wer liek soooo much bettah bakk den wen we had noe stupit stuf only gewd stuf amirite i dun liek new n difrunt stuf liek dumbstep bicas it so stupit u kno

IF ONLY I COULD TUUUUUURN BAAACK TIIIIMEEEEE

[Buoy]

so have I got it straight?

Dubstep:
wub wub wub wub

Dumbstep:
wub wub wub wub wub

[RetromanOMG]

My favorite part of this little tut is when Quarl said it could be applied to genres other than Dumbstep.

I'm sure a lot of other members will actually try Dumbstep, but I'm a little more interested to see how I can integrate it into my own music.

[SessileNomad]

At 1/18/11 09:50 AM, Chronamut wrote: why must you people strive to create worse and worse genres of music, even if its just for parodie's sake..

not everyone satisfies their creative urges making VG remixes

[sorohanro]

At 1/18/11 10:34 AM, SBB wrote: so have I got it straight?

Dubstep:
wub wub wub wub

Dumbstep:
wub wub wub wub wub

So, maybe we can make also dumbtechno : UNCE-UNCE-UNCE-UNCE-UN
Those styles can be useful for people who have one leg shorter (and the other longer).

[Buoy]

At 1/18/11 10:51 AM, SessileNomad wrote:

At 1/18/11 09:50 AM, Chronamut wrote: why must you people strive to create worse and worse genres of music, even if its just for parodie's sake..

not everyone satisfies their creative urges making VG remixes

hot damn

[SessileNomad]

At 1/18/11 11:20 AM, varrin7 wrote: Is it a coincidence that Quarl and Laqur are anagrams?

there is nothing in the universe more coincidental

[Reaper93]

At 1/18/11 09:58 AM, Chronamut wrote: "Sometimes, the danceable aspect is tossed out the window for a more insane, nearly unlistenable music that still keeps a half-step pattern and twisted basslines."

nearly unlistenable music doesnt sound more creative to me..

To be supr srs for a minute, "nearly unlistenable" sounds rather close to violating the "no spam submissions" rule (in fact, one might say "nearly" violating it, hey-ooooo). Experimental noise is all cool n stuff but isn't the audio portal itself supposed to provide listenable tracks for use in flash animation, hence the rule against 'noise' submissions? Wouldn't it be best to showcase experimental works that are "nearly unlistenable" elsewhere as a result?

That's just my supr srs contribution of rules lawyering, though, and I doubt that matters.

Y'all have your fun now, I'm just some lowly newbeh bewbeh anyway D;

[Decibel]

At 1/18/11 10:34 AM, SBB wrote: so have I got it straight?

Dubstep:
wub wub wub wub

Dumbstep:
wub wub wub wub wub

Is it me or is that just teh epicest comment evar? :P

And it's sometimes wub wub wub wub yoooow woow weeee.

[VisibleServer]

This dumbstep sounds really good. Btw i'm new here.

A CHALLENGER APPROACHES.

[Mich]

At 1/18/11 11:27 AM, Reaper93 wrote: To be supr srs for a minute, "nearly unlistenable" sounds rather close to violating the "no spam submissions" rule (in fact, one might say "nearly" violating it, hey-ooooo).

There's a difference between ear-raping screaming and noise, and experimental time signatures that one may find hard to bob their head to.

[Reaper93]

At 1/18/11 01:24 PM, Mich wrote:

At 1/18/11 11:27 AM, Reaper93 wrote: To be supr srs for a minute, "nearly unlistenable" sounds rather close to violating the "no spam submissions" rule (in fact, one might say "nearly" violating it, hey-ooooo).

There's a difference between ear-raping screaming and noise, and experimental time signatures that one may find hard to bob their head to.

Well, I figure literally unlistenable would be things that hurt to listen to, while nearly unlistenable would be things that NEARLY hurt to listen to.

So like William Shatner.

Perhaps poor word choice on his part, though. I'm just being literal.

[Buoy]

At 1/18/11 02:15 PM, Reaper93 wrote: Well, I figure literally unlistenable would be things that hurt to listen to, while nearly unlistenable would be things that NEARLY hurt to listen to.

So like William Shatner.

Perhaps poor word choice on his part, though. I'm just being literal.

HE WAS EXAGGERAGING TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS.

...probably

[SessileNomad]

HE WAS EXAGGERAGING TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS.

...probably

...maybe

[Reaper93]

At 1/18/11 03:40 PM, SBB wrote:

At 1/18/11 02:15 PM, Reaper93 wrote: Well, I figure literally unlistenable would be things that hurt to listen to, while nearly unlistenable would be things that NEARLY hurt to listen to.

So like William Shatner.

Perhaps poor word choice on his part, though. I'm just being literal.

HE WAS EXAGGERAGING TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS.

...probably

Can't poke fun at a concept or phrasing on the side of Chron without people being all "you don't get it, gawd!" D;

[SineRider]

This thread is halpful. But how do I 23/16 time signature?

[Spikrodd]

At 1/18/11 05:00 PM, SineRider wrote: This thread is halpful. But how do I 23/16 time signature?

You pray to the spaghetti gods with your drum machine kicking at four-digit tempos. DUHHH.

Plus I love how Quarl has more enthusiasm over this than I do :P

[Buoy]

At 1/18/11 05:00 PM, SineRider wrote: This thread is halpful. But how do I 23/16 time signature?

You group the 23 beats in smaller pieces- think of it as

(4+4+4+4+4+3)/16 or (4+3+4+3+4+3+2)/16 or (6+5+6+5)/16, etc...

cause really, any time signature can be thought of as a collection of 2s and 3s. 4/4 = (2+2)/4, 6/8 = (3+3)/8, 5/4 = (2+3)/4 or (3+2)/4 and so it goes on!

[Quarl]

At 1/18/11 10:34 AM, SBB wrote: so have I got it straight?

Dubstep:
wub wub wub wub

Dumbstep:
wub wub wub wub wub

right on. now just add some drums.

At 1/18/11 10:50 AM, RetromanOMG wrote: My favorite part of this little tut is when Quarl said it could be applied to genres other than Dumbstep.

my favorite is dumb and bass.

[SteakJohnson]

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote:

5/4

9/4

7/4

IM A MUSICIAN NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST!!!!

[Buoy]

At 1/18/11 05:51 PM, SteakJohnson wrote:

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote:

5/4

9/4

7/4

IM A MUSICIAN NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST!!!!

HANG ON I THINK I GOT IT

5/4 = 1.25
9/4 = 2.25
7/4 = 1.75

[Quarl]

At 1/18/11 05:51 PM, SteakJohnson wrote:

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote:

5/4

9/4

7/4

IM A MUSICIAN NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST!!!!

rocket scientists make rockets. muscicians make music. music is all about dividing time. all you have to do is count.

[SessileNomad]

my favorite is dumb and bass.

dnb in 5/4 is really fun

[RetromanOMG]

That dumb and bass thing sounds a little further up my alley.

I just need to understand how time signatures work, and I'll get started...Time signatures have always confused me...

[Reaper93]

At 1/18/11 07:35 PM, Quarl wrote:

At 1/18/11 05:51 PM, SteakJohnson wrote:

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote:

5/4

9/4

7/4

IM A MUSICIAN NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST!!!!

rocket scientists make rockets. muscicians make music. music is all about dividing time. all you have to do is count.

I was about to make a joke about dividing time being linked to some sort of quantum or time travel effect but I think I made the right decision sparing everybody that one.

Still, though, you should be all up ons with the time signature tutorial like that guy a couple posts above me wanted. It'd be mad helpful. Hell, I still haven't bothered looking up exactly how the weirder time signatures work and I shoulda done that ages ago.

(Nothing a google search couldn't find, but google searching is for lame-o's amirite? At least judging on how many threads around here are about the same sorts of topics...)

[vexdj]

i dont know what dumb step is but i make drumstep . www.soundcloud.com/dstruct-o

[SteakJohnson]

At 1/18/11 07:35 PM, Quarl wrote:

At 1/18/11 05:51 PM, SteakJohnson wrote:

At 1/18/11 08:14 AM, Quarl wrote:

5/4

9/4

7/4

IM A MUSICIAN NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST!!!!

rocket scientists make rockets. muscicians make music. music is all about dividing time. all you have to do is count.

and after years of research, the jobs of rocket scientists and musicians were finally individuallized from eachother.