Day 8: Writing a Drum Beat
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
Objectives
- I can check my drum pattern against a reference grid, step by step, and fix what is wrong.
- I can explain what a fill is and where it belongs in a pattern.
- I can create a fill by adding sounds, and by taking away or moving sounds.
- I can export a drum pattern as an MP3 and submit it for a grade.
Warmup: Check Your Rock Beat
Open yesterday’s project in Soundtrap. Listen to it. It should contain the basic rock beat pattern and possibly some additional sounds.
If the basic rock beat pattern is missing or broken, fix that now. Compare your grid to this one, one row at a time.
| Step | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed Hi-Hat | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Kick | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Snare | X | X | X | X |
Work Session
We’re going to add some fills to the Rock Beat pattern.
Fills
Fills are short musical phrases that add interest to a beat. They are often used to transition between sections of a song. A fill usually lands at the end of a phrase — in a sixteen-step pattern, that is normally the last four steps.
Add Sounds
One option for a fill is to add some new sounds like toms and crash cymbals.
| Step | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed Hi-Hat | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Kick | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Snare | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Tom | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Crash Cymbal | X |
Take Away or Move Sounds
Another option for a fill is to take away or move some of the existing sounds in the pattern. Notice that nothing new was added here — the hi-hat stops after step 13, and the last snare moved from step 15 to step 16.
| Step | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed Hi-Hat | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Kick | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Snare | X | X | X | X |
A Bit of Both
Obviously you can combine these ideas. Try making your own drum pattern with a fill.
Your pattern still has to be built on the basic rock beat — someone listening should be able to hear the rock beat underneath your fill.
Closing
Share Out
Export one drum pattern with a fill as an MP3 track and turn it in.
How to Export an MP3
- Play your pattern one last time and listen to the whole thing.
- Open the File menu in Soundtrap.
- Choose Export, then choose MP3.
- Save the file somewhere you can find it again.
- Upload the MP3 file to the assignment. Do not submit a share link today — this assignment needs the file.
Standards
- MSMTC8.CR.1 — Generate musical ideas for various purposes and contexts (inventing a fill for an established drum pattern).
- MSMTC8.CR.2 — Select and develop musical ideas for defined purposes and contexts (developing a rock beat by adding, removing, and relocating sounds).