What makes it house?
House music has a few signature elements:
- Tempo: 120 to 130 BPM. The sweet spot for dancing.
- Four on the floor kick: Kick drum on every beat (steps 1, 5, 9, 13 in a 16 step pattern). This is the heartbeat of house music.
- Offbeat hi-hats: Open hi-hats on the offbeats (steps 3, 7, 11, 15). This creates the "tsss-tsss-tsss-tsss" bounce that makes people move.
- Claps on 2 and 4: Snare or clap on beats 2 and 4 (steps 5, 13).
- Rolling bassline: A bass pattern that moves and grooves, often with a filter sweep.
Step 1: Build the drum pattern
Open DAWG and select Drums. Set the tempo to around 124 BPM.
- Place kicks on steps 1, 5, 9, 13.
- Place claps on steps 5 and 13.
- Place open hi-hats on steps 3, 7, 11, 15.
- Optionally add closed hi-hats on every step for a driving sixteenth note pattern.
Press play. You should hear a classic house groove immediately.
Step 2: Add the bassline
Switch to Bass. Set the scale to Natural Minor or Pentatonic Minor. Place notes that hit with or just after the kick drum. A simple approach:
- Root note on beat 1.
- Same note on beat 3, but one octave higher.
- Add a short note between beats for bounce.
Keep the bass in the low to mid range. Add a slight filter sweep for movement.
Step 3: Chord stabs
Switch to Groove (use the Rhodes or Pad preset). Stack 2 or 3 notes vertically to create a chord. Place chord hits on the offbeats (between the kicks) for a classic house feel. Add reverb to give the chords space.
Step 4: Add a top melody
Switch to Synth or Groove. Play a simple 4 to 8 note melody over the top. Keep it catchy and repetitive. Leave gaps. House melodies breathe.
Step 5: Mix and polish
Open the mixer. The kick should be the loudest element. Bass sits just below. Chords and melody fill the midrange. Hi-hats should be present but not harsh.
Add a touch of reverb to the chords and melody. Keep the kick and bass dry. Export when it sounds good.
House subgenres to explore
- Deep house: Slower (118 to 122 BPM), warm chords, mellow pads, less aggressive.
- Tech house: More percussive, less melodic, closer to techno.
- Future house: Heavier bass, sharper synths, more drops.
- Afro house: African percussion patterns, polyrhythmic, organic textures.