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How to Make Beats in Ableton Without a Keyboard

When you're using a keyboard with an audio application like Ableton Live, it essentially nothing more than a MIDI controller. One of the many nice things about Ableton is that you don't need a keyboard to program midi sequences, such as beats. You can draw the MIDI notes on the sequencer using your mouse.

Things You'll Need

  • Ableton Live software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Launch Ableton Live on your computer.

    • 2

      Open the instrument library and drag the "Drum Rack" onto a MIDI channel.

    • 3

      Click on the "Drum Rack" tab near the bottom of the screen.

    • 4

      Begin to load drum samples into your kit. It does not matter what key (C1, D1, E1, etc.) you assign sounds to because you won't be using a keyboard.

    • 5

      Engage "Draw Mode" by clicking the "Draw Mode Switch" (pencil icon) in the top menu.

    • 6

      Click on an empty grid in the "note editor" to draw a MIDI note (beat).

    • 7

      Continue adding notes to the empty grid boxes to create your drum beat.

Digital Music

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