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How to Make Basic Hip Hop Beats in GarageBand

GarageBand software allows users to create and customize musical compositions and podcasts. The onboard sequencer and audio filters enable you to amplify and enhance recordings done with external instruments. While the software is supplied with a loaded pack of sample loops, you also have the option of constructing your own musical scores using MIDI via USB. Hip hop beats, which are drum and bass driven, can be constructed within GarageBand with ease by using properly placed music loops with the correct effects.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open the software and select “New music project” from the “File” menu at the top. Scroll through the list of options and set the “Tempo” and “Project Name” for the file. Click the “Control” option from the top toolbar to disable the metronome, if desired.

    • 2

      Click the eyeball icon at the bottom left corner of the main pop-up window. A list of loops will be displayed by instrument and tempo. Click the “Beat” tab on the top right-hand corner of the pop-up toolbar; a list of “Rhythm options” will be displayed. Preview the beats by clicking once on the loop.

    • 3

      Drag and drop the selected loop to the main “Track window” once you have chosen a sample you like. Right-click the loop, select the “Copy” option and paste the new sample next to the original one. Paste the loops next to each other until you create a song-length of loops, about two to three minutes.

    • 4

      Scroll through the list of “Melodic” loops and listen to the selected sounds before dragging them to the “Track window." Place the loops in an order that doesn't clash or drown out the previous sounds. Choose other instruments such as synths, pianos and drums to place in the song from the eyeball icon at the bottom left-hand corner.

    • 5

      Select the “Special Effects” tab from the “Track info” toolbar at the top of the screen. Use effects such as echo, reverb and compression to add details to your mix. Select the “Save” option from the “File” menu to save the project.

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