In this article, we will explore an often under-appreciated role in a hip-hop beats, the pads. Pads have never been a prominent feature in hip-hop, but nevertheless, when used correctly, pads can be an effective way to spice up your beats.
As stated in earlier articles, music is really the synchronization of rhythm and harmony. While the drums are the part that establishes the rhythm, it is the pads that can really establish the harmony when used effectively. Through their role in building the harmonic foundation of a song, pads have a powerful ability to add emotions to a track that the drums simply cannot. Whether the mood is triumphant, reflective, or sad, pads can easily bring those emotions into a beat. For example, listen to the intro to "One Mic" by Nas and hear how the subtle pads instantly give the song a reflective vibe to it. Another example would be "I'm Not Afraid" by Eminem, where in the intro of the song, the pads once again instantly set up a mood of triumph. Follow these examples and explore the different range of emotions that you can put into your track via the use of pads.
Pads are great at filling out a track by filling in dead space. Unlike other parts which are designed to grab your attention or have lots of motion to them such as the groove and lead, the pads are a very subtle part. Because of this, pads can be incorporated into a track that already has a lot going on in it, without overwhelming the listener. With this ability, pads are an excellent choice for layering (a topic we'll discuss later) sounds. They key to incorporating pads into your track is to mix them in at low volumes in your beats. Pads are subtle sounds and generally aren't stars of the show. Oftentimes, a casual listener should not even notice it's there. Remember, pads fill up space, not dominate it.
With their space filling ability, pads are good way to provide a point of difference between verse and chorus. Leave out the pads in the verse and bring them in during the chorus to give a more robust sound to the chorus. This will give the song a more dynamic impact when the chorus hits. Also try it in reverse and see how it sounds.
Experiment with the use of pads in your track and pay attention to the use of pads in tracks and beats that you hear in songs. Next article, we will discuss our next role, the groove.
As stated in earlier articles, music is really the synchronization of rhythm and harmony. While the drums are the part that establishes the rhythm, it is the pads that can really establish the harmony when used effectively. Through their role in building the harmonic foundation of a song, pads have a powerful ability to add emotions to a track that the drums simply cannot. Whether the mood is triumphant, reflective, or sad, pads can easily bring those emotions into a beat. For example, listen to the intro to "One Mic" by Nas and hear how the subtle pads instantly give the song a reflective vibe to it. Another example would be "I'm Not Afraid" by Eminem, where in the intro of the song, the pads once again instantly set up a mood of triumph. Follow these examples and explore the different range of emotions that you can put into your track via the use of pads.
Pads are great at filling out a track by filling in dead space. Unlike other parts which are designed to grab your attention or have lots of motion to them such as the groove and lead, the pads are a very subtle part. Because of this, pads can be incorporated into a track that already has a lot going on in it, without overwhelming the listener. With this ability, pads are an excellent choice for layering (a topic we'll discuss later) sounds. They key to incorporating pads into your track is to mix them in at low volumes in your beats. Pads are subtle sounds and generally aren't stars of the show. Oftentimes, a casual listener should not even notice it's there. Remember, pads fill up space, not dominate it.
With their space filling ability, pads are good way to provide a point of difference between verse and chorus. Leave out the pads in the verse and bring them in during the chorus to give a more robust sound to the chorus. This will give the song a more dynamic impact when the chorus hits. Also try it in reverse and see how it sounds.
Experiment with the use of pads in your track and pay attention to the use of pads in tracks and beats that you hear in songs. Next article, we will discuss our next role, the groove.
About the Author:
Frank Lubsey is one part of the Jam Sonic music production team and currently produces beats for hip-hop acts, jingles for small businesses, and music for tv and film. Please be sure to visit his site for beatmaking articles and videos and hip-hop beats for sale.
No comments:
Post a Comment