Imagine listening to your own creation, your own masterpiece, a hip hop beat with you written all over it. It is possible. Don’t get caught up in stealing other peoples beats, other peoples hard work. Be original, be you. You will get more respect, have more respect for yourself, and pump out original beats you can be proud of. Here are a few tips to get you started making hip hop beats.

Every hip hop beat starts off with samples, short 30 second interval recordings. To create your samples get your hands on an instrument. It doesn’t have to be your favorite instrument. You don’t even have to know how to play it. Experiment. Try different combination of notes. Use your ear, you inner musician to create 30 second samples of you playing that instrument.

You may run into trouble creating samples and need inspiration. The best way to become inspired is to listen to music. Do not limit yourself to your favorite brand of music. Expand into other genres. Listen to the different instruments, the different rhythms, the various beats. This not only will give you ideas, but expand your knowledge of different instruments you can use to make your sample beats.

After you create your short sample beats, move on to constructing your hip hop beats. Your samples are your guide, not your beat. Your samples are a starting point. Combine them, mix them, mold them into something new, fresh, full of hip, full of hop. Imagine building a puzzle. To help build your puzzle and keep your samples on tempo use a simple drum beat track.

Now for the grand finale. Put yourself into your hip hop beat. Add your emotion. Remember a sad time. Put that into it. Remember a happy time. Put that into it. By putting your emotions into it you will create some amazing beats. In fact, the best time to create hip hop beats is when your emotional. Most important of all, have fun with it.

Read Aaron’s article about making hip hop beats.