Online Drum Machine — Beat Sequencer
Program beats by clicking the grid, hit Play, and adjust BPM and swing in real time. Eight tracks of kick, snare, hi-hats, and percussion — no install required.
Screen Recording
Record your session and download it as a WebM video. Include tab audio when prompted.
Ready to record screen.
🥁 Drum Sounds Explained
Kick
The deep, low-frequency drum that provides the foundation and pulse of the beat. Also called the bass drum. It's the "boom" sound you feel in your chest.
Snare
A sharp, cracking sound that typically lands on beats 2 and 4. It provides the backbeat and rhythmic tension. Named after the snares (wires) on the bottom of a real snare drum.
Lo Tom (Low Tom)
A lower-pitched tom drum with a deeper, resonant tone. Used for fills and transitions to add depth and movement to beats.
Hi Tom (High Tom)
A higher-pitched tom drum with a brighter tone. Works with the low tom to create melodic fills and rhythmic variations.
Cl. HH (Closed Hi-Hat)
A short, crisp hi-hat sound when the cymbals are pressed together. Provides the steady "chick" rhythm, often playing every 8th or 16th note.
Op. HH (Open Hi-Hat)
A longer, ringing hi-hat sound when the cymbals are apart. Used for accents and to add shimmer and texture to the beat.
Cowbell
A bright, metallic bell sound with a distinctive midrange tone. Famous from 80s rock and electronic music for adding a percussive accent.
Clap
A sharp handclap sound with multiple transients. Adds a human element and is commonly used in disco, funk, and electronic music for emphasis.
Ride
A large cymbal with a sustained, washy sound. Used for steady rhythms in jazz, rock, and electronic music as an alternative to hi-hats.
Crash
A loud, explosive cymbal sound with a long decay. Used for accents at the beginning of phrases or transitions between sections.
Perc 1 / Perc 2
Additional electronic percussion sounds unique to the Electronic kit. These synthesized tones add variety and futuristic texture to beats.
808 Bass
A deep, sustained sine wave bass tone from the Roland TR-808. The foundation of hip-hop and trap music, providing sub-bass weight to the beat.
✅ How to Play
- Select a Kit: Choose from 808 Classic, Acoustic, Electronic, or Hip-Hop from the dropdown menu. Each kit has its own unique sound character.
- Build Your Beat: Click on the grid squares to activate steps. Each row represents a different drum sound (kick, snare, hi-hat, etc.), and each column is a 16th note in time. Click again to deactivate.
- Adjust Tempo: Use the BPM input box or slider to change the speed. Lower BPM = slower, higher BPM = faster. The minimum is 1 BPM and maximum is 240 BPM.
- Add Swing: Move the swing slider to add a shuffled, groovy feel to your beat. Swing delays every other step slightly for a more natural rhythm.
- Control Volume: Use the master volume slider to adjust overall loudness. Each track also has its own volume slider for individual drum sound levels.
- Play & Stop: Click the Play button or press Spacebar to start your beat. Click Stop to reset the playhead to the beginning.
- Change Pattern Length: Toggle between 16 steps (1 bar) or 32 steps (2 bars) for longer, more complex patterns.
- Clear or Randomize: Use "Clear All" to start fresh or "Random Beat" for instant inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a drum machine?
A drum machine is an electronic device (or software) that simulates the sound of drums and percussion instruments. You program rhythmic patterns by activating steps on a grid — each row is a different drum sound, each column is a rhythmic subdivision. Classic drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909 defined the sound of electronic music.
What does BPM mean?
BPM stands for Beats Per Minute — the tempo of your pattern. 60 BPM is very slow (one beat per second). 120 BPM is a standard dance beat. 170–180 BPM is drum-and-bass or jungle territory. Try 90 BPM for hip-hop and 128 BPM for house music.
What does swing do?
Swing shifts every other "even" step slightly later in time, giving your beat a shuffled, bouncy feel instead of a perfectly mechanical grid. Low swing sounds tight and robotic. High swing sounds like jazz or funk. The sweet spot is usually 15–35%.
What is the difference between 16 and 32 steps?
A 16-step pattern represents one bar of music divided into 16th notes. A 32-step pattern gives you two bars, letting you create longer, more varied rhythmic phrases that don't repeat every bar.
What drum kits are available?
Four kits are included: 808 Classic (the Roland TR-808 sound palette that defines hip-hop and electronic music), Acoustic (natural-sounding drums for rock and jazz), Electronic (synthesized percussion for EDM and techno), and Hip-Hop (punchy kick and snare tuned for trap and boom-bap).
Can I record my beat?
Yes — use the Screen Recording button to capture your session as a WebM video file. When prompted by your browser, select the current tab and enable "Share tab audio" to capture the drum sounds in the recording.
Classic Beat Patterns
Position numbers refer to 16th-note steps (1–16). X = hit, · = rest.
| Pattern | Kick (1–16) | Snare | Hi-Hat (closed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-on-the-floor | X · · · X · · · X · · · X · · · | · · · · X · · · · · · · X · · · | X · X · X · X · X · X · X · X · |
| Hip-hop boom-bap | X · · X · · · · X · · X · · · · | · · · · X · · · · · · · X · · · | X · X · X · X · X · X · X · X · |
| Reggae one-drop | · · · · · · · · X · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · · X · · · · · · · | X · · · X · · · X · · · X · · · |
| Bossa nova | X · · X · · X · X · · X · · X · | · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · | X · X · X X · · X · X · X X · · |
References & Notes
- Swing implementation based on standard DAW shuffle: even-numbered 16th steps shifted by swing %
- 808 Classic kit tuned to match the Roland TR-808 frequency profile
This is a simulation tool for learning and entertainment purposes.