In a song, the actual number of bars can vary quite a bit. Usually, the length of the song determines the bar length, but there are exceptions with drum samples, especially in songs with a warped timeline grid. If you’re making loops, it doesn’t really have to be that complicated.

One of the most common looping numbers of bars is four. This is usually enough to develop an indicative portion of a song, and then four bars can give groove, tempo and feel to a song, and so is great as a foundation or ‘skeleton’ sample. The drum samples in the four bar loop can be organized as one total unique sample, with each bar being totally different from the last. However, most music producers in rap and RnB prefer to keep some element of comfort with the listener, and variance is the keyword. Varying drums from bar to bar using changes towards the end or velocity is much more effective at not inducing stress into your listener.

The second most popular number of bars to base a musical loop on is sixteen. Why is this? Well, in hip hop and rap, 16 bars is the standard length for a rapper’s verse. So it turns out that using this figure to structure a loop on is great. Your creative limits are really tested, and to keep things moving through the whole verse length can be quite a challenge. One common tip is to introduce the hi-hats at the half-way point, and this will add another layer to the variance required to develop a great beat. At the end, start working on your pre-chorus skills.

Looking beyond drum samples can expand your horizon a little bit and it actually opens a whole bunch of doors. One common switch-up in a 16 bar loop, for example, is the introduction of a new instrument after 8 bars instead of anything drum-related. However, at this point – or anywhere else in the loop – you could mix up the drums to coincide with this change, and this can be very powerful.

You can even try to see past the instruments and drum hits if you’re serious about arranging a masterpiece. Think vocals! Common techniques include allowing the singer or rapper to vocalize the first few bars in a very boring, monotonous way, before really showering in the feeling after that. Again, anything that keeps the listener guessing is viable.

With all of this on the table, you may be asking, “so what’s the easiest way to switch up the music?” The answer is indeed drum samples. It’s so easy to change the sequencing here, and your singer does not need to do anything different, and your keyboard player doesn’t need to come in again to lay down new harmonies for the song. It’s that easy.

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