How to Make a Drill Beat (Sliding 808s Explained)
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Drill · Meshplugins.com
Drill lives and dies on sliding 808s. Here's how to make that dark, menacing bounce from scratch.
Related: free 808 and bass plugins, how to make a trap beat and the 10 best free plugins.
1. Sliding 808s — the signature
Turn on glide/portamento and overlap notes so the 808 slides in pitch. This is the heart of drill.
2. Dark, eerie melody — the mood
Minor bells, pianos or strings - sparse and menacing. Less is more here.
3. Skippy hats and syncopated kicks — the bounce
Off-beat hi-hats and kick patterns that dance around the 808 give drill its signature swing.
4. Around 140 BPM — the tempo
UK and NY drill sit near 140 BPM with a half-time feel.
5. Mix the 808 — make the slide land
Tune and saturate the 808 so those slides translate everywhere - see how to mix 808s.
FAQ
How do I make sliding 808s?
Enable glide/portamento on your bass and overlap notes so it glides between pitches.
What BPM is drill?
Usually around 140 BPM with a half-time feel.
Want the pro sound instantly?
These guides get you most of the way. My presets, templates and vocal chains get you the exact pro tone in one drag — the settings I pulled from 100+ Grammy sessions.
Get My Presets and Templates → Meshplugins.comMore real talk → Meshplugins.com · free 808 and bass plugins
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