When drumming for modern dance music, there is one popular drum beat that is repurposed and reused in many dance songs. The Amen Break is the most sampled drum beat of all time, used in songs such as “Straight Outta Compton” and “Nasty” by SHY FX.
The Amen Break is a 4 bar drum loop, bar 1 and 2 are the same, but bar 3 and 4 are different, with a delayed snare hit at the end of bar 3 and two fills. Sometimes it is sampled exactly as played, but the most common way this is used is by taking the idea and the different parts and putting them together to fit your song, whilst adding other hits and fills to keep it interesting and to match the track you’re playing.
From this video I have learnt different ways of playing EDM music, and the conventions of some of the genres within EDM:
Four to the floor, playing the kick drum on all four beats of the bar is very common yet effective for EDM music.
Stopping for a bar or two, creates tension and sounds great when you come back in.
Ghost notes are commonly used and sound great in EDM music, mostly used in drum & bass.
Leave space, don’t always overplay even if the music calls for it, leaving space can be more effective than a fill.
Sometimes don’t use a snare sound, as a clap or a different sound can fit the track better.
Usually a simple beat, the variations on the beat and the speed of the track are the challenges. (Drumeo, 2020)
Drumeo. “EDM Drumming (5 Beats You Need to Know).” YouTube, 22 July 2020, youtu.be/6mBoGWRQb4o?si=lVgCdZU3uVvYMM89. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
Malminho. “Amen Break – Normal, Fast and Slow Version.” Www.youtube.com, 7 Oct. 2009, youtu.be/qwQLk7NcpO4. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.