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About Drum & Bass
A fast-paced genre featuring breakbeats, heavy basslines, and tempos around 160-180 BPM. Originated in the UK jungle scene.
- Fast breakbeats (160-180 BPM)
- Heavy sub-bass frequencies
- Amen break and similar patterns
- Complex drum programming
History and Origins
Drum and bass emerged from the UK jungle and rave scene in the early 1990s, evolving from breakbeat hardcore. Goldie's 1995 album "Timeless" and LTJ Bukem's atmospheric productions helped define the genre's two main directions — dark and heavy versus liquid and melodic. By the mid-1990s, labels like Metalheadz, Ram Records, and Hospital Records established DnB as a major force in UK electronic music.
Subgenres
Common Chord Progressions
Producer Tips for Drum & Bass
- Write basslines using the minor pentatonic scale (1-b3-4-5-b7) for maximum compatibility with chopped breakbeats — the absence of the 2nd and 6th avoids clashing with syncopated drum patterns.
- Use the Harmonic Minor scale's augmented 2nd interval (between b6 and 7) in basslines for the classic dark, dramatic DnB sound.
- Program drum breaks at 170-174 BPM with ghost notes on the snare at very low velocities to add human feel to programmed beats.
- Layer your sub-bass (sine wave below 100Hz) with a mid-range bass (150-500Hz) using Phrygian mode for the dark, menacing quality heard in neurofunk.
Sound Design Tips
- Create the classic Reese bass by layering two slightly detuned saw waves, applying a low-pass filter, and adding subtle chorus or phaser modulation for movement.
- Process the Amen break by slicing it into individual hits, re-sequencing with varying pitch and time-stretch, then layering with a clean programmed break underneath.
- Design neurofunk basses using FM synthesis with modulation ratios of 1:1 and 2:1, automating the modulation depth to create evolving, growling timbres.
Essential Drum & Bass Tracks
Related Genres
Frequently Asked Questions
What BPM is drum and bass?
Drum and bass typically ranges from 160-180 BPM, with most tracks sitting at 170-174 BPM. This high tempo creates the genre's characteristic energy, while half-time sections provide contrast.
What is the Amen break in drum and bass?
The Amen break is a 6-second drum solo from "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons (1969). It became the most sampled breakbeat in music history and is foundational to drum and bass and jungle.
How do you make a DnB bassline?
Start with a Reese bass (two detuned saw waves through a low-pass filter) for classic DnB. Layer a sub sine wave below 80Hz with a mid-range bass element. Use minor pentatonic or Harmonic Minor scales. For neurofunk, use FM synthesis and heavy resampling.
What is the difference between jungle and drum and bass?
Jungle (early 1990s) is the precursor to drum and bass, characterized by chopped-up Amen breaks, ragga vocal samples, and a rawer production style. Drum and bass evolved with more emphasis on synthesized bass, cleaner production, and diverse subgenres.