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About Future Bass
Future bass is a bright, colorful electronic genre characterized by wobbly, detuned synth chords, lush supersaws, and emotional vocal chops. It blends elements of trap, synth-pop, and UK garage into an uplifting, accessible sound.
- Wobbly, pitch-bent supersaw chords with LFO modulation
- Bright, colorful sound palette with vocal chops
- Half-time trap-influenced drum patterns
- Emotional, major-key melodies with 7th and 9th chords
History and Origins
Future bass emerged around 2012-2013 from the bass music scenes in the US and Australia, with Flume's self-titled debut album being a genre-defining moment. The style drew from Jersey club, UK garage, and trap, combining them with bright, emotional chord work. Artists like San Holo and Marshmello brought the sound into mainstream pop by 2016, while the genre continues to evolve through artists like Virtual Riot and Subtronics.
Subgenres
Common Chord Progressions
Producer Tips for Future Bass
- Use major 7th and add9 chords from the Lydian mode for dreamy, uplifting chord progressions
- Apply LFO modulation to the volume and filter cutoff of supersaw chords for the signature wobble effect
- Layer vocal chops by pitching sampled vowels to the notes of your chord progression using a sampler
- Use the Mixolydian mode's flat 7th for a slightly bittersweet quality in otherwise major-key melodies
Sound Design Tips
- Create wobbly chords by applying an LFO to the volume at 1/4 or 1/8 rate with a square or triangle shape
- Design vocal chops by slicing vocal samples, pitching them chromatically, and sequencing them as melodies
- Build supersaws with 7+ unison voices, wide stereo spread, and a low-pass filter with slow attack envelope
Essential Future Bass Tracks
Related Genres
Frequently Asked Questions
What is future bass music?
Future bass is an electronic genre featuring wobbly supersaw chords, bright melodies, vocal chops, and half-time drum patterns. It blends trap rhythms with emotional, uplifting harmonies for an accessible, colorful sound.
What is the difference between future bass and dubstep?
Future bass emphasizes melodic, wobbly chords and bright harmonies in major keys, while dubstep focuses on aggressive bass design, darker tones, and heavier drops. Future bass is generally more accessible and pop-oriented.
How do you make future bass chords?
Future bass chords are made with layered supersaw synths playing major 7th or add9 voicings, then modulated with an LFO on volume or filter cutoff to create the signature wobble. Sidechain compression and stereo spread add width and movement.
What key is future bass usually in?
Future bass is predominantly written in major keys, with F major, G major, and C major being popular choices. The use of major keys gives the genre its characteristic bright, uplifting emotional quality.