How to make a beat around a vocal
Writing a beat under a finished vocal is the reverse of how most songs start, and it can be quicker, because the melody already exists.
Start with the chords
Loop the hook and find chords in the vocal's key. Keep them simple, because the voice is already carrying the melody.
Then the low end
Bring in the 808 or bass next, following the root of each chord. Leave gaps where the vocal has its strongest words.
Drums last
Add drums once the harmony works. Decide early if the beat is felt in half time, because that sets how the whole thing moves.
The vocals
| Vocal | BPM | Key | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incidental | 94 | C major | MP3 and WAV |
| Milan | 109 | A minor | MP3 and WAV |
| Attention | 130 | A minor | MP3 and WAV |
| Souffle | 130 | E minor | MP3 and WAV |
| Fuck Up a Bag | 128 | C minor | MP3 and WAV |
More on free vocals
- Free acapellas
- Free rap vocals
- Free trap vocals
- Free melodic rap vocals
- Free vocal WAV downloads
- Free vocal stems
- Royalty free vocals
- Free vocals for remixes
- How to use a free vocal in FL Studio
- How to match a vocal to a beat's tempo
- How to fit a vocal to a beat's key
- How to chop a vocal
- How to mix a free acapella into a beat