Drum & Bass Sequencing Guide

How to build drum & bass patterns on the sequencer's 4×16-step sound cards. All patterns assume ~174 BPM.

Grid & Timing Reference

                 1 bar (16 sixteenth-notes)

     Beat 1         Beat 2         Beat 3         Beat 4
┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│1 │2 │3 │4 │ │5 │6 │7 │8 │ │9 │10│11│12│ │13│14│15│16│
└──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘

D&B uses a half-time feel: the snare lands on beats 2 and 4 (steps 5 & 13) while the kick anchors beat 1 (step 1).

Each sound card uses one 4×4 grid per page. In the diagrams below: - = active step - = inactive step - Active step numbers listed below each grid


Drum Patterns

1. Standard 2-Step

The foundation pattern. Kick on 1 and the "two-step" ghost kick on 11. Snare on 2 and 4 (half-time). Hi-hats lock down the groove.

Kick

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 11

Snare

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 5, 13

Hi-Hat (8th notes)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15

Variations: - Step 9 kick (beats 1 & 3): add step 9 for a heavier drop feel - Swung hats: shift 8th-note hats slightly — use the Chance tab at ~85% on steps 3, 7, 11, 15 for a looser swing - Velocities: snare on step 5 at 0.85, snare on step 13 at 0.75 (slight backbeat emphasis)


2. Amen Style

Inspired by the Amen break. Syncopated kicks with ghost snares create the rolling breakbeat feel.

Kick

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │▓ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 7, 11, 15

Snare

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 3, 5, 13

Ride / Ghost Snare (low velocity)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 4, 6, 12

Tips: - Ghost snares (steps 3, 6, 12) should be low velocity (~0.3–0.4) — use the Vel tab - The ride hit on step 4 keeps the break rolling - Set snare velocity on step 5 to 0.9 and step 13 to 0.7 for dynamic feel


3. Jump-Up

Heavier, more aggressive. Double kick on beats 1 & 3 with swung, rolling hi-hats.

Kick

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 9

Snare

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 5, 13

Hi-Hat (swung 16ths, medium velocity)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │· │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │· │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14

(· = step off; = full velocity; = lower velocity)

Tips: - The kick on step 9 (beat 3) gives it the heavy "two-step" bounce - Swung hats avoid step 2 and 10, creating a lopsided roll - Use the Chance tab at ~70% on steps 4 and 12 for variation


4. Liquid

Lighter, more spacious. Minimal kick, open hats on off-beats, room for the bass to breathe.

Kick

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1

Snare

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 5, 13

Hi-Hat (closed, 8th notes)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15

Open Hat / Ride

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 7, 15

Tips: - Minimal kick leaves space for a sub bass that plays on 1 and 5-9 - Open hats on steps 7 and 15 give the "splash" on the & of 2 and 4 - Set the open hat Decay (Hi-Hat engine) longer (~0.15s) for a washy feel


5. Neurofunk

Tight, precise, mechanical. Kick on 1 and the "& of 3" for a syncopated punch. Rolling hats with a crisp, programmed feel.

Kick

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1, 11

Snare

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 5, 13

Hi-Hat (16th note roll, high velocity)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: all 1–16

Ghost Hat (accented off-beats)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │▓ │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │▓ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 (higher velocity than main hats)

Tips: - Kick on 11 (not 9) gives the distinctive neuro "syncopated punch" - Use the Vel tab: main hats at 0.5, ghost hats at 0.8 for an accented roll - Try the Chance tab at ~90% on random steps for subtle micro-variation - The snare should be punchy and dry — use the Snare engine with a short decay (~0.1s)


6. Fills & Variations

One-bar fills to transition between sections. Width is the step range covered (e.g. steps 9–16 = second half of the bar).

Snare Roll Fill

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 9–16 (all, increasing velocity toward 16)
  • Set velocities ramping: 0.4 → 0.5 → 0.6 → 0.7 → 0.8 → 0.9 → 1.0 → 1.0
  • Use the same snare sound or a different snare on a separate sound card

Tom Roll Fill

Kick (tuned higher):
┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │▓ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 9, 14
  • Use the Kick engine with a higher pitch (pitchStart ~300–400 Hz) and longer decay
  • Tune across the grid: step 9 at 300 Hz, step 14 at 500 Hz

Half-Time Breakdown

Kick (only):
┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1
  • Remove the snare for 1–2 bars, keep kick on 1 only
  • Add a ride/hat on 1 and 9 (half-speed)
  • Re-introduce snare on step 5 for the drop

Bass Patterns

These use the Note tab on a Neuro or Juno sound card. The grid shows note names relative to the transport's Key and Scale settings. All examples use C major scale with Oct 3.

1. Sub Foundation

Root note on 1, octave on 9. Simple, deep, effective.

┌───┬───┬───┬───┐
│C3 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│C4 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │—  │—  │—  │
└───┴───┴───┴───┘
(— = inactive)

Pattern: root (C3) on step 1, octave (C4) on step 9.

2. Reese Pattern

Root on 1 and 9, fifth on 5 and 13. Classic Reese movement.

┌───┬───┬───┬───┐
│C3 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│G3 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│C3 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│G3 │—  │—  │—  │
└───┴───┴───┴───┘

Pattern: C3(1), G3(5), C3(9), G3(13).

3. Neuro Riff

Syncopated pattern with a call-and-response feel. The "growl" riff.

┌───┬───┬───┬───┐
│C3 │—  │—  │E3 │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │G3 │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│Bb3│—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │G3 │—  │C4 │
└───┴───┴───┴───┘

Pattern: C3(1), E3(4), G3(6), Bb3(9), G3(14), C4(16).

4. Call & Response

Question-answer phrasing across the bar.

┌───┬───┬───┬───┐
│C3 │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│—  │—  │—  │—  │
├───┼───┼───┼───┤
│E3 │G3 │—  │—  │
└───┴───┴───┴───┘

Pattern: C3(1) — long note, then E3(13), G3(14) as the "answer". The rest creates tension before the answer hits.


Quick Tips

Velocity (Vel Tab)

Pattern Snare Kick Hats
2-Step 0.85 / 0.75 0.9 / 0.7 0.5
Amen 0.9 / 0.7 / 0.3 0.9 / 0.6 / 0.4 0.4
Jump-Up 0.9 / 0.85 1.0 / 0.9 0.5–0.7
Liquid 0.7 / 0.6 0.8 0.4 / 0.6 (open)
Neuro 0.9 / 0.85 1.0 / 0.85 0.5 / 0.8 (accents)

Chance (Chance Tab)

  • Set stepped hi-hats to 85–90% for a "humanised" roll
  • Ghost snares at 50–70% for random variation
  • Neuro accents at 80% for occasional punch

Modulation (Mod Tab)

Route the per-step mod value to the Neuro engine's filterCut or the Kick's pitchStart for timbral movement across the pattern. Set mod values on active steps in the Mod tab (grid of per-step values 0–1).

Pattern Length

Start with 16 steps (1 page) while building. Extend to 32 (2 pages) for call-and-response phrasing. The Kick and Snare patterns stay at 16; variations on pages 2+ keep the loop from getting stale.


Full Arrangement Example

A 4-bar arrangement (64 steps, 4 pages) showing how patterns chain across bar boundaries. Each page = 1 bar = 16 steps.

Layout

    Bar 1 (Intro)        Bar 2 (Build)        Bar 3 (Drop)         Bar 4 (Outro)
   Page 1                Page 2               Page 3               Page 4
┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│1 │2 │3 │4 │ │5 │6 │7 │8 │ │9 │10│11│12│ │13│14│15│16│ │17│18│19│20│ │21│22│23│24│ │25│26│27│28│ │29│30│31│32│
└──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘

    Bar 5 (Drop cont.)    Bar 6                 Bar 7 (Fill)         Bar 8 (Reset)
   Page 5                Page 6               Page 7               Page 8
┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ ┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│33│34│35│36│ │37│38│39│40│ │41│42│43│44│ │45│46│47│48│ │49│50│51│52│ │53│54│55│56│ │57│58│59│60│ │61│62│63│64│
└──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ └──┴──┴──┴──┘

Sound Card Pattern Changes

Bar Section Kick Snare Hats Bass Notes
1 Intro 1 only Off 8th notes, low vel Off Build tension
2 Build 1, 11 5, 13 (low vel) 8th notes + open hat 7,15 Off Snare enters, hats add open splash
3 Drop 1, 9 5, 13 16th roll + accents C3(1), G3(5) Full drop, bass enters
4 Drop 1, 9, 11 5, 13 16th roll + accents C3(1), G3(5), C4(9) Bass octave jump for energy
5 Drop 1, 11 5, 13 Roll + ghost off-beats C3(1), E3(4), G3(6), Bb3(9) Neuro riff variation
6 Drop 1, 11 5, 13 Roll + ghost off-beats C3(1), G3(5), C3(9), G3(13) Back to Reese pattern
7 Fill 1, 9 Snare roll 9–16 Hats off Off Snare roll ramp, bass cuts
8 Reset 1 only Off 8th notes, low vel Off Back to intro, loop to bar 1

Visual: Bar 1 Drum Grids

Kick (Page 1)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1

Snare (Page 1) — all off

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│░ │░ │░ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘

Hats (Page 1)

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
├──┼──┼──┼──┤
│▓ │░ │▓ │░ │
└──┴──┴──┴──┘
Steps: 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15 — all at vel 0.35

### Visual: Bar 3 (Drop) Drum Grids

**Kick (Page 3)**

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ │▓ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │░ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │░ │░ │░ │░ │ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ Steps: 1, 9

**Snare (Page 3)**

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ │░ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │░ │░ │░ │░ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │░ │░ │░ │ └──┴──┴──┴──┘ Steps: 5, 13

**Hats (Page 3) — full 16th roll**

┌──┬──┬──┬──┐ │▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │ ├──┼──┼──┼──┤ │▓ │▓ │▓ │▓ │ └──┴──┴──┴──┘

**Bass (Page 3) — Reese pattern**

┌───┬───┬───┬───┐ │C3 │— │— │— │ ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ │G3 │— │— │— │ ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ │— │— │— │— │ ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ │— │— │— │— │ └───┴───┴───┴───┘ C3(1), G3(5)


Key & Scale Reference

The Note tab uses the transport's Key and Scale settings to determine which notes appear when you click a pad. Below are common D&B keys with their scale note names across 3 octaves (as they'd appear in the Note tab cycling).

Scales

Scale Intervals Sound
Chromatic All 12 semitones Any key, all notes available
Major W–W–H–W–W–W–H Bright, uplifting
Minor W–H–W–W–H–W–W Dark, emotive
Pentatonic Minor W–WH–W–WH Safe, always in key
Blues Minor pentatonic + ♭5 Gritty, expressive
Dorian W–H–W–W–W–H–W Moody, used in neuro
Phrygian H–W–W–W–H–W–W Dark, spanish flavour

(W = whole tone, H = semitone, WH = 3 semitones)

Common D&B Keys

D&B favours darker, sub-heavy keys. These are the most common:

Key Root Freq Notes in Scale (Natural Minor) Feel
D minor 73.4 Hz D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C Classic D&B, deep sub
E♭ minor 77.8 Hz Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db Dark, heavy
E minor 82.4 Hz E, F#, G, A, B, C, D Most common — rich sub
F minor 87.3 Hz F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb Aggressive, used in jump-up
F# minor 92.5 Hz F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E Neurofunk favourite
G minor 98.0 Hz G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F Dark, rolling
A minor 110.0 Hz A, B, C, D, E, F, G Lighter, liquid-friendly

Note Tab Grid — Key Example

With Key = E, Scale = Minor, Oct = 2:

Oct 2:        Oct 3:                   Oct 4:
┌────┬────┬────┬────┐ ┌────┬────┬────┬────┐ ┌────┬────┬────┬────┐
│E2  │F#2 │G2  │A2  │ │E3  │F#3 │G3  │A3  │ │E4  │F#4 │G4  │A4  │
├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
│B2  │C3  │D3  │—   │ │B3  │C4  │D4  │—   │ │B4  │C5  │D5  │—   │
├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
│E3  │F#3 │G3  │A3  │ │E4  │F#4 │G4  │A4  │ │E5  │F#5 │G5  │A5  │
├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤ ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
│B3  │C4  │D4  │—   │ │B4  │C5  │D5  │—   │ │B5  │C6  │D6  │—   │
└────┴────┴────┴────┘ └────┴────┴────┴────┘ └────┴────┴────┴────┘

Clicking a pad cycles through: E2 → E3 → E4 → E5 → E6 → OFF. Right-click clears the note immediately.

Bass Note Selection by Key

Use these root-fifth-root-octave patterns as your sub foundation:

Key Sub Root (1) Fifth (5) Octave (9) Octave Fifth (13)
D D2 A2 D3 A3
E♭ Eb2 Bb2 Eb3 Bb3
E E2 B2 E3 B3
F F2 C3 F3 C4
F# F#2 C#3 F#3 C#4
G G2 D3 G3 D4
A A2 E3 A3 E4

Typical Bass Movement by Sub-genre

Sub-genre Movement Example Pattern
Liquid Root → 5th → Root → 5th (1-bar) E2(1), B2(5), E2(9), B2(13)
Neuro Root → off → 3rd → 5th (syncopated) E2(1), G3(4), B3(6), D4(10)
Jump-Up Root → octave → root → off E2(1), E3(5), E2(9)
Rolling Root → octave → 5th → octave 5th E2(1), E3(5), B2(9), B3(13)
Techstep Root → off → off → 5th (minimal) E2(1), B3(11)

Using the Mod Tab for Bass Movement

Route per-step mod to the Neuro engine's filterCut or fmAmount:

Step Note Mod Effect
1 E2 0 Closed filter, deep sub
6 G3 0.5 Filter opens, growl
10 B3 0.8 Full open, aggressive
14 D4 0.4 Filter closes back

This creates the classic neuro "wobble" where the filter track-follows the note pitch with a dynamic envelope.