A BEGINNERS GUIDE ON
HOW TO PRODUCE DRUM & BASS MUSIC

Learn how to produce drum and bass music in Ableton Live. DnB is often comprised of choppy amens, a fat reese bass, percussion loops and post-production mix techniques such as sidechain compression. If you're new to drum and bass, check out this beginner DnB tutorial and the other videos on my channel. I also have a Complete Ableton Live 11 course linked below for anyone looking to speed up their workflow.

THE COMPLETE ABLETON LIVE COURSE : FROM BEGINNER TO PRO

🎧 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Produce Drum and Bass in Ableton Live

Whether you're new to music production or just diving into Drum & Bass (DnB), this guide covers the essentials to help you build your first banger in Ableton Live.

✅ Step 1: Set Your Project Tempo

  • DnB BPM Range: Set your Ableton Live session to 170–175 BPM, which is standard for most drum and bass styles.

🥁 Step 2: Program or Sample Your Drums

  • Load an Amen Break or use Ableton's Drum Rack to sequence your own breakbeat-style loop.

  • Chop the Amen Break or other classic breaks using Slice to New MIDI Track.

  • Add kick/snare layers and hi-hat/percussion loops for groove.

🎚️ Step 3: Design Your Reese Bass

  • Open a synth (e.g., Analog, Operator, or Serum).

  • Use two detuned saw waves for a fat reese bass.

  • Add distortion, filter movement (via LFO), and automation for variation.

  • EQ out unwanted frequencies and use a low-pass filter for shaping.

🎛️ Step 4: Arrange Your Track

  • Structure your project with key DnB elements:

    • Intro (16 bars)

    • Build-up (8–16 bars)

    • Drop (32 bars)

    • Breakdown

    • Second drop and outro

  • Use dummy clips and markers to help layout your track.

🌊 Step 5: Sidechain Compression

  • Add a Compressor to your bass and pad channels.

  • Set it to sidechain from your kick (or ghost kick).

  • This allows the drums to cut through the mix cleanly and gives bounce.

🎨 Step 6: Add FX and Atmosphere

  • Use risers, impacts, white noise, and vinyl crackle.

  • Layer pads and ambient textures for depth in intros and breakdowns.

  • Try delay, reverb, chorus, and flanging for a wider sound.

🎧 Step 7: Mix and Export

  • Use EQ Eight to clean up frequencies.

  • Balance levels using Utility and Mix Bus Compression.

  • Export your final track in WAV or MP3 for upload or mastering.

📦 Bonus: Speed Up Your Workflow

Check out the Complete Ableton Live Course linked in the video for deep dives on automation, racks, and workflow tips to produce faster and better.