In recent years the meteoric rise of Amapiano has taken the global music scene by storm. Deep house grooves, log drum basslines, hypnotic melodies and a strong emphasis on rhythm make it an infectious genre. So, if you want to create your own Amapiano beats, this guide will break down the essential elements.

Understanding the Amapiano Sound

Before we dive into the specifics of Amapiano production, it’s important to understand what makes Amapiano unique. Amapiano originated in South Africa and is a fusion of deep house, jazz, and kwaito, characterized by its melodic basslines, percussion heavy grooves, and long hypnotic pads. Unlike high-energy house or techno, Amapiano is much smoother and laid-back. 

Here are some of the key characteristics of Amapiano beats:

  • Log drum bass: The signature deep, resonant bass sound is one of the defining aspects of Amapiano.
  • Shuffling percussion: Shakers, rimshots, and congas all combine to create a bouncy or shuffling rhythmic feel.
  • Atmospheric melodies: Long soft pads, jazzy keys, and uplifting synths create Amapiano’s melodic identity.
  • Extended intros and breakdowns: Structurally, Amapiano tracks often start with long intros and gradually introduce elements until you get to the full beat.

Choosing the Right Tempo & BPM

Amapiano beats typically range between 105 and 115 BPM. This tempo range succesfully strikes a balance between being laid-back but also and having enough energy for the dancefloor. Choosing the right BPM depends on the type of track you’re making. 

For more soulful, deep tracks look at tempos below 110 while moving beyond this tempo iis perfect for Amapiano with a bit more emphasis on energy.

We would suggest starting your DAW session at 110 bpm and adjusting the tempo depending on where the track takes you.

Laying Down the Drums & Percussion

As Drums are the foundation of any Amapiano beat we suggest this is a good starting point for your track. While drums in most house subgenres tend to be quite straight i.e. 4 to the floor, Amapiano relies on more rhythmically complex drum patterns. Getting this right will help to give your tracks that essential signature swing.

Essential Drum Elements:

  • Kick Drum: Look for a deep, soft kick that’s not too punchy and overpowering.
  • Shakers: Continuous shaker or hi-hat loops create a rolling groove.
  • Percussion: Bongos, congas and syncopated rimshots add an organic live feel.
  • Claps/Snares: snappy snares and claps are usually placed on the second and fourth beat to create the drive in a track. These are sometimes layered for added depth.

Programming the Groove:

  • Start with the Kick: Place a steady four-on-the-floor kick pattern.
  • Add Shakers: Use a shuffle pattern to create movement. Experiment with subtle 16th note swing settings i.e. 54-58% swing
  • Layer Percussion: Place rimshots and bongos slightly offbeat for a natural swing. Use the same swing settings when quantising. 
  • Snare and Clap Placement: Typically, the snare or clap lands on every second beat but can vary for a syncopated feel.

Sourcing Sampled Drums and Percussion

Another option is to use or combine Amapiano inspired sampled drum loops. For instance, you may want to source some good live shaker or percussive loops and use these as a template to program your kick and snare to. 

Just be aware that any programmed drums should comply with the rhythmic swing inherent in the sample loops. Using your ears, apply varying amounts of swing to your programmed drums until everything starts to groove nicely.

Introducing Melody & Chords

Melodies and chords in Amapiano tend to be fairly simple and repetitive in nature. Often with a soulful or jazzy feel, they provide the hypnotic and emotive depth that sets the genre apart. Chord progressions are smooth and predictable. The use of minor 7th or 9th chords gives them a jazzy feel. As the name suggests Amapiano, which translates simply to ‘Pianos’ in IsiZulu, features, you’ve guessed it, a heavy reliance on piano. Electric piano sounds in particular represent the most common type of piano sounds used.

While Pianos tend to provide the chords, melody lines often use Bell-like plucks and marimba sounds. This helps to give Amapiano a tropical vibe. Simple Synth leads are also often used to add additional melodic depth.

And finally no amapiano track is complete without long sustained synth pads. Using the root key of the track, these dreamlike pads feature in the background and create Amapianos trademark hypnotic quality.

How to Build an Amapiano Chord Progression:

  1. Choose a key: Amapiano often uses minor keys like A minor, G minor, or C# minor.
  2. Play a simple 4-chord progression: For example, C#m – F#m – B – E.
  3. Use a soft electric piano sound: Add reverb for a dreamy feel.
  4. Layer with synth pad: Create an ambient background by laying a long pad using the root key of the track.
  5. Add a top melody: A simple synth lead or marimba pluck can make the track more interesting.

As with the drums and percussion, you can also incorporate sample loops for the melodic elements. Sample construction kits are a great option as they provide more flexibility and control.

Need great Amapiano samples? Look no further than RouteNote Create. We have plenty of authentic African samples available for the best value online.

The Signature Amapiano Log Drum

The traditional Logdrum

The log drum is at the heart of Amapiano music. It acts as both an enhancement to the bassline and a percussive element, driving the beat both rhythmically and melodically. Based on a large traditional African percussion instrument, the log drum, as used in Amapiano, is a unique bass preset found in plugins like FL Studio’s Flex or Native Instruments’ Massive. It has a punchy, percussive quality and works best when played in syncopated patterns that complement the drum track.

How to Program the Log Drum:

  1. Start with a basic bass pattern: Place the log drum hits on the first beat of each bar. 
  2. Build variation Play with different patterns within the scale of the track. 
  3. Add syncopation: Offset some hits slightly to create groove.
  4. Use pitch variations: Higher-pitched log drum notes add bounce.

The log drum should work in close harmony with your kick and percussion to maintain bounce. If you have applied a swing to the drums and perc apply the same swing value to the log drum pattern.

Adding Bass & Sub-Elements

While the log drum plays a significant role in shaping the bass in Amapiano, adding a deep bassline underneath can help create a fuller and richer sound. Here’s how to get it right:

  • Choosing the Right Bass Sound: Amapiano basslines are warm, round, and deep. sine waves or low-passed sub-bass work well to complement the log drum.
  • Layering with the Log Drum: The log drum typically carries the rhythm and groove, but a subtle bass underneath adds weight and warmth. Ensure that both elements do not clash by adjusting EQ settings or better still, side-chaining the bass to the log drum.
  • Groove & Swing: Your bass should follow the rhythm of the log drum while adding slight variations for extra interest and production flair. Experiment with slides and glides to give the bass a fluid feel.

FX & Vocal Chop Enhancement

Amapiano beats often have an airy, immersive quality. This is created through the use of effects and vocal elements. Here’s some suggestions on how you can use these to enhance and complete your track:

  • Reverb & Delay: Use these effects on synths, keys, and percussion to create a spacious feel. Be careful not to overdo it as Amapiano tracks thrive on clarity and too much reverb can interfere with this  
  • Filtering & Automation: Use low-pass filters on intros and breakdowns to create smooth transitions and contrast before drops.
  • Vocal Chops & Chants: A common feature of Amapianon is repetative chopped vocals or chants. Look for suitable vocal samples i.e tribal field recordings or try recording your own vocals. Subtly pitch and stack these recordings to give the impression of a group chant. 
  • Risers & Transitions: Use white noise, swells, and drum rolls to transition smoothly between sections.

Arrangement & Structure

The arrangement of Amapiano beats is quite unique. Unlike typical pop or EDM structures, Amapiano tracks are longer and build gradually. A good structure to follow includes:

  1. Intro (30 sec – 1 min): Often features atmospheric pads, light percussion, and filtered melodies.
  2. Build-Up (1 – 2 min): Gradually introduce the log drum, chords, and a hint of the tracks groove.
  3. Drop (2 – 3 min): The main groove kicks in fully with all elements.
  4. Breakdown (3 – 4 min): Strips back to melodies or vocals for a dynamic shift.
  5. Second Drop (4 – 5 min): Returns to full energy with additional variations.
  6. Outro (5 – 7 min): Gradually fades out, leaving room for smooth transitions into the next track in a DJ set.

Mixing & Mastering the Beat

Amapiano’s deep, groove-heavy sound relies on clean mixing and mastering. Here’s some advice on how to give your Amapiano tracks a professionally mixed sound:

  • EQ & Compression: Balance all elements by EQing out unwanted frequencies even if they are not audible. For example cutting low-end rumble from non-bass instruments helps to make room for the log drum and bass elements. Use compression only where necessary and try not to over-compress as this can drain the energy of your beat. Consider using sidechain compression to make space in the frequency spectrum, particularly when dealing with the low frequencies in your track.
  • Panning & Stereo Imaging: Create width by panning percussions, hi-hats, and some synth layers.
  • Reverb & Space Control: Use reverb selectively to keep elements clean while maintaining depth.
  • Loudness & Mastering: Ensure your beat is loud enough without distortion. Use a limiter on the master track to prevent clipping while retaining the dynamics of the track.

Summary

By following these steps, you can create an authentic sounding Amapiano beat that is bang on trend ready. The key to mastering this genre is appreciating its unique groove and experimenting with interesting and engaging sounds, textures and FX. So let the tropical African vibes into your DAW and see where the groove takes you.

Remember – RouteNote Create subscriptions start from as little as $2.99. You also get 10 FREE credits to spend on samples along with access to our FREE sample pack bundle when you sign-up!
You can also purchase full sample packs, beats and plugins without a subscription!

try freE