Beat Maker
Build a quick drum groove in your browser with a 16-step sequencer, tempo and swing controls, synthesized drum kits and copyable pattern data. Playback is generated locally with the Web Audio API, so you can sketch a rhythm without uploading audio files or installing a music app.
How the beat maker works
-
1
Set the groove
Choose the tempo, swing amount and whether the loop uses 8, 16 or 32 steps.
-
2
Pick sounds and a starter pattern
Select a synthesized drum kit, load a preset, clear the grid or randomize a fresh rhythm.
-
3
Edit and play locally
Toggle drum hits on the grid, preview the beat with Web Audio and copy the pattern JSON for later use.
Online drum sequencing basics
A step sequencer divides a loop into equal slices. In a 16-step drum pattern, each step is usually a sixteenth note, so four steps fill one beat in 4/4 time. At 120 BPM, a 16-step loop lasts 2 seconds; at 90 BPM, the same loop lasts about 2.67 seconds.
Swing delays the off-beat steps slightly. Small values, such as 5-15%, make a rigid pattern feel more human. Higher values create a shuffled or bouncing feel, but they can make dense hi-hat patterns sound crowded.
| Control | What it changes | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Tempo | Loop speed in BPM | Start near 90 for hip hop, 120-128 for house or pop |
| Steps | Loop length and grid resolution | Use 16 for most sketches, 32 for more variation |
| Swing | Delay on off-beat steps | Keep it subtle until the groove feels relaxed |
| Kit | Synthesized drum tone | Try electronic for sharper hats and classic for balanced beats |
The tool synthesizes kick, snare, hats and clap in the browser instead of loading remote samples. That keeps the page fast and private, but it also means this is best for sketching rhythms, teaching sequencing, prototyping game loops and sharing pattern ideas rather than mastering a finished track.
Copying the pattern gives you a JSON snapshot with tempo, swing, kit and drum hits. You can save that text in notes, paste it into another workflow, or use it as a reference when recreating the groove in a DAW.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Playback is generated locally in your browser with Web Audio. The pattern grid and copied JSON stay on your device unless you paste them somewhere else.
Modern browsers usually require a user action before starting audio. Click Play once and the browser can create the local audio context.
The copied JSON is a compact description of the grid, not a standard MIDI or DAW file. Use it as a reference for recreating the beat, or as structured data in your own project.
Yes, current mobile browsers that support Web Audio should play the synthesized drums. If sound is blocked, check the site sound permission and system volume.
Related Tools
Metronome
Practice with a precise online metronome. Set BPM, meter, accent and subdivisions, then play a steady browser click locally.
Fancy Serial Number Checker
Check US-style currency serial numbers for fancy patterns like radars, ladders, repeaters, low numbers and star notes.
Baby Name Generator
Generate baby name ideas filtered by gender, origin, first letter, length and style. Fresh lists every click; save favourites to compare.
Blossom Solver
Enter the centre letter and six petal letters to find every valid Blossom answer. Sorted by length and highlighted for pangrams.
Bingo Card Generator
Generate printable bingo cards with random numbers or custom words. Standard 5x5 with a free center square, ready for classroom or party games.
Baby Sleep Schedule Generator
Generate an age-appropriate sleep schedule for your baby from newborn to 3 years, based on total sleep need, wake windows and nap count.