Online Drum Machine — Step Sequencer & Polyrhythm Mode
A free 16-step drum machine with 8 synthesised tracks — kick, snare, hi-hat, open hi-hat, clap, tom, rim and cowbell. Furthermore, the unique Polyrhythm mode lets each track run at a different step count (8, 12 or 16) — creating cross-rhythms impossible in standard step sequencers. Five genre presets (Rock, Four on the Floor, Hip Hop, Bossa Nova) and a randomise button provide instant starting patterns.
How to use the Online Drum Machine
Load a preset or start blank
Select a genre preset from the dropdown — Rock, Four on the Floor, Hip Hop or Bossa Nova loads a pattern instantly. Furthermore, "Blank" clears all steps. The Randomise button fills all tracks with a random pattern weighted by typical density for each instrument.
Toggle steps on and off
Click any green button to toggle a step on. Furthermore, clicking an active (green) step turns it off. Each row is a drum track — kick on row 1, snare on row 2 and so on. Steps light up briefly as they play in the sequencer.
Adjust BPM and swing
Change the BPM by editing the tempo field. Furthermore, the Swing slider delays the even-numbered steps slightly — creating a shuffle or groove feel. 0% swing is quantised; higher values create a progressively stronger shuffle. Hip-hop and jazz patterns benefit most from added swing.
Enable Polyrhythm mode
Select Polyrhythm mode from the Mode dropdown. Furthermore, a step count selector (8, 12 or 16) appears next to each track. Setting kick to 16 steps and hi-hat to 12 steps creates a polyrhythm — the patterns phase in and out of alignment over a 48-step cycle.
Press Play and adjust in real time
Click Play to start the sequencer. Furthermore, steps can be toggled while the sequencer is running — changes take effect immediately. The playhead indicator shows the current position in each track during playback.
Step sequencer patterns across genres
Different genres have distinct rhythmic patterns that define their sound. Furthermore, understanding these patterns helps you build authentic-sounding grooves in any style.
| Genre | Kick pattern | Snare | Hi-hat | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Rock | Steps 1, 5, 9, 13 | Steps 5, 13 (beats 2, 4) | Every even step | Driving, 4/4 feel |
| Four on Floor | All 4 beats (1,5,9,13) | Steps 5, 13 | 16th note pattern | House, techno, disco |
| Hip Hop | Steps 1, 9 (half time) | Syncopated | Dense 16th notes | Slow, heavy, trap |
| Bossa Nova | Syncopated kick | Cross-stick | Offbeat 8ths | Brazilian, Latin |
What is swing?
Swing delays even-numbered 16th notes relative to the straight grid. Furthermore, at 50% swing, the off-beats land at the triplet position — creating a shuffle feel. At 33% swing, off-beats land between the straight and triplet positions — a subtle groove feel. Moreover, swing is fundamental to jazz, hip-hop and funk drumming. Most simple drum machines lack swing; this one includes it as a slider.
How a 16-step sequencer works
A 16-step sequencer divides one bar into 16 equal time slots — each representing a 16th note. Furthermore, at 120 BPM, each step lasts exactly 125 milliseconds. The sequencer cycles through steps 1–16, triggering any active steps as it passes.
Swing even step = straight position + (swing% × step duration)
One bar = 16 steps = 2,000 ms at 120 BPM
Polyrhythm cycle = LCM(step count A, step count B) — e.g. LCM(12,16) = 48 steps
Polyrhythm explained
Polyrhythm occurs when two patterns of different lengths run simultaneously. Furthermore, a kick on 16 steps and a hi-hat on 12 steps creates a pattern that repeats every 48 steps — three times the length of a standard bar. This phasing relationship creates rhythmic complexity that evolves over time. Moreover, West African drumming, Indian classical music and many progressive rock compositions use polyrhythm as a structural foundation.
Worked example: building a polyrhythm pattern
A producer wants to create a groove where the kick pattern phases against the hi-hat. Enabling Polyrhythm mode:
| Track | Step count | Pattern | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | 16 | Steps 1, 5, 9, 13 | Standard four-on-the-floor feel |
| Hi-hat | 12 | Every 3 steps (1, 4, 7, 10) | Triplet feel — 4 hits per 12-step loop |
| Snare | 16 | Steps 5, 13 only | Standard backbeat |
What is a drum machine step sequencer?
A drum machine step sequencer programs percussion patterns by switching steps on or off in a grid. Furthermore, each row represents a drum sound; each column represents a time step. The sequencer plays through the grid repeatedly, triggering active steps as a playhead advances. This method of pattern programming was introduced with the Roland TR-808 in 1980.
The TR-808 and TR-909 defined the sound of hip-hop, house, techno and electronic music. Furthermore, their synthesised kick, snare and hi-hat sounds remain iconic fifty years after their introduction. Modern software step sequencers replicate this workflow. Moreover, this browser version uses the Web Audio API to synthesise all sounds — no audio samples are downloaded, making it fast and offline-capable after the first page load.
Who uses drum machines?
Bedroom producers use drum machines to create beats without a drummer. Furthermore, electronic music producers build entire arrangements from step-sequenced patterns. Live DJs use portable drum machines for improvised performance. Moreover, music teachers use them to demonstrate rhythm concepts — the visual grid makes beat construction immediately understandable for students who cannot yet play drums.
Why drum patterns matter in music production
The drum pattern defines the energy and feel of a track. Furthermore, a four-on-the-floor kick drives dance music forward. A half-time snare creates the slow, heavy feel of trap music. An offbeat hi-hat creates the syncopated funk groove. Moreover, choosing the right drum pattern for the genre and tempo is the first decision in beat production — everything else is built on this foundation.
Swing transforms a mechanical quantised pattern into something organic. Furthermore, the subtle delay of off-beats — even at just 20–30% swing — adds the feel of a human drummer. Many classic hip-hop productions use specific swing percentages as part of their signature sound. Moreover, the difference between a pattern at 0% and 33% swing is often the difference between a pattern that sounds robotic and one that feels alive.
Polyrhythm in modern music
Polyrhythm has moved from avant-garde territory into mainstream production. Furthermore, modern trap and Afrobeats productions frequently use conflicting rhythmic cycles between the kick, hi-hat and melodic elements. Looped ambient music uses long polyrhythm cycles — sometimes 64 bars or more — to create gradual rhythmic evolution. Moreover, the Polyrhythm mode in this drum machine makes these advanced techniques accessible without any music theory prerequisites.
Frequently asked questions
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