Ray F. Badness

For over 30 years, Ray's popular book "Drum Programming : A Complete Guide to Program and Think Like a Drummer" has helped countless electronic musicians learn to program drums. The new and improved 2nd edition (available at Amazon) is being actively read in 12 countries !

Each chapter of the book focuses on a different piece of the drum kit, how it is played, and how it is programmed. Short "learn-by-doing" exercises throughout the chapters explore rhythmic patterns and song building. The new and improved 2nd edition (available eBook only) excels over the 1st with color-coded tablature, colorful artwork, condensed/refined chapters, and 4 example songs instead of just 1. If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, you can get it for ZERO cost. What are you waiting for !

In 2022 RFB also published two companion books. The first, an advanced supplement for the classic 1990 book titled "Addendum 1 : Blues, Reggae, and Fast-Punk". And the second, a TR808-style learn-by-doing programming odyssey for Trap, Hip-hop, and Electronic Pop lovers titled "Supersonic Hi-hat Rhythms and Tuplets". What's a TUPLET ? If you're a Kindle Unlimited member you can find out right now for FREE.

All of Ray's books endeavor to keep things simple. They are written for electronic musicians and coders, not drummers. They explore the numbers of music. You don't need to be able to physically play drums at all. MIDI is not required. Nor is music theory. And to be universally applicable with most all programming tools and apps, they are all standalone guides requiring nothing more than the information on the pages. There are no DAW plug-ins, MIDI controllers, custom sound libraries, obtuse MIDI drum maps, or channel 1-16 settings to confuse novices, just simple step sequencer tablature. That's why the core material in the popular 1990 book has remained largely relevant for 30-plus years; The numbers of music don't change. Use online programming tools or mobile apps if you like !

Even though the teachings in the books tilt slightly toward users of step sequencers and grid-based tools/apps, the contents are still applicable to most tools used today. That is because time steps are time steps, no matter which programming tool(s) you are using. So whether you opt to use a MIDI piano roll editor, DAW, groove box, rhythm performer, music production station, MPC, drum machine, app, stomp-box, or online sequencer, pattern entry is straightforward. Just place sounds on the step numbers and hit the play button.

If you found success with the books over the years, please tell your story ! Numerous Amazon reviews make evident that the teachings have helped many electronic musicians learn to program realistic sounding drum rhythms and songs. And now, the latest reflowable format eBooks at Amazon make "learning-by-doing" faster and easier than ever before.

Together, all of RFB's books can help elevate your step programming on most any tool you like, even online tools and mobile apps ! They might even help you reverse-engineer the numerical patterns created by AI drumming apps ! Get them ALL at Amazon today ! If you are a Kindle Unlimited member they are FREE !