How I Make Beats Using Just My Phone

Beats are the foundation of my music and usually act as a catalyst for creating entire compositions. Making beats is easy and satisfying, and here are three of my favorite apps for beat building and composing music whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

1 Groovepad

Groovepad is a virtual DJ app that provides a valuable introduction to the fundamentals of music creation and the various building blocks that form electronic music. It is designed as an easy-to-use step sequencer with multiple filters, effects, creative elements, and the facility to record tracks on the fly.

Sequencing Beats With Groovepad

Open Goovepad and choose a compilation from hundreds of options across multiple genres, including EDM, techno, house, hip-hop, dubstep, and many more. Your selection will take a few seconds to load, and you will then be presented with a matrix of various instrument loops, including synths, bass, leads, pads, and beats.

Tap once to activate each sample or twice to deactivate them as you build your compositions in real-time. You can hit Record at the top left to save your musical creations while you work, and check out the in-app Lessons at the top right of the Groovepad display to practice building tracks and get the hang of the timing.

Adding Filters and Effects With Groovepad

Tap the FX button at the top left. The bottom third of the display is dedicated to a trackpad, which allows you to drag your finger to apply filters and effects. In the menu directly above the trackpad, select the filter or effect you want to control and move the cursor to increase/decrease its level.

Tap the Hold button to lock the effect in place as you program music, and tap it again to restore your audio to its default state.

Exporting Audio From Groovepad

Press Record again to stop recording. A popup window will appear as you do so, prompting you to name and save your file. It will then appear in the My Music menu at the bottom of the app. Tap the three vertical dots next to the file to share your music or save it to a folder.

While Groovepad offers many different sounds and rhythms, it is limited in flexibility and not a serious creative tool. However, novice musicians would benefit from its free 7-day trial period to learn the basics of track building and effects use. More experienced users will find it valuable as a musical sketchpad for formulating ideas and backing tracks.

Download: Groovepad for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

2 Roland Zenbeats

Zenbeats is a funky app from the Japanese company Roland, which created the legendary 808 drum synth and many other iconic electronic instruments. It works with audio and MIDI instruments on desktop and mobile devices and includes a drum sampler, synthesizer, and a mixer to create multi-layered masterpieces on the go.

Programming Beats With Zenbeats

1. Select the ZR1 Drum Sampler in the main menu and double tap on the highlighted track.
2. Tap the Grid button on the left to maximize the step sequencer.
3. Select a drum kit from the menu above the step sequencer.
4. Tap the green Play button. Your sequencer will start to loop.
5. Tap the matrix to enter beats from the various percussion instruments at your desired intervals. I usually start with a kick drum, then a snare sound, then hi-hats, and layer it up as I go.

Adding Audio and Effects With Zenbeats

1. Tap the + sign on the left and select Audio Track.
2. On iOS and Android, your device will connect to its built-in microphone by default. If you’d like to use an alternative input source, go to Settings > Audio > Audio Device and select your preferred device from the dropdown menu.
3. When ready, tap the red Record button to record your audio.
4. Select your audio track and tap Settings > + Audio Effect to add effects. Your effects will be listed on the right.
5. Select your desired effect (such as Reverb). Then, use the popup interface to adjust the parameters.

Exporting Audio From Zenbeats

1. Tap Save Song in the top right of the display.
2. Name your track and tap Save.
3. Tap your new song name in the top-right where it previously said Save Song.
4. Tap Export Song and choose your destination folder.

Zenbeats is almost a fully-fledged digital audio workstation, capable of producing professional-sounding results, thanks to Roland’s wealth of experience and excellent software instruments. This comprehensive and intuitive program is ideal for making electronic music of all styles and is suitable for musicians of all capabilities, although its user interface may initially appear fiddly.

Download: Zenbeats for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

3 BandLab

If you want to expand your beats into a complete song with audio instruments and vocals, BandLab might be your best option. The software also has social features to connect you and like-minded musicians and share your material with the public. It also features one of the most intuitive and fun drum sequencers with multiple drum kits and preset effects.

Programming Beats With BandLab

1. Open BandLab and choose Drum Machine from the popup menu.
2. Select a pre-made pattern or choose Empty to create your own.
3. Select a drum kit from the top menu.
4. The percussion instruments are lined up on the left. Tap the matrix to add beats at your desired intervals.
5. Move the Swing slider to alter the dynamics of the groove.

Adding Audio and Effects With BandLab

1. Tap the + sign to add a new track.
2. Select your choice of instrument.
3. On mobile devices, BandLab will automatically select your audio input.
4. Hit the Record button and start your audio.
5. Tap the FX button near the bottom left of the display to choose effects from the extensive collection. Alternatively, tap the adjacent AutoPitch button for vocals to help correct sharp or flat notes.

Exporting Audio From BandLab

1. To export audio, tap the cloud icon at the top-right of the display.
2. You have the option to Save or Publish your work.
3. Select Save to name your project, which will be stored in your Library.

If I were to pick just one app out of these three, I would choose BandLab. It has plenty to offer instrumentalists, vocalists, and programmers, and it is easy to get started but can produce professional-sounding results. There is autotune and EQ for vocals, modeled amps and effects for guitarists, and an array of MIDI instruments to embellish your tracks. It is the best one-stop mobile music-making solution suitable for all genres and abilities.

Download: BandLab for iOS and Android (Free, subscription available)

With just your phone and the right app, you can make beats that sound like theyy were created in a studio. Give these apps a spin and see for yourself.