Beat sounds stiff? How to add swing

A beat sounds stiff when every hi-hat lands exactly on the grid, like a robot. Swing pushes every second note (the off-beats) a little late, which gives the groove a bounce. Start around 55 to 60 percent swing on the hi-hats or the whole drum pattern.

How to do it

1. Find your DAW's swing or groove setting (on the pattern, the piano roll or the quantize menu).
2. Apply it to the hi-hats first, on 1/16 notes.
3. Start at 55% and go up to about 60%. Above that it starts to sound like a shuffle.
4. Keep the kick straight if the beat needs to stay tight.
5. Try swinging the percussion and keys a little too, so everything grooves together.

Why it works

Real players never play perfectly evenly. A small, regular delay on the off-beats is the feel behind most hip-hop, house and funk.