There is no real way you can ever know all there is to know about rhythm tracks and how to put them together. Every culture has its own drumming rituals and styles, and each has a wonderful feel to it. Here are a few ideas on how to get these sounds worked into your music.
LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC
I know that this is one thing many musicians hate to do, but do try to listen to top 40 radio or at least the genre that you hope to get into. I strongly recommend, though, trying listening to anything new out, in all genres, to give you the most exposure to what is available out there. You may hate the music, but you may get some leads as to where they got that wonderful drum sound backing that “awful” music. If you do find a new sound, get some music magazines that cover that person or act’s music and see what instrument or drum module that they used to get that sound, or, if it is a patch, where you can get that sound from. Look at those new rhythms and just erase the music from your mind and see where you could use it in your own compositions. You may need to change some of the instrumentation around, but you should do that anyway rather than actually lifting someone’s exact drum loop. Take it down one instrument at a time and try patching it into your music composition software, synthesizer or drum machine and then start changing instruments, tweaking the rhythm and make it your own.
LISTEN TO ETHNIC MUSIC
Many of the recent classics in pop or rock music developed its sound by going to another culture’s music and gaining inspiration by their drumming. Celtic, Indian, Native American, Central and South American, African drumming all have wonderful grooves, and have a special place in our music now thanks to these innovators that dared to add those sounds to their music. Try synthesizing the rhythm instruments from those cultures, or buying them (many are fairly inexpensive) from import shops. Sometimes you can create similar sounds using common objects. If you can see “Stomp” when it comes to your area…you may get some wonderful ideas. Get some cheap CDs or cassettes of ethnic music at your local music store—it’s often in the bargain bins—I found some for only a couple of dollars apiece and they have provided endless amounts of inspiring ideas for very little money. Get these sounds into your synthesizer or other music-writing equipment, get someone to play them for you or learn yourself and start at least adding them into your mixes just for fun—you can always erase them later. You may find that “special something” that marks your music as truly original or even make it a standout to the reps when you pitch it.
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