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How to Make Drill Music
Step-by-step guide to UK Drill, Chicago Drill, and NY Drill production. Covers BPM, sliding 808s, dark minor keys, drill drum patterns, chord progressions, and mixing.
140-145
UK/NY BPM
Minor
Dark keys only
Sliding
808 portamento
Off-beat
Syncopated drums
Step 0: Detect the Key Before You Build
Drill beats are almost always built over samples, loops, or melodic presets. Before programming anything, detect the key so your 808 slides, melody, and chords are all in tune.
1. Detect Key
Upload your sample or reference track to BeatKey. Get the key and mode instantly.
2. Tune Your 808
Use the Note Frequency Calculator to get the exact Hz for each 808 slide note.
3. Build in Key
Program your melody, chords, and 808 pattern all from the same root key.
Step 01: BPM and Drill Style
Drill has three main regional variants. Each has a distinct BPM range, drum feel, and 808 character. Choose your subgenre before programming drums.
| Style | BPM | Feel | Key Artists | 808 Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Drill | 60-75 BPM | Half-time, lurching | Chief Keef, G Herbo, Chance | Punchy, sparse slides |
| UK Drill | 140-145 BPM | Dark, ominous, cold | Headie One, J Hus, Unknown T | Long sliding 808s |
| NY Drill | 140-145 BPM | Hard, aggressive | Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign, Sheff G | Heavy, tuned slides |
| Brooklyn Drill | 140-145 BPM | Booming, bass-heavy | Pop Smoke, Kay Flock, Dusty Locane | Very long slides, low root |
| Afro Drill | 130-145 BPM | Melodic, rhythmic | Central Cee, Dave, Russ Millions | Melodic slides, Afrobeats rhythm |
| Trap-Drill Hybrid | 140-150 BPM | Fast, energetic | Lil Baby, Rod Wave, Polo G | 808 + hi-hat rolls from trap |
Pro tip: UK and NY Drill at 140 BPM is the current global standard. If you want to reach the
widest drill audience, start at 140 BPM in C minor or D minor.
Step 02: The Drill Drum Pattern
Drill drums have a distinctive syncopated feel. The kick is sparse and off-beat. The snare hits on beat 3 or in unexpected positions. Hi-hats roll in triplet patterns. This creates the lurching, menacing groove that defines the genre.
Element
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Kick
Snare
Hi-hat
HH Roll
Clap
Kick
- Sparse and off-beat
- Hits in unexpected 16th positions
- Never on the 1 and 3 like trap
- Tuned to the root note of the key
Snare / Clap
- Heavy, reverb-drenched snare
- Hits on beat 3 (not beat 2+4 like most genres)
- Occasional syncopated ghost hits
- Clap layer adds presence
Hi-Hat
- 16th note base pattern
- Triplet rolls on offbeats
- Velocity variation: loud to quiet then loud
- Open hi-hat on syncopated positions
808
- Long sustained notes with portamento
- Slides between chord tones
- Tuned precisely to the key
- Loud in the mix, sidechain lightly
The drill secret: The kick in drill does NOT land on the 1. It lurches between the 4, the 7, the 10, and
the 15. This off-beat kick is what gives drill its menacing, off-balance feel. Program
your kick last, after you hear how your 808 slides land.
Step 03: The Sliding 808
The sliding 808 is the defining sound of drill. Unlike trap where 808s retrigger on each hit, drill 808s glide between notes using portamento. Each note slides smoothly to the next, creating a dark, cinematic bass movement.
4-Step Sliding 808 Setup
Step 1: Detect Key
Use BeatKey to find the key of your drill beat. Most common: C minor, D minor, G
minor, A minor.
Step 2: Find Hz Values
Go to notes.beatkey.app. Look up the Hz for the root note and the notes you will
slide to (usually the b7, b3, and 5th).
Step 3: Enable Portamento
In FL Studio: Sampler channel, enable Portamento. In Ableton: MIDI instrument Glide
button. In Logic: Play options, Legato+Portamento mode.
Step 4: Program Overlapping Notes
Notes must overlap slightly in the piano roll to trigger the slide. If notes do not
overlap, the 808 will retrigger instead of slide.
808 Slide Reference: Common Drill Keys
| Key | Root Note | Root Hz | b7 Note | b7 Hz | 5th Note | Camelot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C minor | C2 | 65.41 Hz | Bb1 | 58.27 Hz | G2 | 5A |
| D minor | D2 | 73.42 Hz | C2 | 65.41 Hz | A2 | 7A |
| G minor | G1 | 49.00 Hz | F1 | 43.65 Hz | D2 | 6A |
| A minor | A1 | 55.00 Hz | G1 | 49.00 Hz | E2 | 8A |
| F minor | F1 | 43.65 Hz | Eb1 | 38.89 Hz | C2 | 4A |
| E minor | E2 | 82.41 Hz | D2 | 73.42 Hz | B2 | 9A |
Step 04: Drill Chord Progressions
Drill melody and chords are dark, sparse, and minor. Phrygian mode (with its flat 2nd interval) is the signature sound of UK Drill. Two-chord and single-chord vamps are common. Extended chords (m7, maj7, m9) add texture without being overtly jazzy.
Classic Dark Minor Vamp
im7 - bVImaj7
Example: Cm7 - Abmaj7
The most common UK Drill progression. Dark, cold, and repeating.
Phrygian Bead (Cold)
im - bII
Example: Cm - Db
The flat 2nd (bII) chord is the Phrygian signature. Instantly cold and ominous.
NY Drill Bounce
im7 - bVII7 - bVI
Example: Dm7 - C7 - Bb
Three-chord bounce used heavily in Brooklyn Drill. Aggressive and driving.
Afro Drill Melodic
im9 - bVImaj7 - bVII7
Example: Gm9 - Ebmaj7 - F7
UK Afro Drill. Melodic extended chords over the dark minor backdrop.
Chicago Drill Sparse
im - bVII - bVI
Example: Am - G - F
Simple triads, one bar each. The original Chief Keef style, minimal and heavy.
Single Chord Dark Vamp
im7 (loop)
Example: Dm7 only
Drill often stays on one dark chord for 4-8 bars. Let the 808 carry the movement.
m7
Dark standard
Dm7
maj7
Eerie contrast
Abmaj7
m9
Melodic depth
Gm9
b5/dim
Maximum darkness
Dm7b5
Step 05: Drill Melody and Scale Choice
Drill melodies are minimal, haunting, and spaced out. Piano, strings, and dark synth leads are the most common instruments. Phrygian mode is the definitive UK Drill scale, but natural minor and Phrygian Dominant are also common.
| Scale | Formula | Sound | Drill Style | Key Artists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Minor (Aeolian) | 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 | Dark, heavy | Chicago Drill, NY Drill | Chief Keef, Pop Smoke |
| Phrygian | 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 | Cold, ominous, alien | UK Drill signature | Headie One, Unknown T |
| Phrygian Dominant | 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7 | Dark and exotic | Afro Drill, melodic drill | Central Cee, Russ Millions |
| Dorian | 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 | Dark but melodic | Afro Drill, crossover | Dave, Stormzy |
| Harmonic Minor | 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 | Dramatic, classical | Cinematic drill | Pop Smoke, melodic NY |
Melody Style
- Sparse: 4-6 notes per 4 bars
- Long sustains with reverb tail
- Minor 2nd intervals (half-step tension)
- Piano, strings, or dark lead synth
Texture Layers
- Pads: sustained minor chords, 80% reverb
- Bells: high notes, sparse hits
- Strings: ensemble swell on chord changes
- FX: vinyl crackle, rain, wind ambience
Instrumentation
- Piano: Steinway or upright, reverb-drenched
- Violin/cello: dark orchestral samples
- Dark synth lead: Serum, Vital, NEXUS
- Bass: 808 only, no additional bass needed
Step 06: Arrangement
Drill arrangements are minimal and loop-based. The beat loops with small variations every 4-8 bars. Breakdowns strip to drums and 808 only. Builds use riser FX or filter sweeps.
| Section | Bars | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | 8-16 | Drums and 808 only. No melody. Atmospheric intro FX (rain, ambience). Sets the cold mood. |
| Verse 1 | 16-32 | Full beat with melody/piano. Rapper flows over sparse melody. 808 carries the groove. |
| Hook / Chorus | 8-16 | Melody switches or lifts. Sometimes chorus strip-back: drums+808 only, rapper or singer on hook. |
| Verse 2 | 16-32 | Same beat, second rapper or continued verse. Optional melody layer added for variation. |
| Bridge / Break | 8 | Drums only or minimal FX breakdown. Tension before final section. |
| Final Hook | 16-24 | Full melody returns, possibly louder or with added string layer. |
| Outro | 8-16 | Fade out or drums-only. Melody fades. Atmospheric tail. |
Step 07: Mixing Drill
Drill mixes are dark, bass-heavy, and cold. The 808 is loud. The melody sits in the mid range with heavy reverb. Hi-hats cut through with clarity. The overall sound is dense but not muddy.
Gain Staging
- • Set all channels to -12 dBFS peak before processing
- • Give headroom for the 808 to breathe
- • Mix bus should hit -6 dBFS before mastering limiter
- • Never clip individual channels
808 Treatment
- • High-pass at 30-40 Hz to remove sub rumble
- • Boost 80-120 Hz for punch
- • Light saturation for 808 on smaller speakers
- • Sidechain kick gently: 5-8 dB reduction, fast attack 2ms, release 100ms
Melody and Pads
- • High-pass piano at 150 Hz (808 owns the bass)
- • Generous reverb on melody: 2-4 sec decay
- • Side-chain reverb return to kick slightly
- • Pan pads slightly left and right for width
Drums
- • Kick: punchy 60-100 Hz boost, cut 200-400 Hz mud
- • Snare: add reverb 1.5-2.5s decay for that big room sound
- • Hi-hats: high-pass at 8 kHz, keep crisp
- • Clap: layer two clap samples panned slightly apart
Stereo Width
- • Keep 808 and kick 100% mono
- • Widen pads and strings in the stereo field
- • Hi-hats can be slightly wide
- • Check mono: everything must translate to mono speakers
Mastering Target
- • Target: -10 to -8 LUFS for streaming (louder than lo-fi)
- • True Peak: -1.0 dBTP
- • Drill is expected to sound punchy and loud
- • Compare to reference tracks by producers 808 Melo, Ghosty, JAE5
BPM-Synced Delay Times for Drill
| BPM | 8th Note (ms) | Dotted 8th (ms) | Quarter Note (ms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 138 BPM | 217 ms | 326 ms | 435 ms |
| 140 BPM | 214 ms | 321 ms | 429 ms |
| 142 BPM | 211 ms | 317 ms | 423 ms |
| 144 BPM | 208 ms | 313 ms | 417 ms |
| 145 BPM | 207 ms | 310 ms | 414 ms |
Free Drill Production Tools
BeatKey
Detect key and BPM of your sample instantly. Step 0 of every drill beat.
Chord Finder
Find dark minor chords in any key. Perfect for Phrygian and natural minor drill.
Note Frequency Calculator
Find exact Hz for every 808 slide note. Tune each step precisely.
Delay Calculator
Get BPM-synced delay times at 140-145 BPM. Sync reverb and delay to your drill tempo.
Scale Finder
Visualize Phrygian, natural minor, and Phrygian Dominant scales in your drill key.
Camelot Wheel
Mix drill beats harmonically. Find samples in compatible keys.
6 Common Drill Production Mistakes
Out-of-tune 808 slides
Detect key first with BeatKey. Use the Note Frequency Calculator for exact Hz on each slide note. Even 5 cents off will sound wrong on headphones.
Kick on beat 1
Drill kicks are off-beat. Remove the kick from beat 1. Place it on the e and ah of beats 3 and 4. The lurching feel requires an unexpected kick placement.
Major key or happy scale
Drill must be in a minor key. Natural minor, Phrygian, or Phrygian Dominant only. Even a single major 3rd note sounds wrong in a drill context.
Notes not overlapping in piano roll
For portamento to work, consecutive 808 notes must overlap slightly. If there is a gap between notes, the 808 will retrigger instead of slide.
Too many melodic elements
Drill is sparse. One main melodic element (piano or strings) plus ambient pads. Remove layers until the beat feels cold and bare, then add back one element.
Wrong reverb on snare
Drill snares need long reverb (2-4 seconds decay). A dry snare sounds like a boom bap track, not drill. The reverb tail is part of the drum sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
What BPM is drill music?
UK Drill and NY Drill are typically 140-145 BPM, with 140 BPM being the most common. Chicago Drill (the original) runs 60-75 BPM with a half-time drum feel. If you are making modern drill for streaming and DJ sets, 140 BPM is the standard.
What key is drill music in?
Drill is almost exclusively in minor keys. The most common drill keys are C minor, D minor, G minor, A minor, and F minor. UK Drill often uses Phrygian mode (with its flat 2nd) for a colder, more ominous sound. Detect your sample key first using BeatKey before programming anything.
How do I make the sliding 808 sound?
Enable portamento (glide) in your 808 sampler so consecutive notes slide instead of retrigger. In FL Studio, enable Portamento in the Sampler channel. In Ableton, use the Glide button. Notes must overlap in the piano roll to trigger the slide. Tune each 808 note to the key using the Note Frequency Calculator at notes.beatkey.app.
What is the difference between UK Drill and Chicago Drill?
Chicago Drill (Chief Keef era, 2010s) runs 60-75 BPM with a half-time feel, sparse hi-hats, and heavy bass. UK Drill (2016-present) runs 140-145 BPM with long sliding 808s, syncopated hi-hat rolls, Phrygian-mode melodies, and a colder, more cinematic sound influenced by grime and Afrobeats. NY Drill (Pop Smoke) blends both: 140 BPM with Brooklyn energy and UK-style sliding 808s.