Pop · medium · 100 BPM
Pop Money Beat
The ubiquitous pop and rock groove nicknamed the "money beat" because it appears on countless hit records. It keeps the backbeat snare on 2 and 4 but adds a syncopated kick on the "and" of 2 and on beat 3, giving it a forward push. The extra kick makes it groove harder than a plain rock beat.
Press play to hear it, then open the full machine to edit, loop, and play along with your own kit.
What this teaches
Teaches placing a syncopated kick between the backbeats while keeping the hi-hat steady.
Heard in
- The Police - Every Breath You Take
More grooves
GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
Listen for this
Find the extra kick between the main beats before adding the hats. Count through the offbeat and avoid pulling the next downbeat forward. Alternate this loop with the basic rock groove to test whether the kick variation changes your timekeeping.
Practice the arrangement
- Start with the sparsest row. Count every subdivision, including the silent positions.
- Add one voice at a time on your kit, or listen to the full loop and clap just one part. Keep the main pulse unchanged.
- Play four loops at a comfortable tempo. Change one note, then compare the variation with the displayed pattern before adding another.
Read the final example without sound
This loop has 16 steps, with 4 steps per main beat. Count each beat as number, e, and, a. The table lists the occupied positions; every unlisted position is a rest. Start at 100 BPM or lower the control until you can follow each part.
| Voice | Count positions |
|---|---|
| kick | 1 · 2 & · 3 & |
| snare | 2 · 4 |
| hihat | 1 · 1 & · 2 · 2 & · 3 · 3 & · 4 · 4 & |
These positions describe the programmed example, not an artist recording. Playback uses synthesized sounds. A real performance also involves touch, dynamics and phrasing.
Keep practicing
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Found a mismatch between the explanation and the player? Send a correction with the page address and the step or count that needs attention.