Latin / Brazilian · hard · 100 BPM
Samba Drum Beat
A drumset samba built around the surdo bass-drum pulse that accents the second of each beat-pair, with the snare ghosting the agogo/clave feel and a constant shaker pulse. It is fast, churning, and forward-leaning, the engine of Carnival. The kick carrying the surdo 'low on the and' is what makes it swing as samba rather than march.
Press play to hear it, then open the full machine to edit, loop, and play along with your own kit.
What this teaches
Teaches the displaced surdo bass-drum accent and dense sixteenth-note foot control at speed.
Heard in
- Mas Que Nada - Jorge Ben
- Aquarela do Brasil (Brazil) - Ary Barroso
More grooves
GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
Listen for this
Separate the low-drum pulse from the busy upper voices. Start slowly enough to count every active kick position and avoid turning the line into a generic four-on-the-floor beat. The synthetic parts illustrate coordination rather than the sound of a live batucada ensemble.
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 · 1 & · 1 a · 2 e · 2 & · 3 · 3 & · 3 a · 4 e · 4 & |
| snare | 1 & · 2 e · 3 & · 4 e |
| hihat | 1 & · 2 & · 3 & · 4 & |
| shaker | 1 · 1 e · 1 & · 1 a · 2 · 2 e · 2 & · 2 a · 3 · 3 e · 3 & · 3 a · 4 · 4 e · 4 & · 4 a |
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
Build a practice routine · Read drum notation · Browse the lesson path
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