Using Music Loops without Pissing Anyone Off

Before we start to enhance our knowledge about using music loops in a more skillful manner, let us begin by discussing the basics of looping.

In the most simplest words, looping means playing a repeated section in a musical composition. You don’t necessarily need real instruments for looping, since you can do the same with looping software too.

However, this isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let’s find out how it works and how can use loops without pissing off people.

Using Musical Loops for mixing

The most prominent use of looping is in DJing, where DJs mostly use looping for filling the gaps when changing tracks. Loops provide a rhythmic pattern that acts as catalyst of blending the ends of two different tracks together. 

Using music loops for such illustrations allows one to choose the desired tune while mixing and brings in new records to a preferred baseline. This will create a repetitive section between the tracks, providing enough time to add new sounds and play it with a perfect timing.

Mixing musical loops with tracks is a bit time consuming, especially if you’re still a novice at that. Be watchful about mixing when playing for an audience. Mixing tunes on the spot could turn disastrous. Plan in advance what you want and prepare the loops you’ll use.     

To Create a Musical Phrase

Usage of music loops becomes more interesting with longer hours of mixing and playing. It allows us to keep a certain musical phrase or pattern throughout the set. For instance, if a certain section of a track seems like an interesting rhythm, we can loop it and use it at different occurrences for a sync mix.

This option can get more interesting with a collection of gripping, riveting music loops that are evenly blended to create a precise musical phrase. This is one common technique most professional DJs use and it works quite brilliantly with sporadical musical patterns.

Although, using music loops to create a phrase might sound an interesting option, over use of this technique will never outclass you as the best. Therefore, use music loops in moderation and follow a certain set pattern only.

Creating a Classical Loop Roll

It’s that one big thing everyone wants to try, isn’t it! To create a classical loop roll we select a certain section of the track i.e. usually quite smaller than what we usually have. Now we repeat the section nearly eight o twelve times continuously while shorting the section to half with each rhythmic break. The repetition creates a rhythmic electric buzz that can be used to fill the gaps between plugging and drops.

The creation and usage of loop roll is somewhat dependent on the software we prefer. We can use the loop roll to add excitement during the drops or even as cue point and a release point. However, like all looping techniques, it requires dedicated practice but no repetitive usage.