Dembow
Dembow is the drum pattern of reggaeton: a kick on every beat and a snare on steps 4, 7, 12 and 15 of 16, just before and just after the beats, at about 88–100 BPM. Said out loud it goes “boom ch-boom-chick”.
Also called dembow rhythm, reggaeton beat, boom ch boom chick.
Play it
Faded lanes are a guide: they are there so the pattern has something to sit against. Tap any box to change it.
Try this
Try this · change one box
Tap the snare on step 7 to take it out. “Boom ch-boom-chick” turns into a lopsided limp.
Hear it without the grid
A short recording of the loop above at 95 BPM, made with Swung’s own sounds.
How it works
The kick is the same as four-on-the-floor. The snare does the work: it lands on the last sixteenth before beat 2 and on the “and” of beat 2, then repeats in the second half of the bar.
Those snares are the tresillo’s 3-3-2 shape played on top of a steady kick, which is why dembow feels like it rocks side to side.
The pattern in words
- Kick: steps 1, 5, 9 and 13 of 16.
- Snare: steps 4, 7, 12 and 15 of 16.
| Part | Steps, 1 to 16 | Plays on |
|---|---|---|
| Kick | x···x···x···x··· | steps 1, 5, 9 and 13 of 16 |
| Snare | ···x··x····x··x· | steps 4, 7, 12 and 15 of 16 |
x a hit, o a quiet hit, 2 or 3 a quick roll inside one step, – a note held on, · nothing.
Variations
Snare doubled by a clap
A clap on every snare for a brighter crack.
Kick on 1 and 3 only
Half the kicks: lighter, more space.
Hats on the eighths
A loud hat line on top.
Where it’s used
Also common in Dancehall and Moombahton.
Learn this pattern step by step
The course builds up to it from Unit 1, which is free. Sign up with Google and start with the first lesson; it plays in your browser, like this page.
Pick up where you left off
Carry on with Unit 1, then Dembow comes in Unit 2: Groove.