Make a beat with a synth
Use a simple synth or free app to create a rhythmic beat, layer melodies and bass, and learn about tempo, rhythm, and sound.
Step-by-step guide to make a beat with a synth
How to Make a Beat on FL Studio (Beginner)
Step 1
Open your free synth app or web synth and start a new project.
Step 2
Set the tempo by choosing a BPM between 80 and 120 in the app.
Step 3
Choose a drum kit or drum synth sound from the app's sound library.
Step 4
Program a 4-bar drum loop with kick on beats 1 and 3 snare on beats 2 and 4 and hi-hats on every eighth note.
Step 5
Press play and loop the drum pattern to listen and feel the beat.
Step 6
Pick a bass synth preset and program or play a simple repeating bassline using low notes that follow the drums.
Step 7
Pick a lead synth preset and add a short 4-note melody that repeats every 2 bars.
Step 8
Create a simple arrangement by starting with drums then adding the bass after 4 bars and the lead after 8 bars.
Step 9
Adjust the volume levels so drums bass and lead can all be heard clearly.
Step 10
Export or record a 30 to 60 second audio clip of your finished beat from the app.
Step 11
Upload and share your finished beat on DIY.org and write a short note about how you made it.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have the free synth app or a web synth from the instructions?
Use free alternatives like BandLab (web/mobile), GarageBand (iOS/Mac) or Chrome Music Lab's Song Editor, or record hand claps/kicks on a phone and import that audio into any simple app to replace a missing drum kit or synth.
Why won't the hi-hats line up on every eighth note and how can we fix that step?
If hi-hats don't line up, set the piano-roll or step-sequencer grid to 1/8 (eighth) note resolution and enable snap/quantize or copy a single eighth-note hi-hat across the 4-bar loop so they fall on every eighth.
How can we change the activity for younger or older kids to match their skills?
For younger kids keep it simple by choosing a preset drum loop, a single repeating bassline and a 2-note melody while older kids can add automation, effects, drum fills, longer arrangements and experiment with BPM between 80–120.
How can we improve or personalize the beat before exporting and uploading it to DIY.org?
Personalize the beat by adding a drum fill or variation every 4–8 bars, adjusting volume/EQ so drums, bass and lead are clear, applying subtle reverb to the lead, and writing a short note stating which presets, BPM and arrangement steps you used.
Watch videos on how to make a beat with a synth
How to make 8-bit Music - Stage 1 (The Basics)
4 Videos
How to make 8-bit Music - Stage 1 (The Basics)
How to make the Most Important Sounds in EDM (beginner synth tutorial)
How to produce a synthwave beat using BandLab's free web Mix Editor (BandLab Tutorial)
Making A Beat With Analog Synthesizers
Facts about music production for kids
⏱️ A common tempo for pop and dance tracks is about 120 beats per minute — a great starting point for making a beat.
🎛️ Multitrack recording lets you layer drums, melodies, and bass; Les Paul helped pioneer this technique in the 1950s.
🎹 Synthesizers make sounds by combining simple waveforms (oscillators) and shaping them with filters and envelopes — one synth can create thousands of tones.
🥁 The Roland TR-808 (1980) became legendary for its deep kick and unique sounds and helped define hip hop, EDM, and pop beats.
🎧 Very low bass (under ~60 Hz) is often felt as much as heard, so be careful when boosting bass in your mix.
How do you make a beat with a simple synth or free app?
What materials do I need to make a synth beat with my child?
What ages is creating synth beats suitable for?
What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for making synth beats?
Get 7 days of DIY for FREE!