Online Music Sequencer

A free drum machine and beat maker. Tap the squares to switch steps on, press Play and build a loop. Add a bassline or melody, set the tempo and swing, then share or export it.

Tip: press Space to play or stop.

How to make a beat

  1. Pick a preset to start from, or begin with an empty grid.
  2. Press Play. The highlighted column shows which step is playing.
  3. Tap squares to switch them on or off. Each row is a sound: kick, snare, clap, hi-hats, tom, rim and cowbell.
  4. Use the melody rows at the bottom to add a simple bassline or tune. They use a pentatonic scale, so any combination sounds good together.
  5. Adjust tempo and swing, then share the link or export a WAV file.

Beat-making basics

The grid is one bar of 4/4 time split into 16 steps, so each column is a sixteenth note and every fourth column is a beat. A classic rock beat puts the kick on beats 1 and 3 (steps 1 and 9), the snare on beats 2 and 4 (steps 5 and 13), and hi-hats on every other step. House music puts the kick on every beat, "four on the floor". Hip-hop usually sits between 85 and 100 BPM; house is around 120–128 BPM.

Tips

  • Leave space. Beats often sound better with fewer hits.
  • Put the open hi-hat just before a snare for a lift.
  • Add a little swing (55–60%) to make programmed beats feel more human.

Practicing an instrument along with your beat? Keep time with the online metronome or play melodies on the online piano.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is a step sequencer?

A step sequencer splits a bar of music into equal steps (here 16 sixteenth notes). You switch steps on or off for each sound, and the sequencer loops the pattern. It is how classic drum machines and many electronic music producers build beats.

Why is there no sound?

Press Play first: browsers only allow sound after you interact with the page. Then check your volume, mute switch and which speakers or headphones are selected. Each row only plays on the steps that are lit.

Can I save or share my beat?

Yes. Your pattern, tempo and swing are stored in the page address, so press "Copy share link" and send it to someone, or bookmark it. You can also export a WAV audio file of the loop.

What does swing do?

Swing delays every second sixteenth note slightly, which gives the beat a shuffled, groovy feel common in hip-hop, jazz and house music. 0% is perfectly straight; around 55–62% is a typical light swing.

Can I use the exported audio in my own music?

Yes. The sounds are generated in your browser by this tool, so the WAV you export is yours to use in any project.