This step-by-step guide will help you craft your own Afro House track in any DAW, complete with sound suggestions, sample packs, templates, and plugin recommendations.

Afro House is an evolving genre blending African-inspired rhythms with modern electronic beats, made popular by artists like Black Coffee, Keinemusik, Caiiro, and Alex Wann. This guide will walk you through creating your own Afro House track in any DAW (Ableton, Logic Pro, FL Studio, etc.), emphasizing groove, atmosphere, and deep rhythms. Along the way, you can find the best sounds from this Loopcloud Collection.

 

Step 1: Defining the Groove

BPM (Tempo): Afro House tracks typically sit between 115 and 125 BPM, offering a laid-back but energetic feel.

  1. Create a Kick Pattern: Start by selecting a warm, punchy kick drum. In most DAWs, load your kick into a sampler or drum rack and place it on each beat (1, 2, 3, 4) to create the foundation for your Afro House groove. The kick should be deep but not overpowering, allowing space for bass and percussion to breathe.
  2. Layering Percussion: Afro House thrives on rich, African-inspired percussion like congas, bongos, and shakers. Layering these percussive elements will help bring your rhythm to life. Load up various percussion samples in your drum sequencer or sampler. Off-grid syncopation will mimic the swung feel common in Afro rhythms, giving your track a more human touch.
  3. Adding Hi-Hats and Shakers: Hi-hats add drive and energy to your rhythm. In Afro House, open hi-hats typically land on the offbeat, while shakers fill the space between kicks and snares. Adjust the velocity and timing of these sounds to create a natural, flowing groove, adding dynamics to the overall rhythm.

Step 2: Crafting the Bassline

The bassline in Afro House is typically deep, minimal, and rhythmic, providing a solid foundation without overpowering the mix.

  1. Choosing the Bass Sound: To achieve a smooth, subby bass, use a sine wave or low-passed square wave on a synthesizer. This type of bass should complement the kick drum, creating a warm, rolling low-end that stays out of the way of other elements.Sound Design Tip: Apply sidechain compression between the kick and bass to ensure the two don’t clash and maintain clarity in the low-end.

    Recommended Plugin:
    SubLab from Plugin Boutique is a great tool for crafting the deep, resonant basslines often found in Afro House.

  2. Writing the Bassline: Afro House basslines are usually repetitive and groove-focused. Write a one- or two-bar loop that locks in with the percussion and complements the rhythm. The focus should be on simplicity and groove rather than complex melodies. Follow the root notes of the chord progression (which we’ll add later) to keep everything harmonically cohesive.

 

 

Step 3: Melodic and Harmonic Elements

Melodic and harmonic elements in Afro House are usually minimal and atmospheric, providing a sense of depth without overshadowing the groove.

  1. Chords and Pads: Use warm, sustained pads to build harmonic richness. Afro House tracks often feature extended chords (like 7ths and 9ths) to add depth and soulfulness. These pads should evolve slowly over time with modulation (like filter sweeps) to maintain interest.Sound Design Tip: You can create these pads in a synthesizer or use pre-made samples from a sample library.

    Recommended Plugin:
    Omnisphere 2 is excellent for crafting evolving, atmospheric pads, while Diva by U-He can be used for analog-style warm chord sounds.

  2. Leads and Melodies: Afro House leads are often simple, repetitive, and atmospheric. Instruments like marimbas, plucked strings, or bell-like synths work well for these melodies. Keep the notes minimal, and focus on creating an emotional, haunting vibe.Sound Design Tip: Use effects like reverb and delay to create a dreamy, spacious sound for the lead melodies.

    Recommended Plugin:
    Spire and Diva are great for analog-style plucks and leads. Alternatively, you can find pre-made melodic loops in Loopcloud.

     

     

    Step 4: Adding Texture and Atmosphere

    Afro House tracks often rely on subtle atmospheric elements to enhance the emotional depth and immersive quality of the music.

    1. Field Recordings and Ambiance: Incorporating field recordings (like nature sounds, crowd noise, or environmental sounds) can add realism and organic texture to your track. These sounds work well in the background, creating a sense of space and atmosphere.
    2. Using Reverb and Delay: Reverb and delay are key effects for creating space in Afro House. Use reverb to push elements like pads and leads back in the mix, and delay to add rhythmic echoes to melodic sounds.Plugin Suggestion:
      Valhalla VintageVerb is excellent for warm, lush reverbs, and EchoBoy by Soundtoys is perfect for creating rhythmic, syncopated delays.

 

Step 5: Arrangement and Structure

Afro House tracks typically follow a traditional house structure but with more gradual builds and atmospheric breakdowns.

  • Intro (0:00 – 1:00): Begin with the kick and light percussion. Gradually introduce atmospheric elements and shakers.
  • Breakdown (1:00 – 2:00): Strip back the kick and bass, introducing pad and lead melodies. Build tension with effects like reverb or filter sweeps.
  • Build-Up (2:00 – 3:00): Reintroduce the percussion and bassline with more harmonic progression.
  • Drop (3:00 – 4:00): Full groove with kick, bass, percussion, pads, and leads in unison.
  • Bridge/Break (4:00 – 5:00): Strip the track back to pads and atmospheric elements. Introduce new percussive or melodic variations.
  • Final Drop (5:00 – 6:00): A second drop with slight changes to keep things dynamic.
  • Outro (6:00 – 7:00): Gradually remove elements and allow the track to fade out naturally.

Step 6: Mixing and Mastering

  1. EQ: Use EQ to carve out space for each element. High-pass unnecessary low frequencies from pads and leads to avoid clashes with the bass and kick.
  2. Compression: Light compression on the drums will help glue everything together. Use sidechain compression between the kick and melodic elements to maintain clarity.
  3. Mastering: Finalize your track with subtle mastering techniques, applying a limiter to achieve the desired loudness without distortion.Mastering Plugin Suggestion:
    iZotope Ozone 11 is a comprehensive tool for mastering your track and preparing it for clubs or streaming platforms.

    Getting a Head Start with Templates

    If you need a little boost to get your creativity flowing, Plugin Boutique offers Afro House templates for FL Studio, Ableton, and Logic Pro, giving you a professional starting point. These templates are perfect for dissecting arrangements, mix settings, and structures, helping you jump-start your own production.

    With these steps, samples from Loopcloud, and inspiration from artists like Black Coffee, Keinemusik, Caiiro, and Alex Wann, you’re ready to create your own Afro House masterpiece. 

    Dive into the process, explore the suggested plugins and sample packs, and let your creativity flow as you craft a sound that’s uniquely yours. Happy producing!