The archetypal house pattern is four-on-the-floor kick, clap on 2 and 4, closed hats on off-beats

The standard house drum template at 124 BPM places the kick on all four beats (steps 1, 5, 9, 13), the clap on beats 2 and 4 (steps 5 and 13), closed hi-hats on every off-beat 8th note (steps 3, 7, 11, 15), and open hi-hats on the and of beats 2 and 4. Swing is applied at 52-55%. This template is a departure point, not a formula: successful house tracks deviate from it, but the template defines the genre’s rhythmic identity. Knowing this pattern provides the baseline from which variations are recognized as deliberate choices.

Examples

Program the house template as described. Listen for the interplay between the four-on-the-floor kick and the off-beat closed hats. Then remove the kick on step 9 and notice how the groove shifts.

Assessment

Reconstruct the house drum template from memory: specify step numbers for kick, clap, closed hat, and open hat. Then describe what swing percentage range is typical.