The pandemic wasn’t the only thing that drifted onto the scene in 2020 – so did drift phonk. This subgenre of phonk is fast-growing in popularity, and offers a more aggressive take on traditional phonk music with its fast-paced rhythms, heavy bass, and eerie melodies. Named for its strong ties to car culture and drift racing, drift phonk delivers the intense, adrenaline-fueled sound that drives high-speed action.
What sets drift phonk apart is its diverse tempo range, stretching from a chill 105 BPM to an electrifying 200 BPM and beyond, creating a spectrum of energetic vibes. Its modern production and heavier distortion add a fresh twist to classic phonk. But it still maintains core elements like the iconic 808 cowbell and sampled rap vocals, tying it to other phonk subgenres such as Memphis phonk, Brazilian phonk, and phonk house.
Psst: Looking for a shortcut to making a drift phonk beat? Head to the end to discover how SongStarter can jumpstart your creative process.
How to make a drift phonk beat in Studio
If you’re just learning how to make a phonk beat and want to create your own drift phonk track, it’s easier than you might think. Check out this step-by-step guide on creating drift phonk beats in Studio.
Step 1: Set the mood with a beat
First, adjust the tempo of your track. For a drift phonk vibe, we’ll go with a laid-back 110 BPM, perfect for a house-style rhythm. Start by laying down a simple 4-bar beat using Drum Machine. The “Dark Hip Hop” drum pad has a crispy sound that’s perfect for drift phonk. Remember, in a house rhythm, you’ll use a “four-on-the-floor” pattern, meaning there’s a kick on every beat, four kicks per bar.
Place the snare on beats 2 and 4, and position the closed hi-hat halfway between each beat. For extra texture, add an open hi-hat on beat 3 of each bar and a crash cymbal right at the beginning.
Right now, the drums sound a bit too clean. Apply the “Drum Distortion” effects preset to give them more punch. Reduce the “Drive” on BL Driver and adjust the “Squeeze” on TecLab BA-2A to soften the distortion.
Step 2: Slide in a melody and bassline
A cowbell is essential for drift phonk melodies. Opt for simple, repetitive phrases using the minor scale and its variations. While this example uses a pre-made loop from BandLab Sounds, you can create your own melody too! The “Phonk Bell Classic” Virtual Instrument preset is a solid option.
This melody is set in F♯ minor, shifting between F♯ and C♯, then G and D. You’ll notice G isn’t part of the F♯ minor scale; that’s because it’s from the Phrygian scale! The Phrygian scale features a flattened second note, giving you a darker, more mysterious sound by lowering G♯ to G.
Duplicate the melody and enhance it with effects to add more depth. Apply the “90s Fuzz” effects preset, which includes a fuzzy guitar pedal, compressor, amp simulator, cab simulator, and reverb. Lower the volume to ensure it adds a subtle layer of fuzz without overwhelming the original melody.
To brighten things up, make another duplicate and add a pitch shifter set to +12 semitones. The “Percussion” input type generally works best for cowbells, but experiment with each of them to find the best fit. Adjust the volume slider to your preference. These duplicates will help you create variations when arranging the full track.
Next, create an 808 bassline that complements the melody. For this track, use the notes F♯ and G. Input these notes using the MIDI editor.
To beef up your bassline, duplicate the track and switch the instrument to a saturated 808. Adjust the volume so the two layers blend smoothly together.
Step 3: Add flavor with synths and vocal samples
Now bring in some haunting background ambience with synths. Start by adding a higher-pitched countermelody that mirrors the melody’s notes. Opt for a synth with a light, airy tone in the upper register. Use effects like reverb, echo, and phasing to give it a spacious feel – consider the “Space Machine” effects preset for this.
In the background, add a soft synth pad that complements the melody. Keep the volume low so it supports rather than overwhelms the mix. Apply a large reverb space, such as a church, to push it further back in the mix while keeping the amount minimal to avoid muddiness.
Drift phonk often features chopped, screwed, and distorted vocal samples. These rap vocal samples fit the bill perfectly, so let’s use them for different sections of your track to achieve that signature sound.
Step 4: Establish a structure
Drift phonk tracks thrive on simple, repetitive structures, so let’s build our track using equal 8-bar sections. We can manipulate different elements to create sections of varying intensity. Start by setting a dark, atmospheric tone for the intro.
Duplicate the original melody and apply a pitch shifter set to -12 semitones. You might need to experiment with different input types for pitching down. Add some reverb to enhance the mood – use the same church reverb from the soft synth pad earlier for consistency.
Next, introduce some percussion. Duplicate the drum machine and add an open hi-hat on beat 3 of every bar. Apply Filter Echo with a 1/4 beat delay to create an echo effect, and blend it with a touch of church reverb. Add a hi-hat loop for extra texture, and apply a little church reverb to integrate it smoothly.
For the second half of the intro, bring back the original melody and use Automation to lower the volume.
Now for the main part of the track. Copy the main section several times, and modify it every 8 bars by adding or removing elements. Removing drums, vocals, and the pitched-up melody will create a darker, less intense vibe, while reintroducing them will ramp up the energy.
Finish with an outro. Create a 4-bar section at the end where you remove the drums and bass, leaving just the original melody, pitched-down melody, and synth pad. Extend the melody slightly to end on the first note of the next bar. To create a sense of fading into darkness, use volume automation to gradually fade out the original melody.
Step 5: Glam it up with transitions and effects
Now it’s time to add some “ear candy” to make your track stand out and ensure smooth transitions between sections. To create seamless transitions, use cymbals, reverse cymbals, risers, and vocal one-shots.
Start by placing a vocal one-shot just before the shift from the intro to the main beat. Add a riser to build anticipation. For the transition itself, use a regular cymbal followed by a reverse cymbal to bridge the gap. To reverse a cymbal, right-click and select “Reverse Region.” For other transitions, you can mix and match these elements. At least one effect per transition will help maintain smoothness and coherence. Spice up each section with additional effects. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it!
For example, you could use vocal one-shots, gunshot sound effects, laughter sound effects, percussion hits, and car sound effects. Place these effects in gaps where nothing new is happening for a few bars. This keeps the track evolving and maintains energy throughout.
Putting it all together, you’ll end up with a track like this:
Generate instant drift phonk beats with SongStarter
We’ve recently added the highly-requested drift phonk genre to our AI music idea generator, SongStarter! This addition is a game-changer for beginners eager to dive into drift phonk and enhance their production skills without the pressure of crafting a track from scratch. If you’re still building confidence, feel free to use SongStarter as a phonk beat maker to provide the perfect starting point for your experiments.
For more experienced producers, SongStarter is a powerful tool to overcome beat block or writer’s block. Use it to explore fresh ideas and keep your sound evolving. Just select the “Drift Phonk” genre from SongStarter’s available options, and let it work its magic.
Our AI-powered tool will generate an endless flow of drift phonk music ideas at the roll of the dice. Pick a beat you like and save it for later, or open it in Studio and make it your own. Launch SongStarter and start making your own drift phonk beats today!
