Future Bass
Bass · 2012 · 140 to 160 BPM · also known as Future Bass EDM
Future bass is the synthetic sugar of 2013 to 2017: supersaw chords chopped by an LFO, pitched-up kawaii vocals, and melodic drops that feel like a hug rather than an attack. Flume set the Australian template, and a wave of SoundCloud producers industrialized it into global pop. It is the bright, lighthearted side of post-dubstep, adored almost as quickly as it was diluted.
11 reference tracks
- Flume: Holdin On (2012)
- Cashmere Cat: Mirror Maru (2012)
- Rustie: Slasherr (2013)
- Wave Racer: Streamers (2013)
- ODESZA: Say My Name (2014)
- Flume: Never Be Like You (2016)
- Flume feat. Vera Blue: Rushing Back (2019)
- Flume & Toro y Moi: The Difference (2020)
- Porter Robinson: Look at the Sky (2021)
- STAYC: Teddy Bear (2023)
- Kesha: Delusional (2024)
At a glance
- Tempo: 140 to 160 BPM
- First appeared: around 2012
- Machines: Xfer Serum, Ableton Live, Native Instruments Massive
- The sound: Supersaw hachée au volume-LFO, Vocal chops pitchés, Sidechain doux
- Labels: Future Classic, Mad Decent, Monstercat, Moving Castle
- Key artists: Flume, Cashmere Cat, San Holo, Odesza, Louis The Child
Producing Future Bass
Future bass runs 140 to 160 BPM in halfstep, feeling like 70 to 80 with the snare on beat three, 150 being a good center. The rhythmic signature is not in the drums but in an LFO chopping the chords into eighths or sixteenths, softer than trap. Build a supersaw chord in Serum, a seven-voice unison saw running a four-chord progression, chopped by a volume LFO synced to an eighth or sixteenth note. Layer in pitched vocal chops, a voice sliced into syllables and pitched up for that kawaii feel, with delay and reverb. Keep the kick on one, doubled on the and of two or four, a huge snare on three, building an eight-bar snare roll that accelerates into the drop then drops out for two bars. The bass is a soft sub sine, gently sidechained.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Future Bass?
Future bass is the synthetic sugar of 2013 to 2017: supersaw chords chopped by an LFO, pitched-up kawaii vocals, and melodic drops that feel like a hug rather than an attack. Flume set the Australian template, and a wave of SoundCloud producers industrialized it into global pop. It is the bright,…
What tempo is Future Bass played at?
Between 140 and 160 BPM.
Who are the key Future Bass artists?
Flume, Cashmere Cat, San Holo, Odesza, Louis The Child.
