How to beatbox for beginners

You can play your first beat today. It takes three sounds and a steady pulse. Here is how, in the order to do it.

1. Say "boots and cats"

Say it out loud a few times, at a steady speed: "boots and cats and boots and cats". You are already saying the rhythm of the basic beat.

2. Whisper it

Now whisper it. No voice, just air. Put your fingers on your throat: you shouldn't feel a buzz. Beatbox drums are made of air; the voice is what turns a "t" into "tuh", and a "tuh" sounds like talking, not a drum.

3. Keep only the drum sounds

Drop the vowels and keep the hard sounds:

• B from "boots": press your lips together, build a little air behind them, and let them pop. A tiny "b", nothing after it. ▶ Hear the kick drum
• T from "and": the tip of your tongue behind your top teeth, flick it down, short hiss: "ts". ▶ Hear the hi-hat
• K from "cats": the back of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then a sharp push of air: "k". ▶ Hear the snare

4. Play it in time

Put them in order, one sound per beat: B T K T, B T K T. Start slow, at 60 beats a minute (one sound a second):

BTKT▶ Hear it 60 bpm

Use a metronome or the click on the practice page. The most common beginner mistake isn't a bad sound, it's speeding up. If you rush, slow down.

5. The mistakes everyone makes

• Saying "buh, tuh, kuh". Your voice sneaks in after the sound. Whisper it.
• A long hi-hat. "Tssssss" is a hiss, not a hat. Keep it as short as the T in "cat".
• A weak kick. The B should thump. Puff your cheeks slightly and pop harder.
• T and K sounding the same. The T is at the front of your mouth with a hiss; the K at the back with a click.
• Going too fast too soon. Clean at 60 first, then 70, then 80.

6. Check it

It's hard to hear your own mistakes while you play. Learn Beatboxing listens through your phone and shows each beat: the sound you meant, the sound it heard, and whether you kept time. The sound stays on your device.

Play B T K T and see your score →

What next?

Once the basic beat is clean, speed it up and try new beatbox patterns. The whole path is on learn beatboxing step by step.

Questions

What is the easiest beatbox beat?

B T K T, "boots and cats": kick, hi-hat, snare, hi-hat, one sound per beat. Nearly every beatboxer learned it first.

Why does my beatbox sound like talking?

Usually because you are using your voice. Whisper the sounds: B, T and K should be air only, with no "uh" after them.

Should I learn beatboxing fast or slow?

Slow. Play the beat cleanly at 60 beats a minute before speeding up. Practising fast and messy makes the mess a habit.