Finger drumming online, right here.
Tap the pads with your fingertips. Two kits, no sign-up. Turn the sound up. Tap the pads or play them with your keyboard: 1234 / QWER / ASDF / ZXCV. Two kits, no sign-up.
Kick is bottom-left, snare next to it, the same layout as an MPC or Maschine.
Your first finger drumming beat
Press play to hear the groove. Then tap a part to mute it and play it yourself on the pads. Start with the kick.
What is finger drumming?
Finger drumming is playing drum parts with your fingertips on a grid of pads instead of hitting a drum kit with sticks. It grew out of hip-hop production in the late '80s, when producers started playing beats live on the rubber pads of the Akai MPC. Today people finger drum on MPCs, Native Instruments Maschine, Novation Launchpad, Ableton Push, and on phones and tablets.
Because every sound sits under a finger, one person can play kick, snare, hi-hats and percussion at the same time. That's why finger drumming (you'll also see it written fingerdrumming) became its own performance style, not just a way to program beats.
How to drum with your fingers
- Learn the layout. Kick on the bottom-left pad, snare next to it, hi-hats to the right. Most controllers put pad 1 in the same place.
- Split the work between hands. One hand holds down the kick and snare, the other plays the hi-hats. On a keyboard, put your left hand on Z X and your right hand on C V.
- Tap, don't press. Let your fingertip bounce off the pad. Relaxed fingers are faster and more even.
- Start slow with the click. Turn on the metronome at 70–80 BPM and only speed up once the beat feels easy.
- Practise little and often. Ten minutes a day builds finger independence faster than one long session a week.
Take it further in the app
A free drum pad app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
- 900+ sound packs, 250+ of them free
- Pattern editor and track recording
- Works with MIDI pad controllers
Questions
Can I finger drum on a computer keyboard?
Yes. The 16 pads map to four rows of keys: 1–4, Q–R, A–F and Z–V. Keyboards don't feel how hard you hit, but they're great for learning patterns and timing.
Do I need a pad controller to start?
No. You can learn the layout and your first beats here or on your phone. A pad controller adds velocity (soft and hard hits) and a better feel once you're hooked.
Why do the pads sound late on my phone?
Browsers add a little audio delay, and Bluetooth headphones add much more. Use the phone speaker or wired headphones.
I can't hear anything on my iPhone.
Check the volume and the silent switch, then tap a pad again. Sound starts after your first tap.
Is it free?
Yes. The pad and both kits are free, with no sign-up.