resonantthe instrument studio

THE OPEN MUSIC ROOM

Play drums online.

Touch
Soft sounds warmer. Bold sounds brighter.

Choose Play to tap or glide across the instrument. Choose Rotate to change your view. Use Play close-up for larger playing surfaces. The note controls below also work with your keyboard.

Your keys. Your rhythm.

Press keys together to combine strokes.

←→ switch instrumentesc stop sound
Playing preferences

Try a tune

Hear it on drums, then make it your own.

Keep the beat

Set your tempo and play along.

The click is for practice and is not included in recordings.
PLAY. EXPLORE. REPEAT.

A closer look at the drums.

Guide updated

Play a free virtual drum kit with kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, and cymbals. Build beats with multiple touches or your computer keyboard.

Build a beat from ten percussion voices: kick, snare, hi-hat, three toms, clap, ride, crash, and rim. Play several controls together to layer a rhythm.

Play your next note

How do I play the online drums?

In 3D view, choose Play to tap, strum, or glide across a playing surface. Hold keys or wind surfaces to sustain a note. Choose Rotate to inspect the model; scroll or pinch to zoom. Use the labeled note controls or computer keys for chords and the full range. Classic view provides the original illustrated playing surface. Try A for kick, S for snare, and D for hi-hat. Use the labeled pads for the full kit, including voices beyond the illustrated drums.

What sounds does the virtual drums use?

Drum sounds are synthesized from short tones and shaped noise; they are not recordings of an acoustic drum kit.

Audio & tune credits
TRY IT. LISTEN. MAKE IT YOURS.

Keep the hi-hat steady under a backbeat

Layer one repeating sound with alternating kick and snare hits. The goal is a consistent pulse, not a fast fill.

Starting tempo: 72 BPM. Use Keep the beat for a steady pulse.

  1. 1Kick + Hi-hat
  2. 2Snare + Hi-hat
  3. 3Kick + Hi-hat
  4. 4Snare + Hi-hat
  1. Find the three kit voices

    A plays Kick, S plays Snare and D plays Hi-hat. Use the labeled pads for the same sounds on touch. Start Keep the beat at 72 BPM with four beats.

  2. Layer the strikes

    Press A and D together on beats 1 and 3. Press S and D together on beats 2 and 4. Release between hits so each beat produces a fresh strike.

  3. Remove one layer

    Repeat with D alone for four beats, then bring the kick and snare back without changing the hi-hat timing.

Try next: Replace the final Snare with Clap using J while keeping D for Hi-hat. Change only that beat so the variation remains easy to recognize.

How do I record the drums in Resonant?

  1. Choose your playing controls

    Choose Play in 3D view or switch to Classic. Tap a playing surface, use the labeled note controls, or press a computer-key shortcut to enable sound.

  2. Record your idea

    Press Record above the instrument, then play your phrase. This records studio audio without using your microphone. Each take can last up to five minutes.

  3. Listen and keep a copy

    Press Stop, open Recordings, and listen to the take. Choose Download WAV or Original audio to keep a file. Saved takes stay on this device; clearing browser storage removes them.

A few useful notes about the drums

How do I build a basic drum beat?

Alternate A for kick and S for snare. Add D for hi-hat between them, or press D with A or S to layer sounds.

Where are the clap and rim sounds?

All ten kit voices are in the labeled pads below the drawing. Use those pads for sounds without a separate illustrated surface.

Tap or press a key to enable sound