Jamming on my cheap keyboard taught me that preset rhythms are underrated

All the music snobs hate on preset beats, but I find them weirdly inspiring. My songs might be cheesy, but at least I'm having fun.

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer_webb1mo ago

But they really do hold you back from learning actual rhythm. You just hit a button instead of feeling the beat yourself, so your timing never gets better. It's a shortcut that keeps you from the real work of making music.

elizabethm911mo ago

You're right about preset rhythms being underrated. I started on a cheap keyboard too and those built in beats are a solid place to begin. They give you a structure to play against, which is way better than staring at a blank screen. The snobs miss that starting with a cheesy groove just gets you making noise faster. You can always replace the beat later if you want, but half the time you end up keeping some of it because it works. Having fun is the whole point, and if a preset gets you there, that's a win.

grace_jackson1mo ago

Yeah my old Casio had a bossa nova preset that I used for everything. It was terrible but it got me playing for hours. Sometimes the cheesy rhythm is the whole point.