Layering Kicks and Bass in EDM: How to Build a Powerful Low End
A powerful low end is the foundation of any EDM track. This guide explains how to layer kicks and bass so they hit hard without clashing.
The Foundation of the Track
In EDM, the relationship between the kick drum and the bassline defines the power of the entire track. Get it right, and the low end feels tight and enormous. Get it wrong, and the track sounds weak or muddy no matter how good everything else is.
Building a great low end is a craft, and layering is one of its most important techniques.
Layering the Kick
Producers often combine two kick samples: one for the punchy attack at the top and one for the deep, sub-frequency body underneath. Layering this way lets you design a kick that cuts through on small speakers while still delivering weight on a club system.
The key is ensuring the two layers complement rather than fight each other, often by EQing each to occupy its own frequency range.
Kick and Bass Together
The classic problem is that the kick and bass both live in the low frequencies and compete for space. The solutions are sidechain compression, ducking the bass under each kick, and careful EQ so each occupies a slightly different range. Done well, the result is a low end that feels both deep and punchy.
Hear a powerful, professional low end on Maxim Schunk's Spotify. Follow @maximschunk on Instagram.