your favourite artists
MJ Cole
Make a 2-Step Garage beat
About the course
In 2-step Garage, it’s all about the drums. In this course, UK legend MJ Cole takes you through how he builds one of his signature drum beats from scratch.
Who’s this course for
Suitable for Intermediate experience levels.
This is a great course for those looking to get an insight into the production of a 2-step Garage beat. MJ Cole breaks down his process and provides tips making authentic sounding 2-step drums.
What you'll learn
MJ Cole is a UK icon and master producer, after decades in the business he's established himself as a true pioneer of UK music. In this course, you'll learn everything you need to know to make a signature MJ Cole 2-step Garage beat from the man himself.
Get ready to feel the groove when you learn:
- The characteristics of a 2-step beat
- What sounds to use
- How to pick samples that complement each other
- How to sequence your drums
- How to incorporate swing and groove
- How to add character and punch to your drums
Watch the course trailer
Your teacher
MJ Cole
MJ Cole's pioneering 2-step sound has influenced everything from grime to dubstep to bands like The xx. His breakthrough track, "Sincere", was one of the first proper garage songs to penetrate the UK top 40 and is still played religiously at 6 am during every house party from Hackney to Hartlepool.
Cole grew up in West London. Coming from a musical household, he went on to study at the Royal College of Music, and that classical background still informs much of the way he crafts electronic music. By 1998, "Sincere" was in the top 40, and in 2000 he got his first top 10 single with "Crazy Love".
After a twenty-year career, it would be easy for Cole to become entrenched in the past and try to re-create those 2000s days, but instead, his obsession is the new. His record label, 892, rapidly adjusts to the changing face of the modern music industry, and when you add that to The Gin Factory, he hasn't just created an innovative platform not just for himself but for new artists as well.
Over the years, Cole has established himself as one of the most consistent producers in Britain and a mastermind for bringing through new talent. He’s produced tracks across the spectrum for artists like Dizzee Rascal, Katy B, Becky Hill, Shift K3y and Stormzy. He co-wrote and produced "Nobody But You" for Mary J Blige alongside Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes. He has since teamed up with the ferocious young grime MC AJ Tracey to create “The Rumble”, a dark and industrial colossus that showed just how diverse his sound has become. "The Rumble" was followed by Shelter featuring Bruno Major, also released on Cole's new label 892 Recordings. Outside of 892, MJ Cole has dropped records on Disclosure's Method White label and Red Light’s label Lobsterboy.