GET TO KNOW YOUR KIT
Play an online drum kit with your keyboard, mouse, or touch
ButtonBass puts a playable virtual drum set in your browser. Try a fill across the toms, keep time on the hi-hat, or build a repeating rhythm while you play along. These online drums combine an acoustic kit with pitched phonk cowbells and custom pads, so you can move from a simple practice groove to your own sound. Start at the drum kit, then use the guide below to explore the controls.
How to play in three steps
- Choose your sound. Select Studio for a warm, balanced kit, Vintage for a dry, mellow sound, or Arena for a bigger, brighter response. Tap a drum to start the audio.
- Find a comfortable pulse. Set the tempo between 40 and 240 BPM. Turn on the metronome, or choose a premade groove and press Play. Adjust Volume and Room to taste.
- Play and develop an idea. Use the kit, keyboard, or pads. Edit the 16-step drum sequencer, or enable Capture hits to add your playing to the nearest step in a repeating bar.
Get to know the virtual drums
The kick supplies the low pulse, while the snare adds a sharp backbeat. Closed hi-hats give short, crisp timekeeping; open hats ring longer. Use the ride for a flowing pulse and the crash to mark a change. High, mid, and floor toms create descending fills, while the rim click and cowbell offer contrasting accents.
The phonk rack adds four tuned cowbells and a deep 808 bass. Try a short bell phrase over a steady kick and snare. Changing kits leaves the pitched phonk sounds at their original notes.
Keyboard controls
Keys for the kit and extra pads
| Key | Sound or action |
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| Q | Crash cymbal |
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| E / D | Open / closed hi-hat |
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| R / T / H | High / mid / floor tom |
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| Y | Ride cymbal |
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| F or J | Snare drum |
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| G | Rim click |
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| B | Kick drum |
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| K | Cowbell |
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| 1–4 | Phonk bells: C5, E♭5, G5, B♭5 |
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| 5 | 808 bass: C2 |
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| Z / X / C / V | Custom pads, after adding them |
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| Shift | Hold while playing for softer hits |
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| Space | Start or stop the groove |
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For the Space shortcut, move focus away from buttons, links, FAQ questions, drums, and form controls. Shortcuts pause while the navigation or help dialog is open. You can also Tab to an illustrated drum and press Enter to play it.
Your first groove: a steady rock pattern
Choose New blank beat, set 80 BPM, and count “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and.” Place kick hits on beats 1 and 3, snare hits on 2 and 4, and closed hi-hats on every spoken count. In the 16-step grid, that means kick steps 1 and 9; snare steps 5 and 13; and hats on steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15.
Press Play and listen for an even pulse. Then remove one hat or add a tom near the end of the bar. Change one thing at a time so you can hear its effect. For focused timing practice, try the ButtonBass metronome.
Explore premade drum patterns
Ten starting grooves cover Pocket rock, Sunday funk, Half-time, House, Disco fever, Latin pocket, Breakbeat, One drop, Drift phonk, and Midnight phonk. A blank canvas lets you start fresh. Each preset loads a rhythm and its tempo; you can then change individual steps or play over it.
Listen to how the kick and snare placement changes the feel. Try the same pattern with each kit. For more phonk sounds and arrangements, explore Phonk Maker.
Add sounds and record your session
Add up to four custom drum pads. Choose from 23 built-in sounds, or load WAV, MP3, and other audio your browser supports. Each file must be 20 MB or smaller and no longer than 10 seconds. Every added pad gets its own sequencer row.
Press Record, play your take, then press Stop and Save take. Recording captures the kit, playing groove, Room effect, and metronome directly, without a microphone. Turn off the metronome first if you do not want its click in the recording. Capture hits creates a repeating pattern; Record saves the sound of your performance.
Questions about playing drums online
Is this online drum kit free, and do I need a download?
It is free to play in your browser, with no instrument installation. Enable JavaScript and tap a drum to start the audio.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Touch the drums or pads to play. Landscape orientation gives the kit more space; on narrow screens, scroll the sequencer sideways to reach all 16 steps.
Why is there a delay between a hit and its sound?
Timing depends on your device, browser, and audio output. Wired headphones or speakers may respond faster than Bluetooth. Close demanding background apps if playback struggles; response times vary.
Can I save a recording?
Use Save take after stopping Record. The available audio format depends on your browser. Recording is unavailable in browsers that do not support it.
Are my uploaded sounds saved or sent anywhere?
Your audio is processed locally, not uploaded to a server. Custom sounds and patterns last for the current page session. Save a recording before refreshing or leaving; it does not restore the editable pattern.
Can virtual drums help me practice rhythm?
This drum simulator lets you hear drum parts, count subdivisions, and experiment with fills. Keyboard or touch playing develops different movements from acoustic sticks and pedals. If you prefer a pad layout, try the Drum Pad.