FLEXTRIK

Genre guide

What is pluggnb?

Pluggnb is trap with the weight taken out: a dreamy melody, sparse bouncy drums and a lot of space. Here is what defines the sound and how to build a pluggnb beat.

Make a pluggnb beat Serum presets

What is pluggnb?

Pluggnb is a style of trap built on atmosphere. The drums are sparse and bouncy, the melody is the star, and the whole beat sits in a lot of reverb. The name joins “plug” and “R&B”: you get the loose swing of plug beats with the sweet, dreamy melodies of R&B, and the vocals are usually soft and often tuned.

What makes a pluggnb beat

  • A short, bright melody played on a pluck, a bell or a harp-like sound, with reverb and a little delay.
  • Sparse, bouncy drums: a soft kick, a light snare or clap and simple hi-hats, with space between the hits.
  • A gentle low end: a short, clean 808 or a rounded sub, tuned to the key.
  • Warm pads and ambience under the melody to fill the space.
  • Room for the vocal: a simple arrangement and nothing loud in the middle.

How to make a pluggnb beat

  1. Set the tempoStart around 130 to 160 BPM with a half-time feel, and move it until the groove bounces.
  2. Write the melody firstA few notes, in a minor or a soft major key, repeated with small changes. If it works with only the melody, the rest will fit.
  3. Choose the pluckUse a short pluck, bell or harp sound with a quick decay. A little chorus or unison makes it wider; do not make it loud or harsh.
  4. Add a pad or chordsA soft pad under the melody, lowered and filtered so it fills the gaps without covering the pluck.
  5. Program the drumsA kick on the downbeat, a soft clap or snare on the backbeat, and simple hi-hats. Vary the velocities for the bounce, and add a small percussion sound for movement.
  6. Tune the bassPick a short 808, tune it to the key and keep it clean. See 808 samples: choose, tune and mix.
  7. Add spaceSend the melody, the claps and the pad to a reverb and a delay. Cut the lows of the reverb so it does not muddy the bass.
  8. ArrangeEight to sixteen bars: start with the melody alone, bring in the drums, then take things out for a bar before the next section.

Pluggnb, trap and rage

  • Trap is the wide genre: hard drums, rolling hi-hats and a long 808.
  • Pluggnb keeps the bounce and takes the weight away: soft, melodic, sparse.
  • Rage goes the other way: loud, distorted and aggressive.

Pluggnb drum kits and sounds

When you look for a kit, listen for sounds that stay soft when you turn them up: kicks without a hard click, short and clean 808s, claps and snares with a little room, hi-hats that are crisp but not harsh, and one-shots of plucks and bells. Check the licence before you release anything made with the sounds.

The FLEXTRIK kits lean dark rather than soft, so use them for contrast or soften the sounds with reverb and filters. The SHROOMKTOBER Serum Bank ($7) includes 19 plucks among its 30 bass, 30 leads, 10 random sounds and 6 pads, and the SHROOMKTOBER Multi-Kit ($7) has 77 808s, drums, 20 FLPs and a bonus.

SHROOMKTOBER Serum Bank

Presets for Xfer Serum: 30 bass, 30 leads, 19 plucks, 10 random sounds and 6 pads.

$7one-time · digital files

Questions

What does pluggnb mean?

Pluggnb (also written plugg or pluggnb) is a style of trap that pairs sparse, bouncy beats with smooth, R&B-like melodies. The name joins “plug” and “R&B”. It grew out of online producer scenes in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

What BPM is pluggnb?

There is no rule. Many beats sit in the trap range, roughly 130 to 160 BPM, played with a relaxed half-time feel. Choose the tempo by the groove and by how much room the vocal needs.

What is the difference between pluggnb and rage?

Both come from trap. Pluggnb is soft, melodic and sparse: plucks, bells, reverb and a light 808. Rage is loud and aggressive, with a distorted lead and hard 808s. See how to make a rage beat for the other side.

Do I need an 808 in a pluggnb beat?

Not always. Many beats use a short, clean 808 or a rounded sub that supports the melody, and some leave the low end almost empty. Keep it soft and tuned to the key.

Which synth should I use for pluggnb melodies?

Any synth that makes a short, bright pluck: Xfer Serum is a common choice. Start from a pluck or bell preset, shorten the decay, and put reverb and delay on it. See how to install and use Serum presets.

What should a pluggnb drum kit have?

Soft kicks, clean and short 808s, snares and claps with some room, smooth hi-hats, and melodic one-shots such as plucks and bells. Check that the licence lets you use the sounds in a release.

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