Course · Trailer
Action Comedy Drums
Turn one simple rhythm into a drum-only track with swagger, pace and build.
- 10 lessons
- 2.7 hours of video
- Intermediate
- Lifetime access
- Watch online, any time
When my publisher asked me to write a set of drum-only tracks for action comedy trailers, I assumed they’d land a few small placements and not much else. I was wrong. These tracks are an untapped goldmine in the trailer music world.
They’re the ones that set up the punchline. Fast, percussive and a bit cool, they give a trailer swagger and pace, and leave the editor room to land the joke.
The tricky part is that you only have rhythm to work with. No chords to lean on, no melody, no ostinato. If you’re used to creating tension with harmony, that can feel very exposed.
In this course I break down what makes an action comedy drum track work, then build them from the ground up, explaining every choice. I walk you through three of my own tracks that landed on movie trailers, and make new ones from scratch with different sample libraries so you can see which ones work best.
By the end you’ll be able to take a single, simple rhythm and turn it into a full track that builds.
By the end, you’ll be able to
- Take a simple rhythm and turn it into an entire action comedy drum track
- Develop rhythmic ideas that are interesting and exciting
- Create a high-quality track that's ready for pitching
- Trailerise any drum beat
- Apply what you learn to any track that needs exciting percussion
At a glance
Techniques you’ll learn
- three-act cue structure
- layered percussion builds
- intimate-to-epic contrast
- tension and release via drum layering
- sonic neutrality in drum palette
- syncopated tom patterns
- stem editing and stacking
- velocity variation for dynamics
- strategic silence and stops
- reversed swish hits as transitions
- MIDI hand-drawing
- copying MIDI across sample libraries
Write music for
- action-comedy movie trailers
- trailer intros and drops
- comedy scene pacing and punctuation
- TV action-comedy underscore
- video game cinematic cutscenes
- advertising action sequences
Influences we look at
John Bonham · The Banker · Hunters · The Highwaymen · Spitfire Audio · 8dio
Proof it works
What’s inside
- Welcome to the course
What you'll be learning and what to expect.
- References and Walkthroughs
Trailers that used these tracks well, then complete walkthroughs of 3 of my tracks that landed on movie trailers.
- The anatomy of an ACD track
What makes up an action comedy drum track, then building one from the ground up with every choice explained.
- ACD tracks from scratch
Tracks made from scratch with various sample libraries, so you see my whole thought process and which libraries work best.
- Bonus: Punchy Rhythms MIDI pack and The Clap
A MIDI pack of 8-bar rhythms for your next track, and a Kontakt instrument made from me clapping 1,000 times. A crowd of me.
This is for you if…
- You struggle to come up with interesting rhythmic ideas
- You lean on chords, ostinatos and melodies to keep things interesting
- You want to write drum-only tracks but don't know where to start
It’s not for you if…
- You want lush orchestral or emotional music. This is rhythm only
- You don't have a DAW yet, or don't know how to use one
Who’s teaching
I’ve written music for ads since 2007 and movie trailers since 2011, and went full time in 2014. My music has been used on over 100 campaigns, including Captain America: Civil War, Glass Onion, WandaVision and The Conjuring 2, and I’ve won eight awards along the way. Since 2017 I’ve taught thousands of composers how to do the same. More about me.
Questions before you buy? Email [email protected].
Questions
Do I need to be able to use a DAW?
Yes. You need to be able to use a DAW so you can follow along with the videos.
Do I have to use Logic?
No. Use whichever DAW you like, as long as you know how to use it.
How much music theory do I need to know?
Very little. I steer clear of deep theory in all my courses, and this one is about rhythm rather than harmony.
How long is the course?
Over 4 hours of video, including complete walkthroughs of 3 tracks featured on trailers.
Can you guarantee I will get a placement?
Of course not. The composers who get work are the ones who put the hours in. They also happen to be very nice people (industry secret).
How long do I have access?
Forever. It's a one-time payment, not a membership, and you get all future updates and new lessons free.
What if it's not for me?
Within 30 days of registering you can ask for a full refund, as long as you haven't accessed more than 30% of the course (not counting anything public or in the Welcome module).
Action Comedy Drums
Learn to write the drum-only tracks used in action, comedy and drama trailers, with walkthroughs of three of my placed tracks and two bonus instruments.
Other courses
My flagship course. Compose, produce, mix and master a complete three-act trailer cue, with a mixing and mastering masterclass from Toby Mason.
Everything you need to start writing trailer music, from what a trailer cue actually is to sketching, finishing and mixing your first track, using only free tools.
The foundations every trailer composer needs. Bring MIDI to life, build tension and dynamics, and turn a simple chord sequence into a full track.