Introducing the inward snare

The sound that means you never run out of air

The inward snare is where beatboxing stops being exhausting. The sound is produced while breathing in. You take air and play a powerful snare at the same time – the breathing pause disappears, because it becomes part of the beat.

How to find the sound – in four steps

1. Say „Click“ and emphasise it as much as possible. Normally, on the out breath.

ll:  Click - - - Click - - -  :ll                45 BPM

2. Tongue tip up, on the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth. The „Click“ becomes less clear – that is intended, you are moving towards a new sound. Keep emphasising it.

3. „Click“ becomes „KL“. Hold the tongue position and emphasise the sound with a short, powerful breath.

ll:  Kl - - - Kl - - -  :ll                      45 BPM

4. Reverse the direction. Hold the tongue position and produce the same „KL“ while breathing in. That is the inward snare.

ll:  Klch - - - Klch - - -  :ll                  45 BPM

From spoken rhythm to beat

Speak first, then place the sounds. Instead of the out breath „Hi“, the inward snare now sits in the same spot:

ll:  Bum Bum Hi Bum Bum - Hi -  :ll             45 BPM
ll:  Bum Bum Klch Bum Bum - Klch -  :ll        45 → 52 BPM
ll:  Bss Bss Klch Bss Bss - Klch -  :ll        52 → 58 BPM

Emphasise the kick drum in the „Bss“ – otherwise it disappears behind the snare.

The intro with a call-out

Four passes – on the fourth you replace the inward snare with a spoken phrase. That turns a loop into an announcement.

ll:  Bss Bss - Klch - Bss Bss - Klch  :ll                    3x
ll:  Bss Bss - Klch - Bss Bss - Hit that groovy rhythm  :ll   1x
                                                    58 → 64 BPM

The hip-hop beat that goes with it

Deliberately leave one sound out at first – it makes the entry easier. Once the beat is solid, add it back in.

ll:  Bss Ts Klch Ts Ts B Klch -  :ll             45 BPM
ll:  Bss Ts Klch Ts Ts B Klch Ts  :ll            45 → 52 → 60 BPM

Finally you join intro and beat and pull the whole routine from 64 through 68 to 70 BPM.

Frequently asked questions

How do you do an inward snare?

Tongue tip against the roof of your mouth behind your teeth, form a strong „KL“ – then reverse the direction of the breath: the sound is produced on the inhale. In the notation it appears as Klch.

Why is the inward snare so important?

Because it solves the breathing problem. With every other sound you have to stop to take air. Here the taking of air is the sound. That lets you play for as long as you want.

My inward snare sounds scratchy – what am I doing wrong?

Usually the burst of air is too long or too forceful. The sound needs a short, controlled impulse, not power. Go back to 45 BPM and work on the attack instead of the tempo.

Can I add the inward snare to beats I already know?

Yes, and that is the point. Anywhere there used to be a breathing pause, an inward snare can now sit. Try it in the beats from the earlier lessons.