Your second beat

What you learn in this lesson

You have your first beat. Now comes the second – and with it the moment where two beats turn into music. You learn the Bsh snare, build a beatbox cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” from it, and combine both into your first routine.

The new sound: the Bsh snare

The Bsh snare is one of the fastest sounds to learn – and it sounds powerful and wide straight away. You build it from the kick drum you already know and add an “Sh” behind it.

ll:  B - B - B - B  :ll                    40 BPM
ll:  Bsh - Bsh - Bsh - Bsh Hi  :ll         40 BPM

A memory hook: imagine telling someone to be quiet. That exact “Shh”. The “Hi” at the end is not a sound – it is you breathing in.

From spoken rhythm to beat

Every beat is made of two things: sounds and rhythm. So you speak the rhythm before you play it.

ll:  Bun zn Bshn zn Bun zn Bshn Hi  :ll    52 → 58 BPM

Once the rhythm sits, you simply swap the syllables for sounds. “Bunzn” becomes “Bm – Tsn”, “Bschnzn” becomes “Bschn – Tsn”.

ll:  Bm - Tsn - Bschn - Tsn - Bm - Tsn - Bsch - Tsn Hi  :ll   50 BPM

The melody: Billie Jean

All that is missing now is the bass line from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. Practise it on its own first, then lay it over the beat.

ll:  Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum Hi  :ll   58 → 62 BPM
ll:  Bm - Tsn - Bschn - Tsn - Bm - Tsn - Bsch - Hi  :ll   62 → 68 BPM

The transition beat – and your first routine

To switch between two beats you need a transition. It takes two minutes to learn.

ll:  Böh - Hi - Bah - Hi  :ll  4x          68 BPM

Go slightly higher with each repeat. That builds tension and creates a drop at the end. With it you connect: intro → Billie Jean beat → transition → your beat from the beginner tutorial → transition → Billie Jean beat. Raise the tempo step by step from 70 to 86 BPM.

Once that routine sits, you can jump from one beat into another whenever you like. That is the difference between individual sounds and a performance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make the Bsh snare?

Start the kick drum and add an “Sh” behind it – the way you would tell someone to be quiet. The sound is powerful and wide, and one of the quickest to learn.

What is a routine in beatboxing?

Several beats connected by transition beats, so you can keep playing endlessly without stopping.

What tempo should I practise at?

Start at 40 to 50 BPM and increase in small steps. In this lesson you work your way up to 86 BPM. Starting too fast means practising mistakes.

What does the “Hi” in the notation mean?

It is not a sound – it is you breathing in, deliberately placed at that point in the bar so you never run out of air.