Hi all...I have just started to try my hand at recording on the computer. I downloaded Leafdrums and am trying to learn how to use it...i get the basics but my problem is mainly with the Patterns...I cant come up with any good beats, I dont really have any clue how to get a good beat going so that i can put a riff over it or something, u know?

any help is appreciated...doesnt have to be regarding leafdrums, but also with patterns and how to create cool patterns?

This is probly the opposite to everyone else but here goes.
When i start a track i just use a basic beat, probly a straight pattern just so i can keep time with myself. Once that is done i start making the drum patterns more exciting. The other way is to jam with a drummer and record the sessions then recreat any good ideas to your sequencer.

Its a start, and i find it easy this way, as many a time i got a killer drum pattern at nothing fits it!!!!

That sounds like a sensible start to me...if you know the basics of how to play drums, it will make the process easier...you are efinately best of starting simple and making them better as you go along

stuff like this is probably a good starting point:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_make_original_drum_tracks.htm

not the only way to do it, but it might start to kick you off. I always try to find a couple of sections to play off the other instruments a bit and accentuate the rhythmic feel of a riff, as well as just "laying down a simple beat" if that makes sense...seems to give those parts a little mroe impact

I'm completely backwards in this aspect. I develop the drums into a type of melody and then fit that melody to a beat. Can you tell I'm no drummer I've got very little grasp on rythem and beats, I'm completely melody minded. Sometimes frustrating for me, sometimes frustrating for my band because I come up with certain things that don't really have a beat to them, heh.

I was like that when I started too, I had zero knowledge of what to do, but if you stick at it and keep to the beats it's pretty easy to pick up.

Alternatively you can stick the hi hats to the beat and pretty much dot the rest all over the place and there you have it, a shit version of a Mastodon song

thanks guys for replys....I've started to do basic stuff and then play my parts and then put fancier stuff (or try to)...i guess its just one of those things you gotta play with for a while and get used to it