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Intermediate
16 min

Building Energy and Tension

Great tracks build and release tension like a rollercoaster. Learn to use automation, filter sweeps, risers, and arrangement tricks to create emotional journeys.

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The Energy Curve

Every great track has an energy curve - moments of tension and release that keep listeners engaged. In UK garage, this is especially important because the groove is constant - you need other elements to create dynamics.

Filter Automation

The low-pass filter sweep is your best friend for building tension:

Filter Sweep Techniques

  • Gradual open: Slowly increase cutoff over 8-16 bars before a drop
  • Quick close/open: Snap filter shut, then open on the drop
  • Resonance rise: Increase resonance alongside cutoff for intensity
  • Multi-element: Automate filters on drums, bass, and synths separately

Risers and Impacts

TypeDescriptionWhen to Use
White Noise RiserFiltered noise sweep upBuild before any drop
Reverse CymbalReversed crash/rideSubtle transitions
Pitch RiserSynth pitching upIntense builds
DownlifterPitch droppingAfter drops, into breakdowns

Drum Fill Variations

Fills signal to the listener that something is about to change:

  • Snare roll: Classic 16th or 32nd note snare build
  • Tom fill: Descending toms over 1-2 bars
  • Hi-hat intensification: Double-time hats before the drop
  • Dropout: Remove drums entirely for 1-2 beats before the drop

The Art of the Fake Drop

One of the most effective tension techniques is the fake drop - build tension, hint at a drop, then pull back:

Fake Drop Recipe

  1. Build tension normally with filters, risers
  2. At the expected drop point, cut everything
  3. Leave just a vocal snippet, single chord, or silence
  4. Hold for 2-4 bars
  5. Then hit the real drop with full impact

Volume and Intensity Automation

Beyond filters, automate these parameters for energy:

  • Master volume: Subtle 1-2dB lift before drops
  • Reverb send: Increase reverb going into breakdowns
  • Distortion/saturation: Add grit as intensity builds
  • Stereo width: Narrow in builds, widen on drops

Summary

Tension and release are what turn a loop into a journey. Use filter automation for gradual builds, risers and impacts for signposting, drum fills to signal change, and fake drops to subvert expectations. The key is contrast - the release is only as powerful as the tension that precedes it.

Devil's Advocate

Advanced thinking for experienced producers

"Are risers and build-ups overdone in modern dance music?"

The EDM formula of 'build-drop-repeat' has been criticized for being predictable. Classic UK garage was often more subtle with its energy management.

Alternative Workflows to Try

  • 1.Use arrangement changes instead of obvious risers
  • 2.Let the groove itself create tension through subtle variations
  • 3.Subvert expectations by dropping energy when builds are expected

Critical Thinking Traps

Trap: "Every section needs a riser before it"

Reality: Sometimes a clean cut is more effective.

Trap: "Bigger build = better drop"

Reality: Subtlety can be more powerful than bombast.

Trap: "Use every tension technique at once"

Reality: Pick 1-2 techniques per transition.

Lesson Downloads

Risers and Impacts Pack

50+ riser and impact samples

Automation Templates

Filter sweep automation curves

What You'll Learn

  • 1
    Filter automation for builds
  • 2
    Riser and impact design
  • 3
    Drum fill variations
  • 4
    The art of the fake drop

Continue Learning

UK Garage Song StructureBreakdowns and Drops