Stuck on a progression

[Phatscout]

Welp, I've been working on this .... thing but frankly I don't know where to go (as in compositionally). Like tbh how should I go about taking this 8 bar into an actual song. This sounds ulta-noobish but honestly I'm just .... stuck man.
Soundcloud

[Icetickle]

Try doing the whole structure of the track with only drums. Then add all of the other elements.
Works for me every time..

[Devilsindub]

Keep it going and add some more flavor. Add another synth in a higher octave with some warmth and maybe some fxs before u get ready to drop the hammer on it.

Totally agree. If you know any female vocalists to put some short parts in there that you could basically loop, that would fit really well with this pattern IMO.

[alphacat]

As El-B said, if the track doesn't work as just drums & sub then it probably won't work with everything else piled on top. Lay the foundation well and everything else should hold up.

[tpc_uk]

add some fx / incidentals and fx automations, the make an intro with just building the beat up with fx, drop the bit you've done, I could image a nice swingy hi-hat layer / or ride picking up the energy on the next 8 bars even if the loop was the same....

check danny j lewis' channel for housey type stuff maybe?

You really just need to force it out and ideas come from the arrangement process not from making a loop in my experience (not much )

[fragments]

I'd actually recommend leaving the drums alone for now. Go back and write a melody that progresses over 32-64 bars. Go back and make a layered atmospheric track that progresses (tension/release) over 32-64 bars. Start with one of those, then move on to the other. Then add some chords. I'd probably then extend your drums to at least a 16 bar loop. Once you've got all that raw material bounce to audio and start chopping shit up on the timeline in your DAW to fill out the track. You will likely end up adding something elements or automating parameters to keep things fresh.

I typically get a solid, progressing 64 bars down then I just chop and arrange those pieces parts.

On the other hand if you aren't inspired enough by this 8 bar loop to finish it, maybe it's time to dump it and move on.

[titchbit]

^ definitely all of these answers above ^ sub and drums are most important.

but I could also see adding a cool arpeggiated synth, swapping/layering different synths for the chord part, making a low-mid-rnage bass lead, etc

btw this isn't one of those "special sounds" on a vengeance sample pack is it?