How to Add Swing and Groove in FL Studio
Give your beats a human feel. Learn to use the Main Swing slider and the Quantize tool to add groove to rigid MIDI patterns.
This tutorial explains how to move away from a robotic sound by adding swing and groove. You will learn to use global settings and individual note adjustments.
Follow these steps
Adjust the Main Swing Slider
Locate the 'Main Swing' slider in the top right of the Channel Rack. Slide it to the right to add a global shuffle to all sequenced steps.
Use the Quantize Tool (Alt+Q)
Select your MIDI notes and press Alt+Q to open the Quantize tool. Choose a template that includes 'Swing' to vary the note start times.
Shift Notes Manually
Hold Alt and drag notes slightly off the grid lines. This manual adjustment creates a 'drunk' or 'lazy' feel common in Lo-Fi music.
Randomize Velocities
Press Alt+R in the Piano Roll to randomize note velocities. Subtle volume changes make repetitive patterns sound much more organic.
Common mistakes
- Applying too much swing to the kick, which can make the entire beat feel unstable.
- Forgetting that swing only affects notes placed on the 'off-beats' in the Step Sequencer.