Known for its distinctive blend of glassy chords and hard-hitting beats, pluggnb is a genre that’s currently experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity.
In the tutorial video above, GRAMMY-winning artist and producer Swoope sat down with us to break down what pluggnb is and showcase how to make beats that capture the genre’s sonic signatures. Follow along to see him construct a track from scratch in the DAW, and learn more about the genre below.
What is pluggnb?
Pluggnb is a musical genre that combines plugg beats with the melodic and harmonic sensibilities of R&B. While its roots can be traced back to the 2010s, pluggnb recently gained additional widespread popularity as remixes of nostalgic tracks like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and Zedd and Hayley Williams’ “Stay The Night” went viral on YouTube.
“Pluggnb specifically pulls a lot from ’90s R&B and gospel, which I was steeped in growing up in the church,” Swoope adds. “So, to hear these repackaged and reframed in this day and age is really interesting. Pluggnb feels very familiar and very new at the same time, because it’s pulling from foundational genres.”
Pluggnb artists
Some producers and artists who are known for shaping pluggnb’s sound include Summrs, Autumn!, XanGang, ARIZONATEARS, and wintfye. Producers like MexikoDro and StoopidXool are also noteworthy for how they influenced plugg, which directly ties into the emergence of the genre.
How to make pluggnb chords
The harmonic backbone of pluggnb tracks is the chord progression, usually played as block chords by an electric piano. Extensions like minor sevenths and added ninths play a key role in bringing out the jazzy colors that are a staple of the genre. Experimental inversions that pair these pitches directly next to the root can further emphasize their colors.
“One thing I noticed about pluggnb is that there are a lot of harmonies going on in the style of the vocal chord structures by groups like Jodeci and Dru Hill,” Swoope observes. In his tutorial, he demonstrates what this sounds like in action by building a passage with a simple sine wave.
Instrumentation
Most pluggnb beats consist of instruments like electric keys, sine wave-based synth leads, strings, glassy synth bells, 808s, and plugg-inspired drum kits.
“The genre distinguishes itself from ’90s R&B and gospel in the way it uses vocal samples,” Swoope tells us as he re-pitches a gospel vocal loop in Logic Pro. “It’s not all about just the lush chords—they’re putting some ear candy on top to separate it from other genres. The drums and 808s also bring the sound into today.”
Pluggnb drum kits
If you’re looking for pluggnb drum kits to use in your own productions, Swoope has created his own sample pack that you can explore on Splice Sounds. Find his custom-made pitched vocals, electric pianos, and synth leads alongside punchy and distorted drums from GRAMMY-winning producer Elvin ‘Wit’ Shahbazian.
“Check the pack out and pull out the things that you think would be essential to your own track,” Swoope says. “I can’t wait to hear some of the stuff y’all will make.”
Conclusion
And there you have it—hopefully this article and tutorial video gave you a foundation on what pluggnb is and how you can start experimenting with the genre’s sounds yourself.
Do you have any questions on any of the topics that Swoope covered? What genres would you like to see us explore next? Let us know in the comments section of the video, and subscribe to the Splice YouTube channel for more artist-led tips, tutorials, and insights.
Incorporate Swoope’s sounds into your own productions via his PluggN’ Play sample pack:
August 30, 2024
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