Everyone Likes a Big Bass - A Look at the Lower Ends of the Frequency Spectrum

If there is one thing that truly defines Hardcore Techno, it's the distorted bass drum. It's what makes Hardcore tracks instantly recognizable and stand out from other Hardcore genres. In fact, in the 90s, when Techno, Trance or even House producers usually added 1-2 remixes in "other genres" to their releases, having a "Hardcore Edit" often meant that a "Gabber Kick" got added to the track - and few other changes!

The appearance of a distorted kick just screams: "This is Hardcore!"

Mantronix - Bassline

Mid 80s HipHop track that uses the 909

Now let's look at the technical aspects. The classic "Gabber Kick" usually comes out of a TR 909 drum machine by the Roland company; or a clone, derivate, and sample.
Gabber producers were not the only ones to use that machine though; the 909 was also used by hip hop, dance or pop producers in the 80s - just like it's even more popular predecessor, the TR 808.
When producers got asked why they were so fond of the 808 (and 909) in the 80s, they replied: few other drum machines had such a powerful and *low* bass sound.

And indeed, this is what makes the 909 sound so special: its tail.
When you use a rock kick drum, it gives more of a "plop!" sound. And the first electronic drum synths, that mimic rock kicks (or even sampled them), were similar.
A short "drum" hit, then silence.

Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)

One of the most classic 808 tracks.

But not so with the 909! The initial "kick" morphs into a long winding, slowly fading "bass" rumble / hum / noise.
This "tail" by the 909 has already tonal properties. Like a legit bass note played on a stringed instrument.
The various distortion effects make this "tonal" element even more prominent. They also add overtones and strange "harmonies" to the tone - it's quite complex.

What I wrote here of course does not only apply to the 909, but goes for other "Hardcore kicks" as well.

This means that when these drums get played at a venue, on a loud sound system, a constant, never-ending, "solid" bass rumble is created that fills up the entire place - a "wall of bass".
This is different to disco music, where the beats more or less stay "discreet" to each other. "Plop plop plop" and not a permanent bass sound.

The Michael Zager Band - Let's All Chant 

Example of typical disco drums.

The bass at Hardcore parties can be so terrifying that glasses "move" from their tables, fall to the floor and break into shards; or that the "needle flies off the record" - a common problem.

If you're a music nerd, let's add that there is a lot of interesting music theory attached to this. The Gabber kick defies any rule or convention in common western music, and puts it closer to Schoenberg or Stockhausen.

Evil Force - It Started with a Bass

Good example of the bass rumble that happens when gabber kicks are played in a venue (starting at 1:01)

Because it means there is a constant, strange, disharmonic bass note present through-out the entire arrangement.

It's like conducting an opera, and then having a few singers "scream" at a dissonant interval during the entire piece.

Short tutorial showing how simple distortion boosts the tonal tail of a 909

But let's put the topic of arias & symphonies to the side for now - and look at a few tracks with the best gabber kicks.

1. Thomas Elers - Radio Thing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJIqE9V3XLI
2. Wedlock vs Comababy - Void Sector https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9DUaG0Sgu0
3. Global Hardcore Source - Let's get this thing off the ground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7L0_nh_oNM
4. Chosen Few - Danica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjmi_6BWuI8
5. Wavelan - It Will Stand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7bomLyqcWg
6. Zekt - Explorers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-lMcdwoS90
7. The Mover & Rave Creator - Atmos-Fear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9atKkvkhF_0
8. Agro - Bullen Raus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubxrRZMviV4
9. Mescalinum United - Jupiter Union https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn1vsSz0pPE
10. Stickhead - Check Dis Mutha Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w9jxAp225U
11. The Horrorist - Voice of the Butcher (Original) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fypInkjm60o