You should add a drop in a track after building sufficient tension and anticipation in the preceding sections, such as the buildup or break. The drop is usually the point where the energy is released, and it contains the main hook or the heaviest instrumentation, often mixed louder than the rest of the song. Key points on when to add a drop are:
- After a buildup that raises tension through elements like risers, filtered noise, snare rolls, or rhythmic acceleration.
- Leave a short pause or break before the drop to increase its impact.
- Sometimes delay the drop slightly (e.g., dropping the kick on the second or third beat) to surprise listeners and make it hit harder.
- Drop after muting or reducing the bass in the build-up to create contrast and make the bass in the drop more satisfying.
- Generally, the drop follows breakdown and build-up sections where energy levels peak to then be released at the drop.
- Use contrast between the buildup and the drop to maximize effect—this can be from minimal to full intensity or vice versa.
Essentially, add the drop at the point of maximum tension release where the listener expects a boost in energy and intensity, ensuring the drop hits hard and stands out by creating contrast and surprise just before it happens.
