Make Neo Soul music
Neo soul is a modern, jazz-tinged take on soul: slow, swung grooves, bold extended harmony and warm, rich tones, usually around 65 to 85 BPM. It suits both singing and rap, and lives for the chords.
Tempo: 65–85 BPM · Jazzy, extended chords
What defines neo soul?
Neo soul is soul music filtered through jazz. The grooves are slow and often loosely swung, the tones are warm, and the harmony is bold: rich, extended chords that move with a jazz player’s ear. It sits comfortably under both singing and rap.
The chords carry it. Where a lot of modern music keeps harmony simple, neo soul leans in, using lush voicings and a relaxed, human pocket to create something deep and unhurried.
How do you write neo soul chords?
Write the melody first, then harmonize it. Take a simple line, and for each note look for the most colorful chord that contains it, even one from outside the key. Out-of-scale choices are welcome here; the stranger voicing is often what turns a plain melody into neo soul. An electric piano and a bass guitar are enough instrumentation to carry it.
Small “because it sounded nice” moves finish the job: drop the last bar a semitone, loosen the pocket, let the bass add rhythm to the changes. Neo soul rewards trusting your ear over the rulebook. If it sounds good, it is good.
Signature elements of Neo Soul
- Slow, often swung and loose grooves
- Bold jazz harmony with rich extended chords
- Warm keys, electric piano and smooth bass
- A relaxed, soulful pocket
- Space for vocals or rap
How Songen makes Neo Soul
Songen generates a neo soul loop with the lead, jazzy chords, smooth bass and drums as editable MIDI. Start there, then reharmonize the chords, loosen the groove, or open space for a vocal.
Neo Soul FAQ
- What BPM is neo soul?
- Neo soul usually sits slow, around 65 to 85 BPM, which gives its swung, loose groove and rich chords room to breathe.
- What makes a song neo soul?
- A modern take on soul with slow swung grooves, bold jazz harmony and warm, rich tones. It works under both singing and rap, and the chords are the star.
- What kind of drums does neo soul use?
- Slow, swung, deliberately loose grooves with ghost notes and a relaxed, deep pocket.
- What instruments does neo soul use?
- Warm keys and electric piano playing rich extended jazz chords, with a smooth bass and space left for vocals or rap.