Making music that actually captures the soul of Gus Åhr—Lil Peep—is about way more than just dragging a guitar loop into FL Studio and slapping some heavy bass on it. It’s a mood. Honestly, it’s a specific kind of Midwestern-emo-meets-Atlanta-trap-drums collision that shouldn't work, but it does. If you’ve ever sat in your room at 3 a.m. wondering how to make a Lil Peep type song, you've probably realized that the "vibe" is harder to pin down than the technical stuff.
It's raw.
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Peep wasn't a perfectionist in the traditional, polished pop sense. He was a perfectionist of feeling. He’d record in cheap bedrooms using a $150 microphone, yet he created a sound that defined a generation of "SoundCloud rap." To do this right, you have to embrace the imperfections. You need to understand why a 2000s pop-punk melody sounds so good over a Roland TR-808.
The Foundation: Finding the Right Emo Sample
The heart of any Peep track is the sample. Usually, we’re talking about melancholic, clean-tone electric guitars. Think bands like Real Friends, Modern Baseball, or even The Microphones. If you listen to "Beamer Boy," produced by Nedarb Nagrom, the sample is actually from "The Days of the Phoenix" by AFI.
You don't necessarily need to be a guitar virtuoso. Most producers today use melody loops or VSTs like Omnisphere or Guitar Rig to get that "washed out" sound. But if you want that authentic grit, you should look for samples that have a bit of "hair" on them—some hiss, some room noise, maybe a slight tuning instability.
Why the Melancholy Works
Peep’s music relies on minor keys. Specifically, natural minor or harmonic minor scales. It creates that feeling of being stuck in a rainy November afternoon. When you’re digging for samples or writing your own riffs, look for descending chord progressions. They feel like falling. That’s the Peep aesthetic.
Don't overcomplicate it. A simple three-chord loop is often better than a complex jazz progression. Peep needed space to breathe—or scream—over the track. If the beat is too busy, the emotion gets lost in the noise.
Breaking Down the "Hellboy" Drum Pattern
The drums are where the "trap" part of emo-trap comes in. While the melody stays in the world of alternative rock, the percussion is strictly 808-heavy.
First, let’s talk about the 808 itself. It shouldn't be a clean, EDM-style sub. It needs to be distorted. Not "blown out speakers" distorted (unless that’s your thing), but it needs some saturation. Use a plugin like Decapitator or even a stock soft clipper. The 808 should hit hard on the "one," but don't be afraid to let it slide. Peep’s producers often used long, sustaining 808s that bleed into each other, creating a wall of low-end sound.
- The Snare: Use a crisp trap snare or a clap. Sometimes layering a real drum snare sample under a trap clap gives it that "live band" feel that fits the emo aesthetic.
- The Hi-Hats: This is crucial. Use 1/8 note or 1/16 note patterns, but add those signature "rolls" or "triplets" sparingly. If the hats are too frantic, it ruins the laid-back, "I’m-too-tired-to-care" energy.
- The Kick: Make sure it punches through. Sidechain your 808 to your kick drum so the low end doesn't become a muddy mess.
Vocal Processing: The Secret Sauce
If you want to know how to make a Lil Peep type song, you have to master the vocal layers. Peep rarely had just one vocal track playing. He was a master of layering.
He’d record a lead vocal, then two "doubles" panned hard left and hard right. Then he’d add harmonies. Then he’d add "ad-libs" where he’d just groan, sigh, or shout specific words. It creates a "chorus" effect that makes the voice sound thick and ghostly.
"I just want to be everyone's friend." — This wasn't just a sentiment; it was reflected in the vulnerability of his vocal delivery. He wasn't trying to sound like a tough rapper. He sounded like a kid in his bedroom.
The Chain
Start with a healthy dose of Pitch Correction. Use Auto-Tune, but set it to a fast retune speed. You want that slightly robotic, metallic edge. It’s not about hiding a bad voice; it’s an instrument of its own.
Follow that with heavy compression. You want the vocals to stay right in the listener's ear, never dipping too low in volume. Then, add a "Radio" or "Telephone" EQ filter on some of the background layers to separate them from the main lead.
Lastly, the reverb. Use a Plate or Hall reverb with a long decay, but turn the "Dry/Wet" knob down so the vocal doesn't drown. You want it to sound like he's singing in a giant, empty cathedral—lonely but massive.
The Songwriting Philosophy
Peep wrote about real things: depression, drug use, heartbreak, and the weirdness of becoming famous overnight. He didn't use metaphors that were too complex. He was direct.
"I have a feeling that I'm not gonna be here for next year."
That line from "The Way I See Things" is devastating because of its simplicity. When you're writing lyrics for a Peep-style track, don't try to be a poet. Be a diarist. Talk about the specific brand of cigarettes you're smoking or the exact time someone stopped texting you back. The more specific it is to you, the more universal it becomes to the listener.
The structure is usually simple:
- Intro: Just the filtered guitar.
- Chorus: High energy, lots of vocal layers, hitting the hook hard.
- Verse: The drums might drop out or the 808 might simplify. The vocals become more conversational.
- Chorus: Repeat the hook.
- Outro: Fade out with the guitar or a vocal loop.
Avoiding the "Type Beat" Trap
There is a huge difference between making a song inspired by Lil Peep and making a parody of him. Thousands of people are uploading "Lil Peep Type Beats" to YouTube every day. Most of them sound exactly the same.
To stand out, you have to bring something of your own to the table. Maybe you use a sample from a genre Peep never touched, like folk or bossa nova. Maybe you use a different synth instead of a guitar. The goal is to capture the emotion, not just copy the template.
Producers like Smokeasac and Bighead didn't just follow a formula; they were inventing it as they went. They were listening to Three 6 Mafia and blink-182 at the same time. If you want to make a song that would have made Peep nod his head, you need that same kind of eclectic, "I don't care about genres" attitude.
Necessary Tools and Gear
You don't need a million dollars. Peep made Hellboy and Crybaby with very little.
- DAW: FL Studio is the gold standard for this genre, but Ableton or Logic work just fine.
- Mic: An Audio-Technica AT2020 is a classic budget choice that gets that bright, crisp top-end.
- Plugins: Look into Soundtoys for saturation and Valhalla VintageVerb for those huge atmospheric spaces.
The most important "gear" is your room. If you’re recording in a space with lots of echoes, hang some blankets up. You want the vocal to be "dry" so you can add the "fake" space later with plugins. This gives you total control over the vibe.
Actionable Steps for Your First Track
Stop overthinking it. Start by finding a guitar loop that makes you feel something—sadness, nostalgia, whatever. Drag it into your DAW.
Set your BPM between 120 and 140. This is the sweet spot. It’s fast enough for trap hats but slow enough to feel like a dirge.
Lay down your 808s next. Make sure they are in key with the guitar. Use a tuner plugin on your 808 if you aren't sure. If the bass is out of tune, the whole song will sound "off" in a way that isn't cool.
Record your vocals while you’re actually feeling the lyrics. If you're happy and having a great day, maybe wait until you're a bit more introspective to record the lead. Authenticity can't be faked in this genre. Listeners will know if you're just "acting" sad.
Finally, mix the track so the vocals are slightly louder than you think they should be. Peep’s voice was always the star, even when it was buried in reverb.
Once the track is done, don't spend three weeks tweaking the snare. Export it. Upload it. Move on to the next one. That’s how the GothBoiClique era happened—pure, unadulterated volume of work.
The DIY aesthetic is the most important part of the Lil Peep legacy. If it sounds a little rough around the edges, you’re probably doing it right.
Next Steps for Your Production:
- Download a "Lofi Guitar" pack or search Creative Commons for 2000s-era indie stems.
- Practice vocal stacking: Record your main hook four times and experiment with different panning widths.
- Study the "Hellboy" mix: Pay attention to how the guitar disappears when the 808 hits to create "ducking" and impact.