# Free breakbeats and drum breaks

> Free drum breaks and breakbeat loops for jungle, drum and bass, hip hop and breaks, with tempo where known and a licence verdict, including cleared breaks.

36 samples from 5 sources (Wikimedia Commons 13, Orange Free Sounds 10, Openverse 8, OpenGameArt 3, SoundBible 2), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=break&category=drums.break
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=break&category=drums.break"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## What a break is

A break is a drum solo, often only a bar or two, where the band drops out and the drummer plays alone. DJs in the 1970s looped those bars to keep dancers moving, and hip hop, jungle and breakbeat were built on them. Today "break" means any looped acoustic drum performance with that loose, human feel.

The most famous breaks come from commercial records, and those recordings are still owned by someone. This collection only lists breaks shared by their creators under a licence, so you can use them without clearing a record. Each card shows the verdict; green ones can go into a release.

## Making a break fit

Set your project to the break's tempo, or time-stretch it with a beat-slicing mode to keep the transients sharp. Jungle producers speed breaks up to 160 to 175 BPM; hip hop slows them to 85 to 95. Layer a modern kick and snare under the break for weight, and high-pass the break itself so the low end stays clean.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [sold break - 8 bars.wav](https://freesound.org/people/TicTacShutUp/sounds/9579) | `openverse:270cb14d-d300-4420-8a11-62583c81b5db` | Breakbeat, 23 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [But is to break in tyap](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:But_is_to_break_in_tyap.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:But_is_to_break_in_tyap.ogg` | Breakbeat, One-shot, 1.9 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [break pumpkin](https://opengameart.org/content/break-pumpkin) | `opengameart:break-pumpkin` | Breakbeat | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [130 bpm Drum Loop (break beat)](https://orangefreesounds.com/130-bpm-drum-loop-break-beat/) | `orangefreesounds:5161` | Breakbeat, Loop, 130 BPM, 3.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Night Break (ISRC USUAN1100380)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Night_Break_(ISRC_USUAN1100380).mp3) | `wikimediacommons:Night_Break_(ISRC_USUAN1100380).mp3` | Breakbeat, 2:12 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Barrel Break 1.wav](https://freesound.org/people/kevinkace/sounds/66769) | `openverse:5e55eeef-497b-41c3-ab38-6b8599af6b44` | Breakbeat, One-shot, 1.5 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Final Boss [Break beat music]](https://opengameart.org/content/final-boss-break-beat-music) | `opengameart:final-boss-break-beat-music` | Breakbeat | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Drum Break](https://orangefreesounds.com/drum-break/) | `orangefreesounds:5041` | Breakbeat, Loop, 1.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Charlie Patton - Shake It and Break It](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charlie_Patton_-_Shake_It_and_Break_It.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Charlie_Patton_-_Shake_It_and_Break_It.ogg` | Breakbeat, 3:05 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Crate Break 2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/kevinkace/sounds/66778) | `openverse:f4ac9b82-9d67-446d-ab58-7b41f97a8687` | Breakbeat, One-shot, 1.2 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Neck Breaking](https://soundbible.com/404-Neck-Breaking.html) | `soundbible:404-Neck-Breaking` | Breakbeat | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Sledgehammer - using to break a block of concrete.](https://opengameart.org/content/sledgehammer-using-to-break-a-block-of-concrete) | `opengameart:sledgehammer-using-to-break-a-block-of-concrete` | Breakbeat | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Amen Break](https://orangefreesounds.com/amen-break/) | `orangefreesounds:4643` | Breakbeat, Loop, 136 BPM, 6.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Break Beat Meets 909 (Antti Luode)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Break_Beat_Meets_909_(Antti_Luode).mp3) | `wikimediacommons:Break_Beat_Meets_909_(Antti_Luode).mp3` | Breakbeat, 3:51 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Amen Break B (160 BPM)](https://freesound.org/people/Kevcio/sounds/263869) | `openverse:78be4c6e-63f1-42a1-8901-21e1680a6a6e` | Breakbeat, Loop, 160 BPM, 6.0 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Let us break bread together - Cor Godre'r Aran](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Let_us_break_bread_together_-_Cor_Godre%27r_Aran.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Let_us_break_bread_together_-_Cor_Godre'r_Aran.ogg` | Breakbeat, 30 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Backing Up](https://soundbible.com/675-Backing-Up.html) | `soundbible:675-Backing-Up` | Breakbeat | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Steve Combs - 02 - As You Break in Two](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Combs_-_02_-_As_You_Break_in_Two.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Steve_Combs_-_02_-_As_You_Break_in_Two.ogg` | Breakbeat, 2:17 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [High-Energy Breakbeat Drum Loop – 140 BPM Modern Jungle Rhythm](https://orangefreesounds.com/high-energy-breakbeat-drum-loop-140-bpm-modern-jungle-rhythm/) | `orangefreesounds:55125` | Breakbeat, Loop, 140 BPM, 7.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Amen Break D (200 BPM)](https://freesound.org/people/Kevcio/sounds/263871) | `openverse:870d3ce3-cce5-428c-8472-43247d65d22d` | Breakbeat, Loop, 200 BPM, 4.8 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Cyber crime break](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyber_crime_break.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Cyber_crime_break.ogg` | Breakbeat, One-shot, 1.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Funky Breakbeat Loop 102 bpm](https://orangefreesounds.com/funky-breakbeat-loop-102-bpm/) | `orangefreesounds:44628` | Breakbeat, Loop, 102 BPM, 9.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [TWIP - 2008-03-02 Oded Na'aman of 'Break the Silence'.vorb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TWIP_-_2008-03-02_Oded_Na%27aman_of_%27Break_the_Silence%27.vorb.oga) | `wikimediacommons:TWIP_-_2008-03-02_Oded_Na'aman_of_'Break_the_Silence'.vorb.oga` | Breakbeat, 42:28 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Breakbeat Drum Loop 116 bpm](https://orangefreesounds.com/breakbeat-drum-loop-116-bpm/) | `orangefreesounds:35764` | Breakbeat, Loop, 116 BPM, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Handel - Messiah, Part 2 (Scherchen) - 42. Let us break their bonds asunder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handel_-_Messiah,_Part_2_(Scherchen)_-_42._Let_us_break_their_bonds_asunder.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Handel_-_Messiah,_Part_2_(Scherchen)_-_42._Let_us_break_their_bonds_asunder.ogg` | Breakbeat, 1:51 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Breakbeat Loop 108 bpm](https://orangefreesounds.com/breakbeat-loop-108-bpm/) | `orangefreesounds:7422` | Breakbeat, Loop, 108 BPM, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [JBF Plywood Breaking 2.aif](https://freesound.org/people/cmusounddesign/sounds/96167) | `openverse:b227e978-65aa-4fca-a222-515ab5531d1f` | Breakbeat, One-shot, 1.5 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Handel - Messiah, Part 2 (Scherchen) - 44. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handel_-_Messiah,_Part_2_(Scherchen)_-_44._Thou_shalt_break_them_with_a_rod_of_iron.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Handel_-_Messiah,_Part_2_(Scherchen)_-_44._Thou_shalt_break_them_with_a_rod_of_iron.ogg` | Breakbeat, 2:07 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Warm Groovy 109 BPM Funk Loop](https://orangefreesounds.com/warm-groovy-109-bpm-funk-loop/) | `orangefreesounds:57353` | Breakbeat, Loop, 109 BPM, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Rory breaks](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rory_breaks.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Rory_breaks.wav` | Breakbeat, 23 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Bones breaking](https://freesound.org/people/VlatkoBlazek/sounds/189736) | `openverse:33239df6-c9d4-4b2d-a00c-66a2b92ee2e9` | Breakbeat, 5.5 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Breakbeat Loop](https://orangefreesounds.com/breakbeat-loop/) | `orangefreesounds:5353` | Breakbeat, Loop, 122 BPM, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Bauchamp - 160 friki break](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bauchamp_-_160_friki_break.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Bauchamp_-_160_friki_break.ogg` | Breakbeat, 14 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Breakbeat Drum Loop 133 bpm](https://orangefreesounds.com/breakbeat-drum-loop-133-bpm/) | `orangefreesounds:5578` | Breakbeat, Loop, 133 BPM, 7.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Ellennerv - 61 - Twist it till it Breaks](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ellennerv_-_61_-_Twist_it_till_it_Breaks.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Ellennerv_-_61_-_Twist_it_till_it_Breaks.ogg` | Breakbeat, 12 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Breaking bones.wav](https://freesound.org/people/ScouseMouseJB/sounds/333910) | `openverse:5408569b-6fb7-45fe-8e57-0f55981a5b8d` | Breakbeat, 5.4 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |

## Questions

**Are famous breaks like the Amen break free to use?**

No. Breaks lifted from old records are still covered by the copyright of those recordings, however often they have been sampled. The breaks here are recorded by people who license them openly, which is the safe way to get that sound. Check each verdict.

**How do I chop a break?**

Slice it at each drum hit (most samplers do this automatically by transient), map the slices to pads or keys, then replay them in a new order. Jungle and drum and bass are built on rearranged, re-pitched breaks.

## Related collections

- [Free drum loops](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-drum-loops.md): Free drum loops for hip hop, house, trap, rock and lo-fi, with tempo where known and a licence verdict on each, ready to drop into a project at the right BPM.
- [Free kick samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-kick-samples.md): Free kick drum samples for any genre, from punchy acoustic kicks to drum machine thumps, each with a preview and a verdict on commercial use.
- [Free snare samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-snare-samples.md): Free snare drum samples, from tight acoustic snares and rimshots to crunchy drum machine hits, with a playable preview and a licence verdict on each.
- [Free vinyl crackle samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-vinyl-crackle.md): Free vinyl crackle, record noise and tape hiss samples for lo-fi beats and warm, worn mixes, as loops and long takes, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free clap samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-clap-samples.md): Free hand clap and snap samples, from stacked crowd claps to tight drum machine claps, ready to layer with snares, each with a licence verdict and preview.
- [Free crash cymbal samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-crash-cymbal-samples.md): Free crash cymbal one-shots, from short trashy splashes to long cinematic crashes, to mark the start of a section, each with a preview and licence verdict.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats