# Free kick samples

> 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.

36 samples from 5 sources (Openverse 14, SoundBible 7, Wikimedia Commons 6, Strudel sample banks 5, OpenGameArt 4), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=kick&category=drums.kick&form=one-shot
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=kick&category=drums.kick&form=one-shot"`
- 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

## Picking a kick

Start with the genre. House and techno want a tight kick with a clear attack that cuts through a busy mix at 120 to 130 BPM. Hip hop and lo-fi lean on rounder, dustier kicks, often sampled from records or old machines. Trap usually pairs a short, clicky kick with a long 808 underneath, so the kick itself only needs to carry the attack.

Audition kicks in context rather than solo: a kick that sounds huge alone can disappear under a bassline. Listen for the pitch of the body too. A kick tuned near the root of your track sits better than one that fights it.

## Layering

Many producers stack two kicks: one for the click at the top and one for the low thump. High-pass the click layer, low-pass the body, and line up the start points so they hit together. Check that both layers are cleared for your release before you commit.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [soccer kick 02.wav](https://freesound.org/people/volivieri/sounds/37157) | `openverse:58196449-5a6e-4918-a8b2-3d192f81fdc4` | Kick, One-shot, 1.1 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Sweep Kick](https://soundbible.com/998-Sweep-Kick.html) | `soundbible:998-Sweep-Kick` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [good kick in the head sound.aif](https://freesound.org/people/mwl500/sounds/54807) | `openverse:e229fbff-a97c-422e-850f-b2ace7cdafb8` | Kick, One-shot, 1.2 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Punch, slap, n' kick](https://opengameart.org/content/punch-slap-n-kick) | `opengameart:punch-slap-n-kick` | Kick | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Kick J.Zealous Hard Club.aif](https://freesound.org/people/J_Zealous/sounds/331589) | `openverse:755251e1-6e09-47b3-9bcd-c49f1484a98a` | Kick, One-shot, 2.2 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Kick](https://soundbible.com/996-Kick.html) | `soundbible:996-Kick` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Kick their ass](https://opengameart.org/content/kick-their-ass) | `opengameart:kick-their-ass` | Kick | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Roundhouse Kick](https://soundbible.com/1000-Roundhouse-Kick.html) | `soundbible:1000-Roundhouse-Kick` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Timelessness (the version without the kick)](https://opengameart.org/content/timelessness-the-version-without-the-kick) | `opengameart:timelessness-the-version-without-the-kick` | Kick | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Spin Kick](https://soundbible.com/997-Spin-Kick.html) | `soundbible:997-Spin-Kick` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Minimal/Deep house kick](https://freesound.org/people/DWSD/sounds/147994) | `openverse:97982e5c-c519-4151-98ef-c717b15e7b75` | Kick, One-shot, 0.26 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Kick their ass and Curse of the Moon (Zhelanov vs Vitalezzz)](https://opengameart.org/content/kick-their-ass-and-curse-of-the-moon-zhelanov-vs-vitalezzz) | `opengameart:kick-their-ass-and-curse-of-the-moon-zhelanov-vs-vitalezzz` | Kick | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Deep Kick Cinematic.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/90672) | `openverse:6d032dac-1141-41da-b908-da3968fc72ac` | Kick, One-shot, 1.4 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Kick 4.wav](https://freesound.org/people/VEXST/sounds/26888) | `openverse:f5dd8dad-6142-46d8-9aea-9969f07edae1` | Kick, One-shot, 0.44 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Automatic Machine Gun 3x](https://soundbible.com/1201-Automatic-Machine-Gun-3x.html) | `soundbible:1201-Automatic-Machine-Gun-3x` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [mhak Kick 61 E](https://freesound.org/people/triangelx/sounds/189174) | `openverse:a11a0369-726a-440c-8fb7-4d52f8da85a9` | Kick, One-shot, 0.41 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Spin Jump](https://soundbible.com/1898-Spin-Jump.html) | `soundbible:1898-Spin-Jump` | Kick | SoundBible | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Mein Kick 1.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Pder/sounds/106290) | `openverse:049590ee-3e5e-46bf-a8d1-6d23dd9495af` | Kick, One-shot, 0.48 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Automatic Machine Gun](https://soundbible.com/1162-Automatic-Machine-Gun.html) | `soundbible:1162-Automatic-Machine-Gun` | Kick | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [[Kick] Punchy Trance Kick 4](https://freesound.org/people/waveplaySFX/sounds/344757) | `openverse:4eeac541-898f-43cc-bb0a-8478683a82bb` | Kick, One-shot, 0.36 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [kick HipHop 1.wav](https://freesound.org/people/kaonaya/sounds/131336) | `openverse:4e532d2c-d5ea-448b-a47c-f990db0444c1` | Kick, One-shot, 0.3 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Deep Kick + Tension](https://freesound.org/people/bryanbulmer/sounds/255885) | `openverse:01e07e5b-2fc7-4130-8273-be85b3e98a6f` | Kick, 16 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Kick 23 - Minimal.wav](https://freesound.org/people/ZeSoundResearchInc./sounds/117491) | `openverse:bccee1b3-0621-4715-8a63-a7c859b001c8` | Kick, One-shot, 0.31 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [kick-bass-drum.wav](https://freesound.org/people/almela/sounds/250547) | `openverse:171b48d3-01a8-4aed-938c-ca9dbd8940eb` | Kick, One-shot, 0.16 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Simple Kick Drum](https://freesound.org/people/IanStarGem/sounds/274775) | `openverse:8872a7ea-b117-44b5-b9aa-df6b3fababaa` | Kick, One-shot, 0.44 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Phonk Kick (1) Sample](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Kick_(1)_Sample.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Kick_(1)_Sample.wav` | Kick, One-shot, 1.1 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Dough Samples · kick · 0](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Samples/blob/main/kick/kickkk8.wav) | `strudel:dough-samples/kick/0` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | GPL-3.0 (repository licence) | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Bauchamp - 128 kick pump](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bauchamp_-_128_kick_pump.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Bauchamp_-_128_kick_pump.ogg` | Kick, One-shot, 3.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Dough Samples · kick · 1](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Samples/blob/main/kick/kick%203-1.wav) | `strudel:dough-samples/kick/1` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | GPL-3.0 (repository licence) | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Kick 2 (Gravity Sound)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kick_2_(Gravity_Sound).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Kick_2_(Gravity_Sound).wav` | Kick, One-shot, 0.67 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dough Samples · kick · 2](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Samples/blob/main/kick/kick3-1.wav) | `strudel:dough-samples/kick/2` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | GPL-3.0 (repository licence) | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Kick (Gravity Sound)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kick_(Gravity_Sound).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Kick_(Gravity_Sound).wav` | Kick, 14 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dough Samples · kick · 3](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Samples/blob/main/kick/kickkk3-1.wav) | `strudel:dough-samples/kick/3` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | GPL-3.0 (repository licence) | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Kick 9 (Gravity Sound)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kick_9_(Gravity_Sound).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Kick_9_(Gravity_Sound).wav` | Kick, One-shot, 0.47 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dough Samples · kick · 4](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Samples/blob/main/kick/kick%205.wav) | `strudel:dough-samples/kick/4` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | GPL-3.0 (repository licence) | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Kick it (Antti Luode)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kick_it_(Antti_Luode).mp3) | `wikimediacommons:Kick_it_(Antti_Luode).mp3` | Kick, 2:26 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |

## Questions

**What makes a kick sample punchy?**

A short, loud transient (the click of the beater) followed by a body that drops away quickly. Kicks with long tails sound bigger on their own but can blur into the bass, so try a short one first when your low end gets crowded.

**Can I use these kicks in a released track?**

Every card shows a verdict. Green ones are fine for a release (some need a credit line, which the detail view gives you). Amber ones need a look at the licence first, and red ones are for non-commercial use only.

**Why do some kicks come from drum machines?**

Classic machines such as the 808 and 909 defined the kick sound of whole genres. Their one-shots are widely shared in sample banks, and they layer well with an acoustic kick for weight.

## Related collections

- [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 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 hi-hat samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-hi-hat-samples.md): Free closed and open hi-hat samples for programming grooves, from crisp drum machine hats to acoustic cymbals, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free 808 samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-808-samples.md): Free 808 bass samples for trap, drill and hip hop, from clean sub booms to distorted glides, with key, length and a commercial-use verdict for each.
- [Free breakbeats and drum breaks](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats.md): 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.
- [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-kick-samples