Making drum patterns can at times seem random. Here's a couple techniques - balance and foreshadowing - to help you make your drum pattern decisions.
Balance
Balance is all about finding harmony in all your parts. If you have a song that is generally thin - or not too filled out - you have more room too add in drums. So your drum track is a bit busy but your chords and melodies are not. The two balance out.
It works the other way too.
If your sample, or chords and melodies are busy, perhaps go lighter on the drums. It'll balance out the track.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a slight indication of things to come. It's a common technique used in story telling. And music, you can argue, is a form of storytelling.
One of the ways to do this is before a big fill, throw in a few toms to indicate the tom fill is coming.
If your hook brings in strings, maybe a beat or two before you can throw in a few string stabs.
Nothing much, but just a hint of what is to come.
Full Video
I explain these a bit more in the following video
Rounding Out
These are just a couple techniques you can think about for making your drum patterns. It's not gospel and you can even do the opposite if it works for your track.
It's simple design and creative techniques to think about that may help you make decisions with your drum patterns.
Cole