Remaking the lead synth from the 2004 song "Yeah! " by Usher can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Yeah! " lead patch and play this iconic sound on most hardware or software subtractive synthesizers (Serum, Vital, Pigments, Prophet, Korg, Moog, etc). We've included the preset download directly for your convenience, but we strongly recommend you use our programming tutorial to recreate it yourself.
Original Audio
Usher’s 2004 hit “Yeah!” features a prominent lead synthesizer riff that opens the track, characterized by its repetitive and energetic melody. This sound is crafted using detuned sawtooth waves with a pitch envelope applied at the start of each note, contributing to its distinctive tone. The lead synth can be heard immediately at the beginning of the song.
Our Remake of The Lead Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the lead synth from the song "Yeah! " by Usher, giving you a reference point as you design your own synthesizer preset. Play it as often as you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the sound.
Synth Patch Programming Recipe
Remake This Sound Yourself
Learn how to program this synth preset with Syntorial, all by ear. Download the demo and try up to three challenge packs for free.

Getting Started
- Start by initializing your synthesizer to a plain saw with no filter, modulation or effects. For soft synths use the "init"/"default" preset or the the button to reset all parameters to their default factory values.
- No two synths are exactly alike, so treat the values below as approximate, and use your ear.
- Percentage values (e.g. 50%) represent the relative position of a knob or slider within its full range. The full range of each parameter may differ from synth to synth, so use your ear.
Voices
- Voice Mode: Mono
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 10 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 15 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 20 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 20%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: Yes
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 90%
- Resonance: 15%
LFO
- Destination: Pitch
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 56 Cents
- Rate: 1/2 Note
Reverb
- Mix: 30% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Unpacked: Usher ‘Yeah’ – Recreated with Loopcloud
- How we remade the iconic riff in ‘Yeah!’ by Usher from scratch (YouTube)
- Lab 6 – Synth Riff for Usher’s “Yeah” – Pt. 1 Intro & Overview (YouTube)
- Usher’s “Yeah!” | Future Producers Forum Discussion
- The lead in Usher – ‘Yeah’ is made from… | DOA Forum Discussion
Preset Downloads
Don't want to learn synth programming now? Use our synth preset as your starting point and tweak it from there. Register an account with Audible Genius and download the presets for free for the following synths:
- Primer, our free synthesizer VST