Music production does not have to be an art set aside for those with large studios and expensive equipment. You're already halfway there if you’re passionate about recording and mixing music! Whether you’re between soundproofed walls or just in the comfort of your own home, mastering tracks is now more accessible than ever, and these 27 tips below can help you get started.
1) Expand your horizons
While you may categorize your music within various genres, looking to sounds outside your sphere can be immensely beneficial. Branching out musically will give your tracks a distinctive edge that can resonate with listeners outside your niche, widening your reach. Dave Grohl, current Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer, discussed how traditional disco drumbeats inspired the rhythm section for Nirvana's 1991 smash-hit, Smells Like Teen Spirit. Although it may take some digging across genres and generations to find sounds that strike you, the inspiration and knowledge gained from doing so are vital for creating new music.
2) Make your own sounds
Are the presets on your software sounding old and out-of-touch with your current sonic atmosphere? Record your own sounds specific to the world you're creating with your music. Having unique sounds can help you stand out in your genre and open limitless possibilities for making new music in the future. Consider using found sounds, which are sounds you don't create by singing or playing on an instrument but rather those that already exist, such as the blowing wind or birdsong.
3) Learn music theory basics
Music theory is a hotly debated topic in the world of production. While there's no doubt about the power of being able to "feel out" what sounds good with no regard for musical scales or modes, they can certainly give you an edge in the studio. Learning basic concepts can help you understand why certain sounds go together, diversifying the musical toolkit you draw upon when creating your mixes. With countless courses available online about music theory for beginners, it’s now easier than ever to get started.
4) Find your "why"
Although making a prosperous career out of music production involves a stable salary, your time in the studio shouldn't be money motivated. Ask yourself what kind of music you want to create and why you want to make it. Try to pick up new skills every time you're in the studio and pass them on to fellow producers to create a community that lifts each other up. It will show in your music if you're only making songs to fulfill a contract. On the other hand, genuinely wanting to create music because you enjoy it will ultimately result in more captivating music that communicates your love for the craft.
5) Try new approaches
Falling into the trap of chasing a "signature sound" often makes songs sound repetitive and tired. Don't be afraid to switch things up and try different chord progressions or time signatures to keep your music interesting. For instance, on Soundgarden’s 1991 album, Badmotorfinger, every song features an alternate tuning for the band’s guitars, with the song Mind Riot even having every guitar string tuned to E. While you may feel like you're taking a big jump by trying something new, every track you make is filtered through your creative lens. No matter what you produce, listeners can pick up on specific elements that make a song your own as they’re the sounds you’re instinctively drawn to. It's infinitely better to get experimental than to make the same track twice.
6) Don't be defined by genres
Genre labels may be helpful when digging through a bin at a record store, but they shouldn't dictate how you make music. Countless bands have even succeeded in mixing genres, bestowing upon them their signature sound. From Rage Against the Machine combining rap and metal to the Red Hot Chili Peppers marrying punk and funk, the lines dividing music categories are becoming increasingly blurred, so take that as an opportunity to get more experimental with your music.
7) Work with others
As you're just getting started in the music industry, know-how from seasoned professionals is invaluable. Whether you're brainstorming ideas you wouldn't have thought of alone or learning how to turn mere concepts into real audio, having an extra creative in the studio is extremely helpful. Not only will the quality of your music benefit, but you'll also learn tips that will increase your mixing efficiency. Not yet part of a production community? Don't be afraid to reach out on social media to build connections.
8) Reel it back
When putting together your final product, keep the best tracks on your final record and only the best sounds in your tracks. If you're a guitar player, for example, it can be tempting to have a record full of 12-minute songs full of solos through different pedals. Still, it's also important to recognize that your listeners' attention spans aren't infinite, and you need to make the most out of the time you have on your record to showcase your best work. This can be difficult to do at first as your repertoire is limited, but as you build your catalogue, it gets easier to decipher what tracks are worth releasing to the public.
9) Set up correctly
Buying recording equipment is only half the battle; ensuring it’s put together and placed optimally is a whole other deal. Make sure you consult the manual to ensure the hardware is in order, then play around with the acoustics of your studio to find the sweet spot where your speakers and mics should go. The specific advice when setting up speakers is to position them as far away from the walls as possible while maintaining equal distance between them and where you'll be listening. Think of creating an equilateral triangle between yourself and your speakers to ensure an optimal listening experience.
10) resist repetition
It can be tempting to listen to your old tracks right before a studio session, but doing so may send you down a hole of self-doubt. Many artists start to revel in nostalgia and subconsciously imitate their old songs, making their music sound repetitive. While there's nothing wrong with having a consistent sound as an artist, you don't want your tracks to sound tired and overdone.
11) Know when to stOP
Being in the producer's chair opens your ears to every tiny mistake in your music. The true test of a producer is knowing when to stop editing and wrap up the song or mix you're working on. Whether stopping and sending it to the "finished" pile or just stepping back and scrapping it altogether, knowing when to stop working on a track will save you valuable studio time, allowing you to tend to your other projects.
12) Use what you've got
Buying all the newest gear to keep your music sounding up-to-date and fresh is tempting, but learning to use what you have can be highly gratifying and valuable in its own right. Instead of buying another app that you may only gain a surface-level understanding of before buying the next, aim to gain a deeper understanding of the software you already have. Learning to use all that your equipment offers can inspire you to take new turns with your mixes and produce interesting sounds with previously hidden features.
13) Revisit your first mixes
Frequently, the first ideas you think up are the best. After countless hours laboring over a single track, trying everything to get it perfect, the final product is usually found in the first mix. Typically, the first mixes are the most effective at capturing the original message or sound you wanted to convey, with other versions usually just containing filler.
14) Balance originality and presets
Holding yourself to the standard of creating music that's 100% original can put immense pressure on your shoulders, thereby fostering inactivity. While you should strive to create sounds that are unique to you, it's not cheating to use the preset functions offered by your software. By allowing yourself to tap into the provided sounds, you can focus on the bigger picture of overall sound without getting caught up in details like the equalization of individual sounds, which can hinder your productivity in a creative rut.
15) Record first, think later
The "all eyes on me" feeling can be pretty nerve-wracking when stepping in front of a microphone to record. Capture some laid-back magic in the studio before formally stepping into the booth by recording as soon as you enter. This way, you can document any jams or unscripted moments that occur when getting settled in that can blossom into something great down the line.
16) Set goals
Breaking into the music industry is no easy task. What can help, however, is setting goals and breaking them down into tasks you can complete daily. This way, you can track your progress in the studio and re-evaluate your plans to ensure they're still achievable and relevant.
17) Don't rush
There are countless interviews where artists share how they wrote the lyrics to one of their hit songs on a napkin in under 30 minutes. For some people, this can work, but understanding a track's full potential can take time and should not be rushed. Don't be afraid to take time experimenting with different sounds, re-arranging verses, or just packing a track away to deal with another time. It's better to take time on a track you're proud of than to release a song to meet a deadline.
18) Know your listeners
You shouldn't limit your music strictly to what you think your listeners will enjoy. Still, it can be helpful to imagine whom you want to be listening to your music. if you are making music to be played in specific venues such as restaurants or cafes, for example, you'll want to choose more ambient, passive sounds as opposed to tracks intended for targeted demographics. Another helpful cue when making music is to imagine the type of songs you wish you had heard growing up. You can then tap into your past and present influences to make music that a vast audience can enjoy.
19) Be consistent
Relying on motivation to get in the studio will only get you so far, but being consistent with a schedule Is when you're going to notice an improvement in your work. Documenting what you've done every time you get to work will help you see how far you've come in making your tracks. You can also note what you wish to complete before getting started to hold you accountable and ensure you're not wasting time in the studio.
20) Limit distractions
Getting inspired is one thing, but constantly getting off-track from your responsibilities is a waste of time. Narrow your focus on what you want to have completed every time you sit down to work. This way, you're less tempted to go off doing other unproductive tasks, leaving you unsure of what you got completed for the day. Countless apps are available that help limit distractions to ensure you are the most productive you can be.
21) Learn software techniques
You can be a skilled musician, but your tracks may not be worth listening to if you don't know how to use your production software to communicate that. Get familiar with all your production software has to offer, even functions you may not think apply to you. With a vast array of knowledge, you can successfully record your current tracks and possibly inspire new ones with ideas of how you can practice specific techniques.
22) Stay inspired
While you shouldn't wait for inspiration to strike to get started recording tracks, surrounding yourself with things that spark creativity is an easy way to stay inspired. You can check out what other music producers are working on, listen to new genres of music, or even look at things like films or video games to step out of the typical music bubble, all while still being introduced to new ideas you can apply to your work.
23) Have a vision
To have a successful music production experience, you should be clear about what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it. That's not to say that you should follow one concrete plan without room for evolution; rather, the opposite. An idea of how your work will turn out invites creativity as you can brainstorm various methods to get there and tweak your final product.
24) Create a Designated workspace
Having a specific area where you can walk in and know it's time to work can be highly beneficial as a music producer. Complete with all the necessary equipment, this space should be somewhere you can go when you either have a set idea ready to record or are just trying to get some concepts down for an upcoming track. By no means do you have to have a professional recording studio; what a home studio can do now is what someone 30 years ago would have needed a team of experts to do.
25) Enjoy the process
Music production is a true test of creativity, dedication, patience, and consistency. While it can be a grueling process with sleepless nights and creative blocks, make sure you're enjoying the time you spend producing music. You have the opportunity to contribute to the ever-changing music industry with tracks that express who you are both as an artist and individual. It's no easy feat, but it's rewarding to look back and see how your sonic atmosphere has developed into a reflection of you which is then communicated to your listeners
26) Accept feedback and critiques
Putting out tracks is scary; there's no doubt about it. As such, it can be hard to hear anything other than praise when letting others listen to your mixes. It is crucial, however, to remain open to critiques as they usually come from a place of care and others wanting to see you improve. Learning to accept when your music may be lacking can only help you grow as an artist and will enhance your music drastically.
27) Finish your tracks
Seeing a track through from start to finish is a valuable learning experience. In front of your eyes, you can see how a concept can go through various changes and overcome challenges yet still communicate an original idea or message. You also improve your workflow and build confidence by familiarizing yourself with finishing up a track and increasing your catalogue.
CONCLUSION
We hope these 27 tips clear some of the fog around music production, regardless of whether you're a beginner starting out or a pro looking for some extra information. Learning your software, staying consistent, and communicating your love for the craft are all essential when getting into producing music and setting yourself apart in the crowd. Happy producing!
Written by Midhat Mujaddid
Will you be trying any of these music production tips? Do you know a producer who you could share them with? We'd love to hear in the comments below!
-
If you’re wanting to learn more about music production and business, we are developing a course called Producer Launch that will take you from beginner, all the way to knowing how to become a successful producer for a living!
Sign up here to be notified when it launches for an exclusive 50% off!
