A Beginner’s Guide to Making Electronic Dance Music

A beginner’s guide to making electronic dance music. This guide covers the basics of getting started with making EDM.

Introduction

Many people enjoy listening to electronic dance music, but don’t know where to start when it comes to making it themselves. In this guide, we will go over the basics of making EDM. We will cover everything from picking the right software to creating interesting soundscapes. By the end of this guide, you will have all the tools you need to start making your own EDM.

What is electronic dance music?

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, is a broad genre of music that includes everything from House and Techno to Dubstep and Drum & Bass. If you’re new to the world of EDM, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this beginner’s guide to help you get started making your own electronic dance music.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of what you need to get started making EDM. We’ll also give you some tips on how to get the most out of your productions. So whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced producer looking to branch out into new genres, this guide is for you.

What You Will Need

To make electronic dance music, you will need a computer with some basic audio production software. We recommend using a digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, or FL Studio. These are all industry-standard programs that will allow you to create professional-sounding tracks.

In addition to a DAW, you will also need some virtual instruments and plugins. Virtual instruments are software recreations of real-world instruments (e.g., drums, keyboards, guitars). Plugins are similar to virtual instruments but they typically process audio rather than generate it (e.g., delay, reverb, EQ). There are many different plugins and virtual instruments available, so it’s important to do some research and find the ones that are right for you and your style of music.

Getting Started

Now that you have all the necessary equipment, it’s time to start making music! The best way to learn is by actually doing it, so our advice is to just jump in and start creating. If you’re not sure where to begin, we recommend checking out some online tutorials or watching YouTube videos from other producers. Once you have a basic understanding of how your DAW works and how to use virtual instruments and plugins, you can start experimenting with different sounds and creating your own unique tracks.
Finally, don’t forget to have fun! Making electronic dance music should be about exploring your creativity and expressing yourself through sound. So go forth and make some great tunes!

The history of electronic dance music

Dance music has its roots in the late 1960s when DJs began playing recorded music at clubs in Chicago and New York City. These DJs would often play for hours at a time, mixing different tracks together to create a continuous flow of music. This style of DJing quickly caught on, and by the early 1970s, disco clubs were beginning to open up all over the world.

During the 1980s, the development of new technologies such as synthesizers and drum machines allowed for the production of electronic dance music (EDM). This new type of music quickly gained popularity, and by the 1990s, EDM was a mainstream genre. Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

The basics of making electronic dance music

Electronic dance music is a genre of music that is created using electronic instruments. It is often characterized by a fast tempo, repetitive rhythms, and synthesized melodies. If you’re interested in making your own electronic dance music, there are a few things you need to know. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of making electronic dance music.

What you need to get started

In order to make electronic dance music, you will need a computer with a sound card that is capable of playing and recording digital audio. You will also need a software program that can be used to create, edit, and mix your music. Many people use the popular program Ableton Live for this purpose. In addition to these two things, you will also need some basic recording equipment such as microphones, headphones, and speakers.

The different types of electronic dance music

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves and festivals. It is generally produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another.

EDM producers also perform their music live in a concert or festival setting in what is sometimes called a live PA. In Europe and North America, EDM is more commonly called simply “dance music” or “club music”.

The term “electronic dance music” has been used to describe the wide variety of genres that have emerged from the electronic music scene since the 1980s. These genres include but are not limited to: acid house, techno, trance, drum and bass/jungle, hardstyle, dubstep, broke step and trap.

The structure of a typical electronic dance music track

Most electronic dance music tracks have a similar structure. The basis of the track is usually a 4/4 beat, with hi-hats, kick drums and claps on the 2 and 4 beat. A lot of tracks will also have percussion on the 8th and 16th beat. From this basic framework, elements are added to create variation, interest and build up tension.

The first section of the track is usually fairly simple, with just a few elements present. This is known as the ‘verse’ or ‘intro’. The second section is often more complex, with more percussion and additional instrumentation, known as the ‘chorus’ or ‘drop’. The last section of the track typically contains the most important elements of the track, known as the ‘outro’ or ‘breakdown’.

The creative process

Making your own electronic dance music can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you’re making music for yourself or for other people, the creative process is the same. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of how to get started making electronic dance music. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right software to finding the best samples.

Finding your inspiration

It’s important to find your inspiration before beginning the creative process of making music. This can be from other artists in your genre, or from films, books, or any other form of art. Once you have found your inspiration, you can start to experiment with sounds and see what works best for you.

There are no rules when it comes to making music, so feel free to experiment and try new things. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process!

Developing your ideas

The first step in the creative process is to develop your ideas. This can be done by listening to a lot of music, experimenting with sounds, and coming up with ideas for tracks. Once you have some ideas, it’s time to start putting them into a sequence.

One way to do this is to use a music sequencer. This is a piece of software that allows you to arrange and edit your music. You can use a sequencer to create anything from simple loops to complex arrangements.

Another way to develop your ideas is to improvise. This means playing around with sounds and making things up as you go along. This can be a great way to come up with new ideas and come up with new ways of making music.

Once you have some ideas, it’s time to start turning them into finished tracks. This involves adding effects, mixing the track, and exporting it as an audio file.

Arranging your track

The arrangement is the part of the song where you decide which elements are going to be used, and in what order. This can be a tricky process, because you want to make sure that each element fits well with the others, and that the overall song flows smoothly.

A good way to start arranging your track is by laying down a basic drum beat. This will give you a foundation to work with, and will help you to figure out which other elements will work well with it. Once you have the drums in place, you can start adding in other elements, such as basslines, melodies, and chords.

It’s important to keep in mind that Less is often more when it comes to arrangement. You don’t want to overcrowd your track with too many different elements, as this can make it sound cluttered and messy. Instead, focus on using a few key elements that work well together, and build from there.

The production process

There are many different ways to approach making electronic dance music, but in this guide we’ll focus on the production process. This process can be broken down into four main stages: composition, arrangement, mixing, and mastering. In the composition stage, you’ll come up with the melody, harmony, and rhythm of your track. Next, you’ll arrange your composition into a song with a specific structure. In the mixing stage, you’ll mix all of the elements of your track together. Finally, in the mastering stage, you’ll polish your track and prepare it for release.

Getting the sound right

One of the things that characterizes electronic dance music is its repetitiveness. A lot of people perceive this as something negative, but it’s actually one of the key elements that makes this genre so special. When a melody or a bassline is repeated over and over again, it gets stuck in your head and you can’t get it out no matter how hard you try. This is why it’s so important to get the sound right when you’re making electronic dance music.

The first thing you need to do is to find a sound that you like. This can be either a sample or a synth sound. Once you’ve found the sound, you need to tweak it to make it your own. There are literally endless possibilities here, so feel free to experiment. You can change the pitch, the tempo, the EQ, etc. Once you’ve found a sound that you’re happy with, it’s time to start composing your track.

As I mentioned before, one of the key elements in electronic dance music is repetition. The best way to achieve this is by using a looping software such as Ableton Live or FL Studio. Start by creating a four-bar loop and then add more elements on top of that. A common mistake that many people make is that they try to cram too much into their track from the get-go. This will only make your track sound cluttered and confusing. Instead, focus on creating something simple but effective.

Once you have your basic track ready, it’s time to start thinking about arrangement and mixing. Again, less is more here. The main goal is to create something that people can dance to, so don’t get too caught up in creating complex arrangements or mixing multiple tracks together. Keep it simple and let the music do the talking.

Mixing and mastering

After the drums, bassline and chords are recorded, and the vocalist has sung their vocals, it’s time to mix everything together. This is where an artist works with a sound engineer to get all the different elements of a track to sound good together, while also making sure each instrument can be heard clearly.

After the mix is finished, the track is mastered. Mastering is basically like giving the track a final polish before it’s released. This involves adjusting the levels of different frequencies so that everything sounds well balanced, and also adding effects like compression to make the track sound louder and punchier.

Promoting your music

So, you’ve finally completed your first track and you’re ready to show it to the world. Congratulations! The next step is promoting your music and getting it out there for people to hear. There are a few different ways to go about promoting your music, and the method you choose will depend on your goals and budget. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most popular methods for promoting your music.

Getting your music heard

There are a lot of ways to get your music out there, and it can be overwhelming to try and figure out where to start. But don’t worry – we’re here to help.

First things first: make sure your music is finished and ready to be released. It’s important to have a polished product before you start trying to promote it, because first impressions are everything.

Once you’ve got your tracks ready to go, it’s time to start promoting them. There are a few different ways you can do this:

-Uploading your tracks to streaming platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Music
-Submitting your tracks to blogs and online magazines for review
-Sending your tracks to DJs and producers for feedback
-Posting about your tracks on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

No matter which method (or methods) you choose, remember that the most important thing is to be persistent. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get noticed in the music world, but if you keep at it, you’ll eventually get there.

Getting gigs

So, you’ve written some great tunes and you’re ready to take them out into the world and get some gigs. Live performances are a great way to build a following and connect with your fans, but how do you get started?

Here are a few tips:

-Start by playing local venues. Start small, at local bars or clubs that host live music. Get to know the venue owners and staff, and build a relationship with them.
-Submit your music to online directories. There are many websites that list upcoming events and shows, and some of them will also feature music from local artists.
-Play at festivals and other events. Festivals are a great way to reach new audiences, so try to get involved with as many as possible. You can also look for other events that might be interested in featuring live music, such as art openings or charity fundraisers.
-Do your research. When you’re booking gigs, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re playing at venues that are a good fit for your style of music. You don’t want to end up playing somewhere that’s not appropriate for your sound, or where you won’t be able to draw a crowd.

Networking

When it comes to promoting your music, one of the most important things you can do is network with other people in the industry. Getting to know other DJs, producers, and promoters can help you get your foot in the door and open up opportunities for gigs and collaboration.

One way to network is to attend music industry events like conferences, trade shows, and festivals. This can be a great way to meet people in person and make lasting connections. If you can’t make it to any events in person, there are also plenty of online communities where you can connect with others in the industry.

Another important part of networking is staying up-to-date with the latest news and trends. This means following blogs, podcasts, and social media accounts that focus on the electronic dance music industry. By keeping up with what’s going on, you’ll be able to have more meaningful conversations with others in the scene and better understand the opportunities that are out there.