Arrangement Tutorials
3 Ways To Start A Track
If you’ve got an ear for music and a desire to create, you might be looking for the best way to start a track. Whether you want to create an electronic, hip hop, or pop production, there are some important steps you need to follow. Here are three ways to help you get started on the right track.
1. Collect Inspiration & Ideas – As a music producer, it’s crucial that you have a well of ideas to draw from. When you begin a new track, take some time to find inspiration. You can find inspiration in almost anything – other music, paintings, movies, etc. Keep a digital collection of your favorite music, art, and quotes so you can easily refer back to them when you need to. Once you’ve got a few ideas that strike your fancy, you can begin to construct a track around them.
2. Set Up Your Workstation –Before you get started, it’s important you have an organized workstation. Your workstation should include two primary items: a PC/Mac running music production software and a MIDI controller or an audio interface. You also want to make sure your system is optimized for audio. Upgrade your OS, update your drivers, use audio cables with low latency, and upgrade your RAM if needed.
3. Track Out the Beat – Generally, you want to start a track from the ground up. Lay down the beat with drums, percussion, and bass before adding other tracks like keys, synths, and vocals. If you only have a few ideas at first, don’t worry. Expand your track by adding layers and creating transitions in between sections. When you hear a catchy phrase or phrase, repeat it and build on it.
By following these three steps, you’ll be able to get off to a great start when it comes to creating your own tracks. Make sure you take the time to collect plenty of ideas, set up your workstation, and track out the beat when you start a new production. Most importantly, have fun – songwriting and producing should be a gratifying experience.