I often talk about my 5 Keys to a Successful Beat book, which is free, and I want to give a further description of what the book is about, and how to access it.
The actual book title is 5 Keys to a Successful Beat: So Simple, It Becomes Creative.
I say “So Simple, It Becomes Creative” because when you truly look at many different styles of beats, like dance beats and rap beats, you will notice how catchy they are, but when you try to replicate what they did, it’s pretty hard to do!
But, once you start understanding music production a little bit more, you start to listen to music in a different way..
Instead of enjoying music, you start to analyze music. It’s in these times where you start to realize.. “Hey.. that producer didn’t do anything really technical there.. it was simple, and it was so catchy and powerful!!” (Go and listen to some of your favorite beats you heard while growing up, and listen a little closer for what you might hear… if you know what audio painting is all about!)
This is because simplicity in music actually takes a lot of skill.
Go back to your favorite beats, and listen to their melodies… really listen to what is going on. Are they playing lots of big special complex chords, or just simple chords and a little melody going over top?
In hip-hop, these producers are known to have some of the catchiest melody making skills. Seriously.. I want to see you make a mid 90’s-to-early 2000’s rap beat.. I really found them musical with tons of variety and unique styles. It’s what made music so much fun to listen to because you’d go to one artist/producer then when you go to another song by a totally different set of people (artist/producers), it creates a new type of listening environment.. This creates TONS of excitement in a “playlist”.. explained more below..
I am just using these songs as examples.. some may contain explicit content.. viewer listen at your own discretion.. also, sometimes it’s better to listen without watching the music video, as the video can be distracting when listening. I would also listen on your studio speakers or headphones to hear the fine details.
P.S. If you are reading this Avandar, that “Sounds of My Dreams” song is close to that “HANDS-UP” dance genre we were talking about.. I was telling you that even in Dance music, there are MANY genres.. no one producer can truly learn them all. And it’s important that when buying drum samples, like these hip-hop drum samples I offer, that even the sounds should be similar to the genre for you to truly create that genre’s “vibe”..
Let’s say we buy “dance sounds”, but we want to make “HANDS-UP” dance music… These general dance sounds will allow us to make dance music, but it will be really hard to get that same “HANDS-UP” sound without “HANDS-UP” one-shot drum samples, especially in the kick drum as a “HANDS-UP” kick drum has such a unique sound.. (such a solid long hit..)
So that’s why I called this free book (download here).. 5 Keys to a Successful Beat: So Simple it Becomes CREATIVE..
First, it’s knowing the simple things matter, like having the right sounds.
Sure, you can sometimes find some nice free drum kit gems out there, but it’s important you select a good set of sounds soon into making music so you don’t start making good music in a couple months, and realize everything you’ve been working on was with a poor set of tools. There are LOTS of good sounds out there, but you must educate yourself on how to buy drum samples.
But.. if you get bad sounds and plugins at the start, your organization really becomes messy, especially if you had no rhyme to your reason.. (you were just installing anything you could find sounded cool on YouTube and have not created your own custom music folder yet.. what we call “Gear Lust” around here..)
Read to learn more: Choosing the Right Plugins as a Producer
Alright, here’s the table of contents of my free 5 Keys book.
There’s more than just 5 tips in here.. I also included my 7 Core Principles which will set you straight to not fall into bad beatmaking habits. Being a producer takes a lot of discipline, and if you do not like to read, you will have a hard time learning the more technical stuff, but you can do it, you must have patience, and each day gets easier..
Table of Contents:
5 Keys to a Successful Beat: So Simple it Becomes Creative by Riley Weller (GratuiTous).. click to download free.
5 Keys to a Successful Beat: So Simple it Becomes Creative
My 7 Core Principles for Being a Music Producer – Introduction……………………………………………………1
Principle #1: STAY INSIDE YOUR DAW.. and Don’t Come Out!………………………………………………2
Principle #2: Go Directly to the SOURCE for Your Information…………………………………………………3
Principle #3: Your MOUSE is the Easiest Approach (In FL Studio)…………………………………………….4
Principle #4: It’s Only Fair If Volume Is Fair…………………………………………………………………………….5
Principle #5: The Most Enjoyment Is Creating Your Own Music………………………………………………..6
Principle #6: Being Yourself for Long-Term Success…………………………………………………………………7
Principle #7: Your Sounds Must Be High Quality in YOUR Music……………………………………………..8
5 Keys to a Successful Beat – Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..9
Key #1 – Deciding Your Song’s TEMPO!………………………………………………………………………………10
Key #2 – Pick a Key + Scale BEFORE Making the Beat………………………………………………………….11
Key #3 – Wise Sound Selection.. (It Makes Mixing Easier..)…………………………………………………….12
Key #4 – Arrangement is the Difference!………………………………………………………………………………..14
Key #5 – Truthful Listening Environment.. The Walk Around Test……………………………………………15
So before I go, I want to let you know that I only use FL Studio as as my DAW (learn what version to buy), and I highly recommend FabFilter plugins (see what ones I recommend). If you want the best learning experience from me, check out my membership to watch all my FL Studio courses!
But don’t forget about my free 5 Keys Book, you will get special pricing to my membership if you sign-up.
Let me know how I can let you learn FL Studio, I’m an FL Studio trainer. (Contact me here).
Take care, and I hope you enjoy my book!