Embarking on the journey to create Electronic Dance Music (EDM) can be one of the most exhilarating experiences for an aspiring musician. With EDM’s soaring popularity, there’s never been a better time to learn how to start making EDM music. Here’s a guide to get you moving to the beat of your own synthesizer.
Part 1. What is EDM Music?
EDM music, or Electronic Dance Music, is a broad term that encompasses a range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. It’s characterized by its focus on dance rhythms and beats, often created using synthesizers, drum machines, and computer software.
The genre is known for its ability to bring people together on the dance floor through its energetic and often uplifting sound. EDM has multiple subgenres, such as house, techno, trance, and dubstep, each with its unique style and loyal fan base. It’s a genre that not only dominates club scenes but also frequently charts in mainstream music, reflecting its widespread appeal and adaptability.
Read more: An In-depth Guide on How to Make Electronic Music
Part 2. A Step-by-step Guide about How to Start Making EDM Music
1. What Do You Need Before Producing EDM Music
To get started with EDM production, you’ll require a digital audio workstation (DAW), some synthesizer plugins, a collection of quality samples, and basic mixing tools. DAWs such as Logic, FL Studio, and Ableton Live are excellent choices that offer intuitive workflows ideal for this style of music.
If you’re not adept at playing the keyboard, inputting notes directly into your DAW’s MIDI editor will be a crucial part of your process, so familiarize yourself with its functions.
2. How to Create EDM Music in 9 Steps
Making EDM music can seem daunting, but breaking it down into simpler steps can help. Here’s a streamlined approach:
Step 1. Drum Beat Basics
EDM’s heartbeat is in its drumbeats. They’re typically straightforward, featuring a powerful four-on-the-floor kick pattern. Snare hits complement the kicks, ramping up energy pre-drop. In dubstep, you might find a slowed-down, half-time beat. Hats and cymbals are used sparingly, adding tension before a drop. Focus on selecting impactful drum samples to create a solid foundation.
Step 2. Bassline Building
The bassline is key in EDM. It not only drives the track’s energy but often dictates the chord progression. Start with the root note of your chords and experiment with additional tones and rhythms. If you’re not playing an instrument, use your DAW to punch in notes, looping every 16 bars for consistency.
Step 3. Chord Creation
With a bassline in place, you can layer chords over it. Use your DAW’s MIDI roll to experiment with different chord structures until you find the progression that fits your track’s vibe.
Step 4. Melodic Magic
Melody creation can be complex, but don’t be discouraged. Start with basic scales and use tools like voice memos to capture spontaneous ideas. Then, transfer these into your DAW, adjusting them to fit with your bass and chords.
Step 5. Dynamic Arrangement
Structure your song with an intro that builds into a full, energetic A section, leading up to a drop. After the drop, bring in a full, danceable beat, varying the melody as you go. A common structure might be: intro — A section — build-up — drop — B section — build-up — drop — C section — outro.
Step 6. Synth Layering
Now it’s time for the fun part — synths! Start with a lead synth preset that complements your melody. Layering different synths can add depth and interest to your track.
Step 7. Polyphonic Synths for Chords
For rich-sounding chords, look for a polyphonic synth that can handle multiple notes at once. Use this to play your chord progression, adding texture and body to your track.
Step 8. Sound Design Exploration
While the music theory for EDM might be simpler than other genres, sound design is where you can really shine. Play around with different synthesis types, waveforms, and modulation to create unique sounds.
Step 9. Leveraging Loops and Plugins
Don’t shy away from using loops, samples, MIDI files, and plugins — many EDM tracks are built on these resources. They can provide inspiration and jumpstart your track.
Once you’ve got the basics down, celebrate your progress and then focus on mixing and mastering to polish your track. Remember, there’s no set rule on where to start; what matters is finding what inspires you and building from there.
EDM is about community. Network with other producers, collaborate on tracks, and get feedback. Platforms like SoundCloud are great for connecting and sharing your music.
Once you’re ready, share your tracks with the world. Upload them to streaming platforms, share on social media, and maybe even create a YouTube channel to showcase your music and production process. And never stop learning and experimenting. Attend workshops, watch tutorials from established EDM artists, and stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies.
Part 3. How to Make EDM Music for All Beginners & Producers
Diving into the creation of electronic dance music (EDM) can seem formidable to those just beginning their musical expedition. Enter Mubert, the pioneering AI music generator that’s democratizing the realm of electronic music production. Mubert is your gateway to how to start making EDM music with ease and ingenuity. With a few clicks, it empowers anyone, irrespective of their musical training or background, to generate electronic music tracks that resonate with professional flair.
Key Features:
User-Friendly Interface: Mubert boasts an intuitive interface that makes it easy for beginners to navigate and create music.
AI-Powered Customization: The AI suggests beats, sounds, and melodies based on your preferences, ensuring each track is personalized.
Instant Music Generation: With quick prompts and selections, Mubert creates music in real-time, eliminating the need for extensive music theory knowledge.
Royalty-Free Creation: Tracks produced with Mubert are free to share and use, perfect for content creators and budding artists. Read more: Best 5 Easy Ways to Create AI Royalty Free Music
Steps to Create EDM Music with Mubert:
Step 1: Head over to the Mubert website and sign up. Acquaint yourself with the layout and possibilities that Mubert presents.
Step 2: Choose ‘Generate Your Track’ and enter descriptors like ‘upbeat EDM’ to tailor the sound to your taste. Define the track’s length and let Mubert’s AI weave the audio tapestry by click ‘Generate track’.
Step 3: After Mubert renders your track, it’s time to immerse in your creation. Share your royalty-free EDM masterpiece across platforms and revel in your newfound ability to produce music.
Part 4. 5 Effective Tips about How to Produce EDM Music
Producing an EDM track is an exciting and creative process. Here’s an guide with 5 tips to help you craft that electrifying sound:
1. Craft a Classic EDM Beat: Start with the basics of EDM — a tempo around 126–130 BPM with a steady kick drum on the quarter notes, snares complementing the kick, and hi-hats or other percussions to add flavor. Keep your beats straightforward to allow a wide audience to sync with the rhythm easily.
2. Utilize DAW Composition Tools: Even if you have piano skills or music theory knowledge, plotting notes onto your DAW’s piano roll can offer a fresh outlook on composition. Focus on creating intriguing note combinations without being distracted by instrument choices or track rhythm at first.
3. Design Your Own Synth Sounds: Stand out by crafting unique synth sounds rather than relying on presets. Understanding synthesis basics will empower you to modify and invent patches that are truly your own. Start with a simple synthesizer and experiment away — the time invested in creating a personal sound palette is invaluable.
4. Master Envelope Filters: Essential to EDM, envelope filters manage how a sound evolves from its beginning to end. Play with attack, decay, and release settings — these will control the intensity and duration of your sounds, allowing you to shape your music’s dynamics finely.
5. Optimize the Frequency Spectrum: Allocate each instrument its own space in the frequency spectrum. Use high-pass filters to eliminate muddiness, or add a sub-bass for impactful depth. Carving out sonic space for each element ensures a clean and powerful mix.
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Conclusion
Learning how to start making EDM music is just the beginning of your musical adventure. With passion, persistence, and practice, you can go from a bedroom producer to an EDM sensation, captivating listeners with every drop and beat. But with the powerful Mubert tool, you can easily and quickly produce any EDM beats or track. So don’t hesitate to try it now!
