DJs are all the rage these days, and just about everyone wants to become the next big DJ sensation. Though each DJ is unique, they all share the same quality in that they’re masters of making new and original beats and songs. They make it seem easy, but there’s actually quite a bit that goes into making a great song that most people may not actually realize. In this blog, Dragon Frontboards, the best producers of custom DJ booth facades, will go over the best ways to make original music. So, if you’re a budding DJ or want to know how you could get started in the music production business, this blog is perfect for you. Keep reading to learn how to create original music and get started on being the next worldwide sensation.
1 - Study Music
If you’re a music student, then you have a leg up on most of the competition. But you don’t have to have a degree in music to make your own music. Sure, you can go to a college or university and become a master of music, but when we say study music, we don’t necessarily mean it in the traditional sense.
Listen to your favorite music, whether it’s rock, electronic, rap, pop, hardcore, or underground polka, and take note of what each artist does. You’ll eventually notice patterns and tendencies from your favorite bands or producers, and if you study long and hard enough, you may even notice similarities in artists. Then when you have an ear for your favorite genre, move onto a new one and see what they do to make themselves great. Notice how songs tend to start and end, take notes to remember your favorite parts, and just take the time to learn what makes a great song great. Once you have an idea of what makes a song good or popular, then you have the building blocks to create your own original tune.
2 - Get Some Software
Now that you know what you need to create an amazing song, it’s time to make your own. You can do this several different ways, but all will require some kind of software for you to create or record your song. What kind of software you get will depend on a few factors, such as your style, price range, operating system, and more, but we’ll highlight some of the most popular and easy-to-use music producing and recording programs on the market.
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Ableton Live - all levels, available for Mac & Windows
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FL Studio - beginners, but there are editions for more advanced producers, Windows only
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Apple Logic Pro X - intermediate+, Mac only
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Avid Pro Tools - experts only, Mac & Windows
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Garageband - beginners only, Mac only
Before deciding on expensive music-producing and recording software, be sure that the program is right for you, and that making music is something you’ll want to be doing for a long time. You don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for something you’ll only use twice. If you’re a beginner, start out with a free version and practice a bunch with the software to familiarize yourself with the program. When you learn how to make beats, then you can graduate onto the more advanced software.
3 - Learn How To Produce
Here we are, the secret everyone wants to know. We may be bursting a lot potential DJs’ bubbles, but making original music is a difficult process that requires hours upon hours of dedication and refining. You’ll notice in more advanced music producing programs that you’ll have countless options of beats, sounds, instruments, and more to choose from to create your original song. Knowing how and when to implement certain sounds, beats, tunes, and melodies isn’t really something you can teach. You can learn methods, chords, and theories, but when, how, and where to use specific sounds is something that’s innate to world-class musicians.
Trial and error may be the best process to producing new, original, and ultimately likable music. Like the painter Arshile Gorky once said, “I never finish a painting — I just stop working on it for awhile.” The same is true with music producing, as the best DJs continually work on and refine their work to make it better and better. If you want to be the next big DJ and create original music for a living, then get to practicing. Listen to your music, have friends and other DJs listen to your sets, and you’ll have a basis for what’s good and what may not be so great.
4 - Use Your Own Sounds
Once you have a knack for creating your own beats, you may want to start using unique sounds, lines, or melodies in your songs. The best way to do this is to have a digital audio recorder on you at all times, preferably one that’s designed to capture high-quality sound. Great DJs can use just about anything to make a song, whether it’s their friend saying something silly or a dog barking. This will challenge you to not only capture these unique sounds, but also use them in a way that blends in with your song. But if you truly are a prodigy of music, then you can MacGyver any music by only using a rubber band, some paper clips, and sheer determination.
We here at Dragon Frontboards hope you’ve found this blog to be helpful. If you’re looking to step up your set, then we have the DJ equipment for you. Our custom DJ booths and custom DJ facades look amazing and help you focus on spinning your original songs in any setting. Learn more about Dragon Frontboards, shop our collection of DJ booth facades, or contact us to answer any questions.