As the producer, one must first decide the kind of music they wish to produce. To be most effective, producers should focus on broad genres and styles rather than narrow ones as this can limit knowledge, skills and creativity development.
Once they have found an outstanding core idea, producers must design the broad structure and layout of a song using an arrangement technique known as arranging, which involves crafting dramatic musical peaks and climaxes into it.
Getting Started
Electronic music production may seem intimidating for beginners, with producers using computers instead of guitars, bass and drums to compose electronic compositions. But don’t be put off; getting started producing is relatively affordable and not as intimidating as you may think; even an average home studio can accommodate most essential gear needed to craft electronic compositions.
An important first step for a producer should be deciding on the genre they wish to create. Different genres require a different approach when producing music – for instance, pop is often much more structured than ambient. Selecting one style or genre may help focus your efforts and resources, although bear in mind that every producer uses his or her own unique techniques when creating captivating tracks.
As soon as you purchase or obtain your digital audio workstation (DAW), take some time to get acquainted with its features and software. While online tutorials may provide useful assistance in learning the basics, nothing beats hands-on experience for truly learning your DAW.
Once a producer understands the basics, they should begin developing their own musical vocabulary and techniques. This will enable them to identify their style and create their signature sound. A good place to begin this journey is by writing down basic melodies or concepts they wish to pursue and using an app like Streaks to set daily reminders; perhaps writing 3 melodies daily, for instance.
As technology advanced for producing music, synthesizers became popularly used by bands such as The Silver Apples and Pink Floyd to symbolize or even revel in modern technological alienation. Later, Dusseldorf band Kraftwerk revolutionized electronic music further by including robotic elements into their compositions.
Choosing Your Genre
Electronic music composition requires selecting an appropriate genre that will have an effect on how it sounds, such as house, drum and bass, minimal techno or trip hop synthpop electroclash. Some examples include house, drum and bass and minimal techno. Other more specific genres could include trip hop synthpop electroclash etc.
Traditionally, musical arrangement and composition were two separate activities. But with the development of synthesizer technology, one person can now compose an entire song using only their computer and music equipment such as keyboard or other key pieces of gear. This opened up possibilities of creating various genres or styles of electronic music while blending elements from other genres for specific effects.
Early synthesizers were rather limited, yet later models permitted the creation of far more versatile and advanced synthesizers that allowed composers to experiment with what the instruments could do and the various effects that could be achieved. This led to an explosion of electronic music genres as composers experimented with what their instruments could achieve and created new genres as composers experimented with what their synthesizers could accomplish and the effects it could produce.
As technology advanced and computer prices fell, more people began producing electronic music and composing for it. This trend could be partially attributed to few restrictions preventing anyone from purchasing computers that could be used for music production and recording – leading to bedroom bands as well as new genres of electronic music being created.
Early electronic music genres were typically experimental, avant-garde and art oriented – such as Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Kontakte composition for violin and tape which disrupted traditional musical forms based on linear development, dramatic climax and harmony.
Other early genres of electronic music were inspired by rock, punk and new wave bands of their day, such as post-punk and synthpop (a sub-genre of pop music characterized by synths and drum machines). Post-punk and punk often used harsh, distorted and noisy instruments and vocals which contributed to creating industrial electronic music as an experimental genre.
Creating Individual Tracks
Building a track requires technical skill and creativity. You’ll need to select the sounds that make up your track, either using synthesizers, other electronic instruments, or by sampling existing sounds from other sources. In addition, creating the rhythm and arrange beats which form its structure can often be accomplished using looped samples that have been looped before mapping them with trigger MIDI triggers; many producers turn to services such as Splice to audition thousands of potential sound elements before finding what sparks their inspiration.
Eradicating anything that doesn’t contribute to your musical message or narrative is of vital importance, which is why studying other artists’ tracks from your genre may prove helpful in creating an arrangement that’s both cohesive and captivating.
Once you know where your track is headed, it’s time to design its individual sections. These may include an introduction, build-up section, chorus/drop and main melodies/motifs. Common EDM and techno styles typically use risers between chord patterns of verse verse and big bang chorus as an intermediary that gives listeners enough time to adjust before reaching its climax.
Production technology used for electronic music production has become more accessible and affordable in recent years, no longer necessitating ownership of an expensive studio packed with synthesizers and other electronic instruments. Now, composers and producers alike can use digital audio workstations (DAWs) on laptop or desktop computers to compose and produce their music with virtual instruments like MASCHINE by Native Instruments that combines physicality of hardware with software sounds and effects, or take advantage of KOMPLETE START’s comprehensive collection of high-quality samples and drum kits absolutely free!
Arranging
When creating a song, arrangement is of vital importance. Listeners need an easy time following along and so incorporating contrast is key in order to do just this – for instance Skrillex and Diplo’s “Where Are U Now” utilizes this strategy by employing minimalist verse sections followed by fuller chorus sections which creates a memorable dance-floor friendly track.
Another useful technique for building tension in techno and EDM music is using build up/break sections to generate anticipation of chorus or drop, keeping listeners engaged throughout. Effect samples or time stretched vocals can add an atmosphere to otherwise clinical parts of songs that add urgency.
Arranging electronic music requires making sure each beat and instrument blend well together, which is why auditioning and testing each part prior to selecting those to use is recommended. You can do this by mutting or soloing certain sections of a loop, playing it back at different speeds to see which sounds best, etc.
Experimenting with different drum patterns, tempos and rhythms when composing electronic music can also be highly beneficial. By doing so, composers can easily produce an array of genres and styles that appeal to a broad audience. When doing so, make sure that you keep in mind the conventions of your chosen genre, using reference tracks as well as experiments innovating within it.
When producing electronic music for DJs, it’s essential to carefully consider the beat sequence and timing of each song. A dedicated drum sampler allows you to compare various drum kits; this step can make or break an arrangement. Arranging electronic music requires careful thought about these details so as to ensure success or failure.