Here is a helpful beginner’s guide on How to Make Beats and make music. This guide is for new music producers, but even if you are a pro, you may find helpful links on how to make better music.

• Make Beats On Computer Free

Table of Contents

• 1 Music Equipment
• 2 Music Production Software
• 3 How to Make Beats
• 4 Free Drum Kits & VST Plugins
• 5 Song Arrangements
• 6 Mixing Music
• 7 Exporting Beats
• 8 Music Glossary Terms
• 9 Advanced Videos & Articles
• 10 Common Beginner Questions

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Introduction to How to Make Beats

There are many aspects to making music. From learning software to making the beat, to mixing the audio, to exporting audio for music artists.

• May 3, 2016 - Nowadays, it's usually done on some type of computer. Here's a brief explanation of what 'making beats' means: Think of it like a 'one man.
• Looplabs is a cloud based music studio that lets you make music anywhere. Instantly record your vocals on top of beats you can easily make, or remix and add.

Learning to make your own beats can be an overwhelming process, but this guide covers a lot of the basics to make it easier for you to learn.

Let’s get started!

1. Music Equipment Basics

Your music equipment will be the foundation of your music-making process.

In the beginning, we all want to be like the big music producers we see online with the room full of music equipment, but you don’t need all that when you are getting started, and here is why:

1. Music Equipment is Expensive
   Limit your spending to the basic equipment at first, and then buy more advanced gear when you are earning money.
2. Time & Learning
   The more equipment you buy, the more equipment you have to learn, and less time is spent on learning to make better music.

Remember this…

It’s not about the music equipment or software you are using, but about the person using the equipment.

Your ear for music, skill, and talent matters more than the equipment you are using.

Dr. Dre’s music equipment didn’t make him the big music producer he is today. His ear for music and talent did, so don’t think you need a big studio to make good music.

The 6 Music Equipment Essentials

Here are the very basics of what you need to make music.

1. Music Computer

A computer is a must have to use any music software.

Microsoft Windows computers are more popular for creating music because there is more software available for free.

Music Poll: Mac vs. PC

2. Music Software

Music software is essential for recording and making music.

3. Midi Keyboard

Making beats is much easier and creative when you have a keyboard to play.

4. Studio Headphones

Headphones will let you hear all the different elements when making music.

5. Studio Monitors

Studio monitors are great for listening to your beats. (Optional)

6. External Hard Drives

Backing up your work is important and they provide additional storage space. (Optional)

That is the basic equipment you need to make beats.

If you have a limited budget, you can consider buying used music equipment from sites like Craigslist.

2. Music Production Software

There are tons of music software programs available, but which one is best? Watch the video below.

Music Software Overview

The Top 3 Beat Making Software Programs

#1. Image Line FL Studio

FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops ) is a digital audio workstation developed by Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer.

Why FL Studio is Popular:

• It’s easy to learn.
• Cheaper than many other programs.
• Supports VST plugins, samples, and other software programs.
• Making patterns and arrangements is easy.
• Offers tons of built-in instruments.

Learn More Video Free Trial Buy It

FL Studio Links:

#2. Propellerhead Reason

Propellerhead Reason is a digital audio workstation for creating and editing music and audio developed by Propellerhead Software. It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers, and mixers.

Why it’s popular:

• Includes tons of instruments: Synthesizers, Samplers, Drum Machines, Effects.
• Cool interface, racks, and mixer.
• ReWire allows you to use Reason in other popular music software programs.
• Add additional sounds called Refills.

Learn More Video Free Trial Buy It

Reason Links

#3. Apple Logic

Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation and Musical Instrument Digital Interface MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform.

Why it’s popular:

• Nice-looking interface.
• The virtual instruments and session drummer work well and sound incredible.
• Mixing, effects, and automation
• Enhanced Piano Roll Editor.

You should research the programs above and see what works best for your needs.

What is the most popular music software?

FL Studio was voted the most popular music software in the poll we ran. So you may want to look into that program if you are a beginner.

Music Software Related Links:

• How to connect a midi keyboard to FL Studio, Reason, Logic

3. How to Make Beats

Making beats may actually be easier than you think if you have an ear for music. Beats are essentially loops that are rearranged and repeated.

Beats can be simple, or beats can be complex.

It’s all about giving the music artist a good foundation to get their creative juices going to make a great song.

Basic Beat Elements

1. Drums– Songs usually consist of kick drums, a snare or clap, hi-hats or shakers, cymbals, and other drum sounds.

2. Melodies – The melodies are the instruments that are played over the drums. The instrument can be a piano, synth, bass, strings, live instruments, and more.

3. Samples – A lot of Hip Hop beats feature samples that have been chopped and reorganized to fit a drum pattern.

How to Make a Beat

Here is an example of how to make a beat. Even though the beat below is made in FL Studio the same process can be applied to other music software programs and hardware. Lay out your drums, add instruments, and arrange your beat into a full song.

Beat Making Tutorials

The examples below are made with different music equipment and software, but the process is very much the same for all the different music genres.

Beat Making Inspiration

Beat Making Tips

Here is a collection of beat-making tips to use when making your own beats.

• Focus on mastering the one program you choose to use. Don’t try to learn everything at once.
• Study your favorite music producers. Try to recreate your favorite beats to understand how beats are made.
• Collaborate with others.
• Beats should usually stay under 3 1/2 minutes.
• Import MIDI. If you don’t know how to play the keyboard well, try importing MIDI files and edit the notes in your music software.
• When you need inspiration look at beat-making videos.

Music Tempo Guide

Here are a few of the suggested tempos for different music genres.

• Hip Hop: 76 to 95 BPM
• R&B: 72 to 110 BPM
• Dance: 112 to 145 BPM
• Dubstep: 138 to 145 BPM
• Rock: 72 to 95 BPM
• Trap: 130 to 140 BPM
• Techno: 220 to 125 BPM

Beat Making Helpful Links

Other Music Topics

• Baseline Tips for Sampled Beats Part 1 & Part 2

4. Free Drum Kits & VST Plugins

Below we have put together some of our best free resources for you to download and add to your music making collection.

Free Drum Samples & Drum Kits

Free VST Plugins

Popular Free Sample Packs

5. Song Arrangements

Once you have a good understanding of putting together a beat, next you need to understand song structures. Different music genres are laid out differently. Song tempo and length may vary.

Common Song Sections

Intro
Usually has fewer elements and builds up to the verse or hook.

Verse
Usually a simpler version of the beat, allowing room for vocals. Usually 16 bars.

Hook
Usually has the most elements in a song and repeats a chorus. Usually 8 bars.

Bridge
Usually appears before the last verse. Usually appears in R&B and Pop songs. Usually 8 bars.

Outro
Usually fades the song out.

Solo
This is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer.

Common Song Structures

Intro – Verse – Hook – Verse – Hook– Verse – Hook– Outro

or

Intro – Hook– Verse – Hook–Verse – Hook–Verse – Hook–Outro

R&B Songs

Intro – Verse – Hook – Verse – Hook– Bridge –Hook–Hook–Outro

Make Beats On Computer Free

Rock Songs

Intro – Verse – Hook– Verse – Hook– Solo–Hook–Hook–Outro

The examples above are just examples. You should study your favorite songs to see how they are structured. You can also search Genius.com for song lyrics, and see the order of song lyrics.

Helpful Links on Song Structure

• How to Rap: Song Structure ( Understanding Bars )
• Beats, Bars, & Phrases ( How to Count Music )

6. Mixing Music

Once you have a good beat, you want to make sure the audio is mixed well to sound good on different devices.

Audio mixing is the process of taking all the individual tracks and instruments, adjusting the audio levels, panning, adding effects, and more.

Mixing the audio will help to make sure your beat sounds good on your computer, car, home stereo, and more.

Basic Mixing Theory

How To Mix Hip Hop Beats

This video is done in FL Studio, but the same rules apply to other music production software.

10 Audio Mixing Tips

10 Audio Mixing Tips

1. Start with high-quality sounds.
2. Use studio monitors.
3. Use Multiple Sound References – Test out your audio mix on your computer, in your car, with headphones, with monitors, etc.
4. Gain Staging – Get your levels right, avoid audio clipping.
5. Get good with EQ.
6. Give your ears a break. Take breaks from mixing and come back with a fresh pair of ears.
7. Rely on your ears. Don’t focus on what you see on the screen.
8. Use panning.
9. Mix at low levels at first, then turn the volume up.
10. Listen to top quality mixes as a reference of what you should strive for.

Tutorials on Audio Mixing

• How to mix beats in FL Studio or Reason

Basic Audio Mixing Terms

• Clipping – Clipping is a form of audio distortion that happens when audio is too loud.
• Equalization ( a.k.a EQ ) is the process of adjusting the frequency of the audio or instrument.
• Panning is the process of adjusting the audio to the left speaker, right speaker, or center.
• Effects – Effects is the process of adding reverbs, delays, echoes, and more to audio tracks.

7. Exporting & Tracking Out Beats

Exporting is the process of saving your beat to your computer. All music programs will have an export option.

The most popular file formats are WAV and Mp3.

• WAV – This file format is high quality and usually uncompressed. The file size is much larger compared to mp3.
• MP3 – This file format is compressed, so the file size is much smaller and the quality is lower. This format is used more for streaming online.

Tracking Out Beats

Tracking out beats, also known as “Bouncing Audio,” is the process of exporting all the individual instruments and sounds into separate audio files so they can be mixed in another audio program.

Sometimes music artists request beats to be tracked out so they can make adjustments to the beat to fit with their vocals. The artist may add or remove elements from the beat.

How to Track Out Beats In FL Studio

The tutorial below is done in FL Studio, but the same process can pretty much be done in other music programs. Once all the individual instruments are exported, they would be imported into an audio program.

Helpful Links

8. Music Glossary Terms

Here is a collection of common music production glossary terms and definitions for music newbies.

Music Terms

• Digital Audio Workstation ( DAW ) – This is a computer software program for recording, editing, and producing audio files such as songs, beats, and sound effects.
• Musical Instrument Digital Interface ( MIDI ) – MIDI allows electronic music instruments, computers, and other devices to connect and communicate with one another.
• Virtual Studio Technology ( VST )
  This is a software interface that can add instruments ( Examples: Synth, Piano, Bass, etc. ) and effect plugins to music programs.
• WAVeform ( WAV ) – WAV is an audio file format.
• Synthesizer ( Synth ) – A synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument that generates electric signals that are converted to sound through instrument amplifiers.
• Metronome – A metronome is a device that produces regular ticks – settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular pulse.
• 16 Bars -16 Bars is a reference to how long a usual rap verse is. Rap Song Structure
• Tempo is the speed or pace of the music. The same info for Beats Per Minute ( BPM ).
• Chords – A chord is a harmonic set of three or more notes played at once. Video
• Music Theory – The study of music elements, including sound and pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, and notation.
• Drum Machine – A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums, cymbals, other percussion instruments, and often bass lines.

Audio Mixing Terms

• Clipping -Clipping is a form of audio distortion that happens when audio is too loud.
• Equalization ( EQ ) – EQ is the process of adjusting the frequency of the audio or instrument.
• Panning – Panning is the process of adjusting the audio to the left speaker, right speaker, or center.
• Effects – Effects is the process of adding reverbs, delays, echoes, and more to audio tracks.

General Terms

• Mastering Audio is the process merging all mixed audio and preparing it for distribution.
• Bounce or Bouncing – Bouncing audio is the process of exporting individual audio tracks in your audio mix.

9. Advanced Video Tutorials

Here are a couple of videos with more details on how to make music.

How to Start Producing Music

How to Make Music without Knowing Music Theory

How to Get Started Making Music

Beat Making Articles

10. Common Beginner Questions

1. Do I need to master my beats?

No, songs are usually mastered when a song is completed with vocals. But you should mix your beat so it sounds good on the listener’s speakers.

2. I don’t have money to buy music equipment, what do I do?

If you have a computer you can start making music with free music software. You can even download free trials for paid software to start learning the programs.

I suggest you start saving up for a MIDI keyboard. You can get a USB MIDI keyboard for as low as $50.

FL Studio ( Fruity Edition ) may be the cheapest paid music software option out. With a computer, MIDI keyboard, headphones, and music software, you are pretty much set with being able to make music.

3. Which is better, Hardware or Software?

They are both equally good. It’s all about personal preference. You can make good music with software only. You can make good music with hardware also.

Start Making Music!

There are a lot of different aspects involved with making music.

Here are my top 3 suggestions:

1. Make Lots of Music!

Skills are built through repetition. When you do something multiple times you get better, grow, and it becomes easier.

2. Work with Music Artists

There is nothing like getting hands-on experience. You can make beats forever by yourself, but there is an end goal, which is to see songs made with your beats.

By working with music artists you will get requests for instruments, song rearrangements, and creating different types of moods and feelings with your beats.

These experiences will help you grow to see what music artists are thinking of, and how to meet their needs to make good music.

3. Be a Self-Learner

Because of the internet, you can learn almost anything online. If there are things you want to know or learn, do a Google search or look on YouTube.

If you want to learn faster by skilled music creators, take an online music course.

Either way, there is so much information online at your disposal that there is no excuse to not learn and become more skilled on your own.

If you have input on this article or feel the article is missing something, please share in the comments section.

Next check out our beginners guide on How to Sell Beats to make money from your beats.