Skip to main content

Music Production Basics

Welcome to the music production basics guide!

Getting Started​

Before diving into specific elements, make sure you have:

  • A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) installed (e.g., FL Studio, Ableton, Logic Pro).
  • Basic knowledge of your DAW's interface.
  • Basic understanding of music theory (circle of fifths, key signature, time signature, BPM)

Production Elements​

Typically, any music will contain 4 elements by order of priority: drum, bass, instruments, vocals.

Automation is another rabbit hole to get down to. But every composer at the very least needs to make 3 layers to finish the music.

Minimal Example​

Go to GoldenPond and download the piano roll script file.

If you don't know how to use piano roll scripts, check out the piano roll scripting guide. Alternatively, you can just look at the generated output and get an idea on what you need to have.

From the script dialog, enter the following: 74,-94,73,9(5/2),72,-75,91, 91

The minimal version is actually 4,4,3,5,2,5,1,1, which corresponds to the following:

  • 4th chord > 4th chord > 3rd chord > 5th chord > 2nd chord > 5th chord > 1st chord > 1st chord
Details

Show GoldenPond script dialog

Details

Show generated output

Interpreting the output​

  • Bass is boxed in red
  • Instruments (chords and arpeggios in this case) is boxed in yellow.
  • The bass notes corresponds to the "root of the chords" generated by GoldenPond.

"I'm lost with what you doing"​

I take for granted with your ability to understand music theory and chord progressions. I will not go through what is C5, Bb5, and how chords are built.

GoldenPond basically attempts to generate a sequence of progression by the "chord number" of a scale. (I-IV-V-I >> 1451 in GoldenPond).

The tutorial is to get a minimal example of how to create a convincing sounding song at the minimal input (code generated most intuitive) to raise your confidence.

What's next?​

  1. Producing a good chord progression for instrumentals
  2. Producing a good bassline
  3. Producing a drum pattern
  4. Producing a vocal pattern
  5. Stitching each part into a coherent song
  6. Mixing
  7. Mastering