Have you ever wanted to learn how to write a song and produce your own music?

You’ve always been fascinated by the process but didn’t know where to start?

It’s not as hard as you think.

Producing your songs and music can be a lot of work, but it can also be rewarding and deeply satisfying. It can provide an outlet for creativity in a digital age where so much of what we do is spent looking at screens rather than interacting with people or nature.

This article will explore the basics of music production and songwriting. We’ll talk about what goes into making a good song and how to produce it in a way that sounds professional.

By the end of this article, you will have all the knowledge required to take musical ideas and turn them into a whole song.

You’ll learn to start your creative process with raw material, work around a song’s theme, and write memorable melodies. Capturing spontaneous musical ideas is crucial to creating an amazing melody, so make sure to record or note them quickly before they are forgotten.

So, if you’re ready to learn, let’s get started!

What is music production and what does it involve?

Music production is creating a piece of music, from start to finish.

It involves everything from writing the initial composition to arranging the instruments and recording the track. The bass guitar plays a crucial role in driving and accentuating the melody, enhancing the overall sound of a song. In many cases, music producers will also handle the mixing and mastering the final recording.

The role of a music producer is to oversee the entire production process and ensure that the final product meets the artist’s vision — many producers are the artists themselves, the ones writing popular songs, and the best example is Kanye West.

Music producers often work closely with engineers and other technicians to ensure the highest quality of the recordings. Technology has recently played an increasingly important role in music production, with many producers using digital audio workstations and other software to create their tracks. However, at its core, music production is still about creating something beautiful out of nothing.

Let’s first start with a question that is often asked.

What is the difference between music production and songwriting?

Songwriting is the process of writing music and song lyrics, with understanding structure as a foundational element. Music has two main parts: melody and harmony. Melody is made up of notes, and harmony is composed of chords. After you create the music, you have to arrange it to sound good.

On the other hand, producing music involves sampling, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering. The process can be divided into two parts: pre-production and post-production. Pre-production is when you record a song that is already fully arranged. Post-production is when you mix all the different tracks and master the song.

Today, music producers can write a song and produce it from the comfort of home.

In a home studio setting, you’ll devote your time to composing, recording, and mixing music using a variety of electronic and acoustic instruments and then combining all the recorded elements into a digital audio workstation (DAW).

Isn’t that awesome!

What are the most common DAWs in 2022?

  1. Ableton Live
  2. FL Studio
  3. Logic Pro X
  4. Cubase
  5. Pro Tools

There are no right or wrong answers here; it’s a question of preference, budget and desire to learn. A great article from Music Radar outlines the Best DAWs of 2022 based on price, type of production, and more.

How can I start producing music from home?

Here at Craft Your Sound, we are dedicated to helping you develop your musical skills and overcoming any creative roadblocks that could stand in your way.

Thanks to technological advances, producing high-quality music from a home studio is now possible without spending a fortune on equipment.

The first step is to choose the right production software, as mentioned above.

Several options are available for a DAW, so it’s essential to research and find the one that best suits your needs.

Once you’ve installed the software, it’s time to start creating. The songwriting process can involve a lot of trial and error, but that’s part of the fun.

How to produce a song

First, you’ll need to come up with an idea for a song or piece of music. An idea can be something as simple as a melody stuck in your head, a general theme you want to communicate through your music, or you simply want to remake one of your favourite songs.

You want to capture that general idea and start working by either writing lyrics, coming up with chords, or playing it through other instruments and sounds.

The key here is to start small, experiment and see what sounds good based on your initial idea.

Once the basic idea is written, the next step in the songwriting process is building up the track by layering different sounds and instruments on top of each other.

Then, it’s time to arrange the basic structure of the song. This process will give you direction and allow you to finish your song without writer’s block.

Once the arrangement is complete, you’ll need to mix and master the final mix.

We’ll get into mixing and mastering in future posts.

As you can see, good songwriting and production seem like a lot of work initially, but it gets easy and becomes a lot of fun.

Step-by-step guide: How to write songs for beginners

Creating your own song can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Many songwriters write a few songs regularly to develop their skills. However, anyone can do it with a little creativity and perseverance.

So, where do you start with the songwriting process?

First, take some time to listen to music and get an idea of what you like.

What genres do you enjoy? What emotions do you want to evoke with your music? How do you want people to feel when they hear your song?

Once you have a rough idea of what you want to say, it’s time to put your thoughts into notes.

You don’t need to be a trained musician to write music — anyone can do it.

Start with a a few chords, simple melodies and chord progressions, and see where your creativity takes you.

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to read music— there are video tutorials and plenty of online resources that can help you get started.

The most important thing is enjoying the process and letting your creativity flow. Who knows where your musical journey will take you?

Step 1: Start by writing a set of chords

Before you begin writing, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when you add chords together.

Disclaimer: you do not need a music theory degree or musical background to start creating your first song.

To start chords, you need to understand the concept of keys. Keys are any of the white and black notes on a keyboard, and there are only seven natural notes (white keys: A-B-C-D-E-F-G) and five sharps or flats (black key) that repeat up and down (octaves).

You need to decide what key you want to write in. This decision will determine the order of the notes in your chords.

Once you’ve decided on a key, you must familiarize yourself with the major and minor scales. These will be the foundation for the writing process of your chords. To create a chord, you simply take any two or three notes from the scale and play them together. For example, writing in the key of C, you could create a C chord by playing the notes C-E-G together. Try to aim for four-chord progressions, as many songs use a similar structure.

As you become more comfortable with chord theory, you’ll be able to experiment with different combinations of notes to create unique sounding chords while staying true to the central theme of your song.

Here’s a hint: don’t try to reinvent the wheel if you’re just getting started.

To write better songs more quickly, listen to your favourite songs and check out Hook Theory to figure out that song’s chords and chord progression. Then, you can use the same chord progression to start writing your own songs. You can experiment with new chords as you get better at writing songs.

There’s no one right way to start writing a set of chords. It all depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. If you’re aiming for a certain mood or feel, start by thinking about the type of sound you want to create. Do you want something mellow and soothing or something upbeat and energizing?

Use a piano or guitar to help you find the right sound. Try playing around with different chord progressions until you find something that feels right. Once you have a general idea, begin experimenting with different combinations of notes.

Remember, there’s no wrong way to do it – so don’t be afraid to experiment!

️ Step 2: Think about the song structure

The structure of a song is the skeletal framework that gives the track its shape and makes it easy to remember and sing.

Many popular songs follow a recognizable pattern, such as verse-chorus-break-verse-chorus, but there are endless possibilities for structuring and writing other songs, too.

As a songwriter, you must decide the form of your song and how you will transition between sections.

One way to start is by sketching out the main ideas, emotions, or images you want to convey in the song. Then, think about arranging these elements into a cohesive whole. There are no hard and fast rules for understanding song structure, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

The most important thing is that the structure of your song supports the overall message or feeling you’re trying to convey and the genre of music you are making.

Remember that a strong song form is essential for a track to succeed (in the music industry). However, no music producer creates only hit songs, so don’t overthink the structure and don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure. Keep in mind that a “listenable” song requires at least a basic framework. That’s all there is to it.

So make sure you have at least three of the four essential components of a song structure covered: the verse, the chorus, and the bridge.

The verse is where the story is told. Verse lyrics provide varied emotional storytelling for favourite songs and set the groundwork for understanding the song’s themes.

The chorus is where the song started, and the melody is catchy and memorable.

The bridge is where the song changes tempo or direction, providing interest and variety.

A great song structure will keep listeners engaged and coming back for more. So when you write a song, think about how each section can contribute to the overall story you’re trying to tell. Writing melodies should be memorable and easy to sing along to, so hooks are essential. And don’t forget the power of a good old-fashioned sing-along— sometimes all a song needs is a catchy chorus that everyone can join in on.

As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into songwriting. But don’t let that intimidate you! Just start with a few basic elements and build from there. Experiment with different chord progressions, melodies, and structures until you find something that feels right. And most importantly, have fun!

Step 3: Write a verse with only instruments

When most people think of writing a verse, they think of using words. However, it is also possible to write a verse using only instruments.

This technique can greatly add musicality to your writing without worrying about finding the right words.

To write a verse with only instruments, start by adding your initial chords and layer the melody on top of those chords.