How To Make EDM Music: A 10 Steps Quick Guide For Beginners

Are you an aspiring music producer who dreams of creating your own pulsating EDM tracks that will get crowds moving? Do the intricate beats and electrifying rhythms of electronic dance music thrill you? 

If so, this guide on “how to make EDM music” is designed just for you.

Creating EDM, or Electronic Dance Music, might seem daunting. It’s not just about having a catchy hook or a groovy beat. 

There’s a science behind those heart-pounding drops and exhilarating risers. But don’t be discouraged. 

We’ve broken down this complex art into a simple, step-by-step guide that will help you navigate the process of making your own EDM track.

Ready to make EDM music that resonates with listeners and leaves a lasting impact? 

Let’s dive into this comprehensive guide and start realizing your dream. 

Learn how to make EDM and unleash your musical creativity today!

What is EDM Music?

Electronic Dance Music, commonly known as EDM, is a music genre primarily produced for dance-based entertainment environments, such as clubs or festivals. 

It covers various percussive electronic music genres, all mainly made for nightclubs, raves, and festivals.

EDM is characterized by its focus on beat and rhythm, with less emphasis on lyrics and melody. This genre of music is typically created using synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, and other electronic musical instruments. 

It can include various sub-genres like house, techno, dubstep, trance, etc.

What are the Benefits of EDM Music?

1. Understanding the Basics of Music: Producing EDM music helps you understand the basics of music theory, including melody, harmony, and rhythm. It provides a deep understanding of song structure, which is essential in all genres of music.
2. Mastering Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs): EDM production involves using a DAW, a tool that every modern music producer should know how to use. The skills you learn from producing EDM can be applied to any other genre of music production.
3. Improved Creativity: Electronic music production encourages creativity and innovation. It offers endless possibilities for sound design and manipulation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in music.
4. Cost-Effective: EDM doesn’t require expensive instruments or recording studios, unlike many other genres. You only need a computer and a DAW to create your tracks.
5. Increased Demand: There’s a high demand for EDM music across various platforms, from radio stations to streaming services. Learning how to produce EDM can open up opportunities for income and exposure.
6. Community and Collaboration: The EDM community is known for its collaborative spirit. Producers often work together, sharing ideas and learning from each other. This can lead to opportunities for networking and collaboration.
7. Skill Development: Producing EDM involves various skills, including mixing, mastering, sound design, and more. These skills are valuable in any area of music production.
8. Personal Satisfaction: Lastly, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of creating a track that makes people want to get up and dance. Producing EDM can provide a great sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.

How to Make EDM Music For Beginners?

Understanding EDM

EDM, or Electronic Dance Music, is a genre that primarily consists of percussive, electronic music genres produced for dance-based entertainment environments. This genre has roots in disco music and has evolved into various sub-genres like house, techno, dubstep, trance, etc. It’s created using synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, and other electronic musical instruments.

Essential Equipment

The essential equipment for creating EDM includes:

• A good computer.
• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
• Quality headphones or speakers.
• A MIDI controller.
• An audio interface.

Some producers also use microphones and studio monitors.

Choosing the Right DAW

Your DAW is the software where you’ll produce, mix, and master your tracks. Some popular DAWs among EDM producers are Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro X, and Cubase. Choose one that fits your budget and learning curve.

Learning About Beat Making

Beat making is a fundamental part of EDM production. It involves creating a rhythmic pattern using different percussive elements like kick drums, snare drums, hi-hats, etc. Most EDM tracks follow a 4/4 beat pattern.

Mastering Synths and Sound Design

Learning synthesis is crucial as it allows you to create your unique sounds. You can use hardware synths or software plugins for this. Sound design involves shaping and manipulating these sounds to fit into your track.

Understanding Song Structure

Typical EDM tracks have a structure that includes an intro, build-up, drop, breakdown, and outro. Understanding this structure and how to arrange your elements within this structure is critical to creating a cohesive track.

Mixing and EQing Your Track

Mixing involves:

• You are balancing the levels of elements in your track.
• I was panning them across the stereo field.
• I am adding effects like reverb and delay.

EQing is used to cut or boost specific frequencies to make each element stand out clearly in the mix.

Adding Effects and Transitions

Effects like reverb, delay, distortion, and chorus can add depth and character to your sounds. Transitions like risers, sweeps, and impacts are used to transition between different sections of your track smoothly.

Mastering Your Track

Mastering is the final step in the production process, ensuring your track sounds good on all playback systems. This involves adjusting your track’s overall EQ, compression, stereo width, and loudness.

Sharing Your Music

Once your track is finished, you can share it on platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube to reach your audience.

Conclusion

EDM music is an enthralling and thrilling genre to explore. Creating your music can be daunting, but anyone can learn how to make EDM music with the right tools and techniques. 

This ten steps guide has given a great starting point for any novices wanting to try and break into the world of electronic music production. 

Educate yourself on available material, find your creative flow, and invest in good equipment that suits your needs and goals. Who knows – you could be producing high-end EDM tracks in no time! 

With hard work and dedication, plus following this guide, you should have all the knowledge to start crafting some unique musical projects. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Quetions(FAQs)

How to Make an EDM Song?

EDM Music Production: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating your own Electronic Dance Music (EDM) can be exciting. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced music producer looking to dive into this genre, making an EDM song involves several key steps.

Firstly, it’s crucial to base your sound around a classic EDM beat. This forms the foundation of your track and sets the tone for your entire composition.

Next, creating a compelling bassline is essential. It adds depth to your track and provides a rhythmic undercurrent that supports the melody. Adding chords helps to enrich the harmonic content of your track, giving it more texture and complexity.

Writing a catchy melody is another critical step. This is the part of the song that listeners will remember and hum along to.

Arranging build-ups, drops, and peaks helps create tension and release in your track, critical elements in EDM. Layering lead synths can add richness and depth to your sound.

Once you’ve laid down the basics of your track, the mixing stage begins. This involves balancing the levels of your different tracks, panning, EQing, adding effects, and more.

Lastly, mastering your track ensures it sounds good on all playback devices. This is the final polish that makes your track ready for distribution.

EDM music production involves learning to use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). The most popular DAWs for EDM music are Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and FL Studio.

Numerous online resources and courses are available to help you learn the ins and outs of EDM music production. These can guide you through the process and provide valuable tips and tricks.

Creating EDM music can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to express your creativity and produce tracks that can move crowds on dance floors worldwide.

What is needed to make EDM music?

Creating Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is an exciting journey that requires a blend of technical skills, produce music, creativity, and a deep understanding of music. Here are some key elements you need to consider when making your first EDM track:

1. Knowledge of Music Theory: A strong understanding of music theory and concepts is essential for creating electronic dance music. This includes understanding melody, harmony, rhythm, and song structure.
2. Sound Design: Sound design involves creating unique sounds using synthesis. This is a fundamental part of producing electronic music.
3. Mixing and Mastering Skills: Mixing involves balancing the elements in your track, while mastering is the final polish to ensure your track sounds good on all playback systems.
4. Creativity: Success in electronic music production requires creativity. This is needed to develop catchy melodies, exciting rhythms, and unique soundscapes.
5. Computer and Sound Equipment: You don’t need to buy all the equipment as a beginner. A decent computer, sound card, MIDI controller, headphones, and reliable speakers will be enough to start.
6. Practice: The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Making great music takes time, so don’t be discouraged if your first few tracks aren’t perfect.
7. Patience and Passion: Last but not least, producing electronic music requires patience and passion. It can be a long process, but the results are worth it.

Becoming an electronic music producer is a marathon, not a sprint. So, take your time, enjoy the process, and you’ll be well on your way to creating your first EDM track.

How do I start making EDM songs?

Starting to make EDM songs can be a thrilling journey, but it might seem overwhelming at first. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start creating your own piece of music in the world of Electronic Dance Music.

1. Understand the Basics: The first step is understanding the music concepts you need for EDM production. This includes understanding rhythm, melody, harmony, and song structure.

2. Get Necessary Equipment: To produce electronic music, you’ll need a computer, Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, headphones or studio monitors, and a MIDI keyboard for easier input of musical notes.

3. Learn Your DAW: Choose a DAW that suits your needs and learn its ins and outs. Popular DAWs include Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro.

4. Start Simple: Start with a simple beat or a basic melody. You don’t have to create a complex piece right from the start.

5. Learn About Synthesis and Sampling: These are two key elements in electronic music. Synthesis is about creating sounds, and sampling is about using pre-recorded sounds. Both will be crucial tools in your music-making process.

6. Use Effects: Effects are a popular aspect of electronic music. Learn about effects like reverb, delay, and distortion and how they can enhance your music.

7. Create a Song Structure: A typical EDM track might follow a structure like this: intro, build-up, drop, breakdown, build-up, drop, and outro.

8. Mix and Master Your Track: Mixing involves adjusting the levels of each element in your trap beat to achieve a balanced sound. Mastering is the final polishing stage to ensure your track sounds good on all speakers.

Remember, the most critical part of this process is having fun and being creative. Happy producing!

How hard is it to make EDM music?

Creating EDM, or Electronic Dance Music, involves a combination of creativity, technical skills, and a keen understanding of music theory. Here’s a look at the challenges and requirements involved:

1. Understanding Electronic Instruments and Computers: Producing electronic music requires a firm grasp of digital audio workstations (DAWs), synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instruments. You need to understand how these tools work, how to manipulate them, and how to integrate them into your compositions.
2. Mastering Audio Production Skills: EDM production involves various skills, including mixing, mastering, sound design, and beat making. Each of these areas requires time and practice to master.
3. Creating Unique Sounds: Creating a unique sound can be challenging with so many producers. This involves experimenting with different sounds, effects, and production techniques.
4. Using Effects: Effects like reverb, delay, distortion, and sidechain compression (a popular effect in electronic music) are commonly used in EDM. Understanding how to use these effects creatively and effectively is crucial.
5. Designing Percussive Elements: EDM is known for its powerful, danceable beats. Learning to create and manipulate percussive instruments in a DAW is vital for any EDM producer.
6. Learning Music Theory: While not always necessary, understanding music theory can help you create more complex and engaging compositions.
7. Time and Patience: Like any artistic endeavor, producing EDM takes time. It involves a lot of trial and error, experimentation, and learning.

In summary, while creating EDM can be challenging, it’s far from impossible. Anyone can learn to make electronic music with the right tools, education, and patience.

What equipment do I need to make EDM music?

Creating EDM (Electronic Dance Music), whether underground dance music or chart-topping electronic music, requires creativity, technical knowledge, and the right equipment. Here’s a list of the essential gear you’ll need to start making your tracks:

1. A Good Computer: This is the heart of your setup, where all the production happens. You’ll need a computer with a fast processor and enough RAM to handle your DAW and plugins.

2. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW): This software is used for recording, editing, and creating audio files. Popular DAWs include Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro X.

3. Quality Headphones or Monitors: Studio-quality headphones or monitors are essential for accurately hearing your mix. Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones are a popular choice among producers.

4. MIDI Controller: This device allows you to play virtual instruments in your DAW, giving you more creative control. The Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII is a compact and affordable option.

5. Synthesizers and Drum Machines: These are used to create your tracks’ electronic sounds and percussive elements. They can be hardware units or software plugins.

6. Audio Interface: If you plan to record vocals or live instruments, an audio interface converts analog signals into digital audio information your computer can process.

Remember, having all this equipment is unnecessary when you’re just starting out. A computer, DAW, and headphones can be enough to begin your journey into EDM production. As you progress, you can gradually add more gear to your setup.

How to make electronic music at home?

Creating electronic music at home is a thrilling endeavor that allows you to express your creativity and potentially reach a global audience. Here’s how you can get started:

Step 1: Define Your Genre

Electronic music spans numerous sub-genres, including house, techno, trance, dubstep, etc. Determine which style resonates with you the most, as this will guide your creative process.

Step 2: Gather Your Equipment

At a basic level, you’ll need a computer, Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, and a good pair of headphones or speakers. The DAW is where you’ll compose, arrange, mix, and master your tracks.

Step 3: Learn the Basics

Understanding the fundamentals of music theory, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and song structure, is crucial. This knowledge will help you create engaging and harmonically pleasing music.

Step 4: Sound Design

Sound design involves creating and manipulating sounds. You can use synthesizers, drum machines, and sample packs to create unique sound beats and textures.

Step 5: Create Your Track

Start by laying down a beat, then add a bassline, chords, and a melody. Arrange these elements into a song structure with an intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro.

Step 6: Mixing and Mastering

Mixing involves:

• Adjusting the volume levels of your tracks.
• Panning them across the stereo field.
• Adding effects to enhance the sound.

Mastering is the final step that ensures your track sounds good on all playback systems.

Step 7: Learn and Improve

There are numerous resources available online to help you learn electronic music production. These include tutorials, online courses, forums, and articles. Use these resources to improve your skills continually.

Step 8: Share Your Music

Once your track is complete, please share it with the world. To reach potential listeners, you can upload your music to platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube.

Learning to produce dance music takes time, practice, and patience. But with dedication and a passion for music, you can create your unique sound.

How to make an electronic music album?

Creating an electronic music album is a multi-step process that involves everything from the initial songwriting, make rap and production to the final mastering and promotion. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to make an electronic music album:

1. Define Your Vision: Ask yourself what electronic music you want to make before producing EDM. A clear vision for your sound will guide your production process and help you create a cohesive album.

2. Songwriting and Production: You’ll spend most of your time creating EDM track after track until you have enough material for an album djing. Focus on crafting catchy melodies, compelling beats, and distinctive soundscapes.

3. Sound Design: This is about creating unique sounds for your album. Sound design can be as simple as tweaking presets or complex as designing percussive instruments from scratch.

4. Mixing and Mastering: Once your tracks are produced, they must be mixed and mastered. Mixing involves balancing the levels of elements in each track while mastering ensures a consistent sound across the entire album.

5. Artwork and Release Info: You’ll need compelling artwork and information about your release, such as the album title, tracklist, and release date.

6. Scheduling and Distribution: Decide when you want to release your album and how you’ll distribute it. Many platforms are available for independent artists to distribute their music, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

7. Promotion, Press, and PR: A successful album release requires a well-planned promotional strategy. This could involve social media promotion, press releases, and securing reviews or features in music publications.

Remember, creating an album is a significant undertaking that requires time, patience, and creativity. But with dedication and passion, you can produce a body of work you’ll be proud of.