If you’ve ever looked at David Guetta or Hardwell or Nucleya and wondered what it takes to create Music like they do, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll share some essential things you must know before you embark on a career as a music producer.

The upsides to becoming a successful producer are many, but so are the requirements as you’ll see below.

Music Theory:

Music theory, as defined by Oxford, is “The notion and theoretical aspects of music, the study as opposed to their actual performance“.

Now don’t get thrown away by these big words. Music theory is essentially the A to Z of English. Some people learn English without having to learn the alphabets but if you know the alphabets, you would be quicker in making words and your brain will function faster in absorbing sentences.

Similarly in music, if you know the theory, you would understand the notes better and would be able to experiment more while making new compositions. The theory deals with the construction of music by understanding melody and composition methods in order to explore music.

There are many institutions which teach music theory. However, if you find yourself in a money crunch, then you could sign up for MOOC classes such as Coursera.

 Choosing the best Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

DAW is basically a program which helps in recording, editing and mixing files. It is essentially a play station for a musician. You can experiment and create music with its help. Understand DAW to be an alive instrument that is technically produced online.

1. Ableton Live is considered the best for a live performance whereas FL studio is recommended for beginners.
2. If you own a MAC then you could go for an APPLE Logic Pro X.
3. Be sure of the compatibility of your software with your computer.

The software is not just heavy investments but also cover a lot of storage space and the last thing you are looking for is your computer crashing while you are chasing your dream.

Don’t rush into buying a DAW. Experiment with free tools, understand them and take guidance from your course teachers. When you cross the first stage of studying music theory, only then go ahead and invest.

 MIDI Keyboard

Now, there is a never-ending debate on whether one should invest in a midi keyboard.

Well, it is suggested that you should. A midi keyboard is a physical keyboard which looks similar to a piano but works like multiple instruments. This is a great tool for electronic musicians, as it allows them to physically press buttons and produces sounds from virtual instruments called VST’s on your software.

You know how book lovers prefer to touch their books to be able to get the feel? So is the case with musicians and a midi keyboard does exactly that. It enables you to flow with the music by having the physical sensation of producing it.

The best part? Their ease of use, technically speaking. All you need is a USB connection and you’re live.

Here’s a list of some of the best MIDI keyboards sorted by budget to start your search.

Studio recording headphones

Call me a music nerd but this is an absolute must; you cannot record without being able to listen to your music. A music producer needs good quality headphones, which are durable, have noise cancellation, accurately replicate the sound and are comfortable.

You could go for Sennheiser 280 HD, to begin with, they are open back and feel more natural while listening to your music. They will not break your flow and are perfect for a home or a studio setting where the external sounds are not overpowering.

You don’t have to splurge on headphones, so if you feel you’re right, then consider the ones which have a closed back as they provide better isolation and are good for live performances. I would suggest that you buy them physically so you can test drive them for sound quality and accuracy.

Music learning platforms

They say you don’t need money to learn music as long as you have passion, work ethic and a bit of talent.

That said, access to quality lessons will greatly improve your ability to learn. The inspiration you get from a community of like-minded learners is added bonus.

There are plenty of platforms for you to learn music. Some such platforms are Lynda.com, Udemy, and music-focused platforms such as BassGorilla.

If it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, go ahead and take a live course. These can range from a few weeks to intensive multi-year degree programs. The cost will range accordingly. A short course might be a few hundred dollars. Full-time degrees (which can be from 1 to 4 years) can cost thousands of dollars.

In end all that matters is passion towards music, everything else is just an afterthought!

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