I usually begin by setting the tempo of the track. On your software program, adjust the Tempo (most programs simply have up and down arrows to increase or decrease the tempo) and turn the metronome (click) feature to On. Use the metronome ticks to get a feel for how you envision the beat sounding. Begin nodding your head to the clicks, and increase or decrease the tempo accodingly to suit the tempo you desire.

The next step is one that is entirely up to you: Adding the first element of the beat. Dr. Dre said he always likes to start with the drums. Other producers like to start with the hook melody. I myself don’t have any finite way of beginning a beat. Sometimes I’ll start with the drums, and other times I’ll begin by adding an instrument (piano, guitar, etc.).

If you have a killer melody in your head, I suggest that you lay that down right away so you don’t forget it. Set the metronome to the desired tempo and record the melody with the instrument you had in mind. Have a beautiful piano melody in your head? Record it first and build the rest of the track around it. Odds are, that melody is going to be one of the most important elements in the entire track, so use it as the driving force and add the drums and accompanying instruments around it. Try it!

This same concept works for drums. Some tracks, especially hip-hop tracks, can be almost exclusively driven by the drums. So if you have a solid drum idea in mind, by all means get it recorded into your sofware before you start adding the instruments. This method will enable you to establish a “groove” by which you can begin to lay some new ideas in the form of instrumentation.

When laying the drums first, I usually like to begin with the hi-hats. Next, I pick a snare or clap and add that in. With these 2 elements playing I can establish a nice rhythm to groove to while adding in the kick. Finally I may opt to add in some percussive sounds (bongos or congas for example). Again, this is just how I personally add drums – the order is entirely up to you.

Now that you have the beat started, you can begin adding the rest of the instrumentation, work on arrangement, add your transitions, and mix the beat. I will cover all of this in future articles, but hopefully this one has given you some good ideas to get started making beats!

I’m outta here for now.

-Tim Adamek, Open Minds Entertainment LLP

One important aspect that a lot of the time gets overlooked by artists looking for beats is the mixing quality of the beat. If you’re serious about introducing your music to the market you should be serious about the quality of your production. You want your music to sound great in every platform from your car radio and your mp3 player all the way to the clubs. An ingredient to success in this music industry is how you present yourself. Using a beat of low quality or with a poor mix will have you coming off amateurish. By purchasing a beat that has been mixed well people will recognize you took the time to pay attention to sound quality and will in turn take you more seriously as an artist.

Another important aspect when beat searching is making the process cost-effective as possible. Most up and coming artists are typically working with a tight budget and don’t necessarily have the money to shell out for instrumentals. You should look for beat websites that offer non-exclusive beats or beats you can lease. Think about it. If you’re putting together a project whether it be an album, mixtape, or demo you are going to want to record a lot of material and then have the opportunity to chose the best out of the bunch. Most quality beat websites lease their music for only $30-$50. Most producers or beat websites sell their beats exclusively as well however most can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

An important factor that a lot of artists overlook is whether the beat they have purchased contains any un-cleared samples. Most producers leave the responsibility of clearing samples contained in their beats solely up to the artist. Clearing samples is a hassle and can be costly so most artists don’t bother when including these sampled beats on their music projects. This could cause serious legal problems for you further down the line. Save yourself the headache and look for original compositions.

This leads me to one of the most important aspects of your beat selection process, the music itself. You may be searching through beat libraries looking for a beat that sounds like that new Young Jeezy song or that new Chris Brown for example. While there is nothing wrong with these artists and their respective music there IS something wrong with this kind of approach to selecting the right beats. It can work to your disadvantage to pick beats that are trendy and sound like the same old songs you hear on the radio. If you really want to make it in the music business you have to develop your own sound. Today the music industry is very saturated. If you want to have a shot at any tangible success you must stand out and apart from the crowd. People respond to music that is refreshing and appealing to the ears. You may be a good lyricist or song writer but remember that means little if you do not have the instrumental to back it. Typically the instrumental is what starts the song off so it has to catch the listener’s attention and give people reason to continue to listen to the rest of your song. Find an instrumental that compliments you as an artist while giving you a unique sound that separates you from the pack. Take the steps necessary to get heard and find yourself original music production.

If, after considering all of the things discussed so far, you have chosen a beat before continuing on and purchasing this beat ask yourself a few questions. In addition to a professional sound quality you should make sure the beat website carries their business in a professional manner. Are the terms of purchase clearly stated? Are there any grey areas that leave you with an uneasy feeling about making a purchase? Understand the terms of agreement when purchasing a beat as some producers may try and take advantage of you. Also make sure there is an easy and safe beat delivery process after you’ve purchased the instrumental. Make sure the producer takes themselves and their craft seriously and professionally.

I also should emphasize that the top 10 beat websites or producers that show up in your Google searches or on the soundclick charts are not always the best of options. They may contain some of the aspects that have been discussed so far but they rarely hold the total package. You’re looking for websites that offer leases with the least amount of limitations, highest professional quality, most affordable prices, and a legitimate and easy purchasing process. Finding a website that offers all of aspects is hard to come by, but they do exist.

Our website, Open Minds Entertainment, is sure to provide you with all of the good qualities mentioned above. If you are an artist looking for hip hop, r&b, pop, or rock beats, check us out! You will not be disappointed!

I am Tim from music production company Open Minds Entertainment, and me and my fellow business partner Kyle will be using this blog to post our opinions, advice, news/updates, and more.

There is a ton of info out there for producer’s and artists, so we just wanted to make some things a bit simpler for you.

Enjoy!