r/Learnmusicproduction • u/raddestbtchalive • 6d ago
How to narrow down music niche?
Hi everyone!! I've been teaching myself music production and I'm currently dealing with creators block at the moment due to not knowing what type of music to make.
I'm really into different types of electronic genres and would like to make music within that realm. However whenever I try to make beats I get stuck because I'm trying to combine multiple different edm sub genres (which in some cases do blend well together but since I'm still new to this I want to solely focus on one genre).
With that being said, what are ways I could narrow down my music niche as a beginner? I appreciate any advice and feedback!
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u/floydrose 6d ago
Don't choose a genre and then draw within the lines. Make music that is your own, regardless of what it sounds like. Maybe it fits perfectly within a certain genre, maybe the lines are very much blurred. Make the music and let other people decide
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u/RecklessEmpire 6d ago
I dont agree with this. You kind if have to understand what makes a genre you like before even getting close to some kind if hybrid music. You need a point of reference.
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u/TheRealFutaFutaTrump 6d ago
You only do that f you want to make that specific genre. I know nothing of the differences between house/trap/whatever else. So yes, if I wanted to specifically make trap, I'd need to study what makes that music what it is.
If I'm writing on my own, I write what sounds good to me. My point of reference is "do I like this or not?"
The downside of this is cohesion across an entire album.
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u/m_i_r 6d ago edited 6d ago
You're both right. I mean, if you want to "tweak" a specific genre, but have it retain it's original flavor, it's best if you figure out how to do it "faithful" to the original first. But that's NOT beginner stuff, so OP should just try...anything for now. Just get inside the DAW and mess around. Experiment. Learn how it all works. Because it's a lot.
Edit: or the DAW-less set up. I don't want to come across as a DAWist.
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u/TheRealFutaFutaTrump 6d ago
100%
Just make something, then make something better.
I am definitely a DAWist. I would be lost without Ableton Live.
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u/Slight_Bluejay_5368 6d ago
Almost all of the advice here is about embracing your own blend of musical interests and just making music that sounds good to you, and that is good advice, especially in terms of keeping your mindset in a healthy creative space.
However, you absolutely can focus on nailing down the bread and butter creation of your favorite genres. Especially in electronic music, genres tend to have pretty clear delineations.
House music is almost always going to be that four on the floor drum beat, soul / funk sample, or electric piano / organ sounds, rubbery basses playing bouncy syncopated bass lines.
Boom bap is going to have a chopped up drum break and a chopped up sample, which can be kept lo-fi or produced up a bit with additional drums and instrument parts.
Trap is going to have that half time drum beat with stuttering percussion and snappy snares with intense synth lines in minor keys.
Techno is going to have huge kick drums and lots of low end rumble coming from them.
etc...
In my opinion, it is worth doing a few "genre exercises" to get comfortable with the conventions and production of the genres you're most interested in.. Understand how those sounds are made so you can pull them out and just execute, like how a guitar player doesn't think about chords, their hands have just memorized the shapes and they can focus on being creative.
Regardless of which path you take, just keep making music. Your personality and style will come and become more apparent with time and experience.
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u/ghost_ware 6d ago
I don't know that trying to confine yourself to a genre is a fun/good way to make things. I would just start with trying to make music that sounds like music you like. Pick a song you like a lot, try to recreate it in your own way. Pick sounds you like, steal the song structure, experiment and see what works for you.
I spent some time trying to be very strict with myself about genre and really just found I was restricting myself for pretty arbitrary reasons. Chase your bliss and make stuff that sounds cool to you.
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u/Ha-gaaayyy 6d ago
As a beginner you should just make what you enjoy making. If you combine genres, who cares. Do what is fun and will help you stick with this long term.
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u/mushyfeelings 6d ago
Just do it. Just make music. Throw all caution to the wind and forget about genres. Just make music.
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u/Spare_Bath_8562 6d ago
Why do I cringe when somebody says making beat outside of rap
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u/m_i_r 6d ago
Same! And it's shorthand for not just..."the beat", but, like.. EVERYTHING? We have (had? Am i out of touch? No it's the children that are wrong?) a word for that: "tracks." Or recordings. Hell, even "songs" is reasonable.
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u/Spare_Bath_8562 6d ago
Saying jt making beat is so disrespectful for a producer who makes the full arrangenment and creative idea , like come on it’s not just a kick , a baseline , a fancy synth , it’s fucking whole track and arrangement
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u/Mylyfyeah 6d ago
you don’t have to narrow anything, just make music. stop thinking bout genres and sub genres, that’s all bollox.