While there are levels of skill beyond what I am going to be telling you about, they all involve using tools outside of the computer. I am going to explain the first three level of making beats, which are all based on just using resources on your computer. The only other tool you need is a mic if you are going to record vocals.

The three levels of skill are:

1. Using pre-made looping beats with accents.

2. Using pre-made drum and bass loops to build a beat, then adding accents.

3. Using one shot sounds and cutting up loops to construct a beat from scratch, then adding your accents.

First I will give you a run down on the jargon I am using.

A loop is a piece of sound that can be looped to play over and over. They are an evolution of the practice of sampling from other people’s albums. Rather, they are produced and sold in collections and libraries. Many famous musicians and producers have contributed loops to the world. Depending on the source and quality of the loop collection they run anywhere from a few dollars for a single disc with a few dozen loops, to over a hundred for large collections.

Accents are the part of a beat that keep it from getting annoying. Strings, synth work, back up singing, anything really. Each producer has their own style, which is often influenced by region.

One-Shots are loops with only one sound. A single drum hit, a single piano key strike, a single bass sound, etc. Rather than using them in a loop, you would use them to build up a beat, or even a whole song, depending on what sounds you have access to.

Okay, now the jargon is out of the way, let’s get into the three skill levels.

Level one is the beginners level. This is where you are taking loops with fully constructed beats and just using them, or maybe using two beats that work well together to get a new one. After you have dropped it (them) into your arrangement software, you then add accents and produce your song from there.

It is important for someone new to music production to start at this level. It gives you time to learn the program, to learn about arranging and producing, and most importantly it gives you a chance to really start developing your own sense of what sounds good.

The second skill level is taking what you were doing before, but exchanging beat loops for drum, and bass loops. At this level of skill you are constructing your beats using separate parts, but still relying on loops to do it. It’s a natural progression. You start getting annoyed at the restrictiveness of only having beats someone else made, so you start applying what you already know how to do, but using a new method.

The third level is making beats from scratch. Depending on what you have to work with, this can mean using one-shots to build the beat up, or cutting up pre-made beat loops, and/or instrument loops to get your building materials. Personally, I do both.

From that point you start getting into the realm of needing keyboards to hook up to your computer, and other expensive equipment.

Author Bio: If you found this information useful and would like to see videos that go over it all in a nice visual way, please visit this page: Getting started with making your own beats Visit my home page here: The Music Producer Dude.com

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: make rap beats, making rap beats, make hip hop beats, making hip hop beats, how to, start