Tip - Vary what you listen to

[senntenial]

Heyo, Senn here. I love the Brony music community, and I hope you guys won't mind if I suggest some tips for you guys on a regular basis. (I also apologise if I rant, it's 3 AM and my mind isn't at full capacity.

Tip 1 is to vary what type of music you listen to. Don't just listen to EDM, Rock, what have you. It limits your view on the understanding of music.
My view on things is that musicians and artists are only capable of taking things for various different sources, and then melding them together into their own compositions, along with their own feelings. Being said, a good way to keep your music original is to listen to things you normally wouldn't. If you like Rock, try Classical. If you like Classical, try Hip Hop. Every genre has valuable things to be learned from it. Musical theory is not as important as having a good ear for composition.

If you exclusively listen to House music and nothing else, you are going to produce something unmemorable and uninteresting. If you take elements from House, Jazz, and Classical music, you have the ability to make a song much more interesting and original. Nobody wants to listen to the same 4 chords over and over again.

Part B - Composition is always more important than sound design. No matter how neat a bass sounds, it'll sound horribly if it isn't applied correct. Develop your composing skills before delving into genres that use lots of sound design, e.g. Dubstep. Although it doesn't sound like it sometimes, genres like Dubstep DO require a massive amount of musical understanding, it isn't just about making beeps and wubs. In my opinion, it is better to start out with genres that have a more definable progression, so you can develop your composing skills more easily and more quickly.

Part C - Learn a physical instrument. I must stress the importance of this. Learning an instrument goes a step further than just listening to music - you will be able to decipher notes, melodies, rhythms, and progressions, then be able to apply them to your own work. Downloading a DAW and expecting to create great songs with no prior musical knowledge is an unrealistic expectation. So invest your time learning an instrument. (Note: Piano is a great instrument to learn if you are producing, since most midi controllers are in a keyboard form. Pianos also can play chords and more complex things.)

[MixolydianPony]

Yeah, this. ^

The best part about listening to other genres is that even if you absolutely despise them with every fiber of your being (like me with country) you WILL inevitably pick up on the tiniest hints of things you like. (some of the lead guitar and fiddle work.) I've been doing this for quite a while, and I think it's had a tremendous impact on my music. (I write non-electronic music, but the same principles apply, I think.)

If I may add something...

Music theory is not a set of rules to box you in. It's a series of names for common musical ideas, and the relationships that they have historically been mostly used in. No, you don't need music theory to write good music, but a basic understanding is helpful to prevent flailing about in the dark. Learn how chords work, and learn how scales work, and that's pretty much the bare minimum. Music theory is NOT a substitute for a good ear and imagination, as many will try to lead you to believe. Music theory is a map. It shows you the roads you can take, but it doesn't tell you which route to take to your destination.

Also, Senntenial, you started with "Tip 1" and then went to "Part B" and "Part C." xD

I should note that my post was also written under the influence of sleep deprivation.