I'm so lost

[aruigus808]

So, I'm not too sure if this should be in here or not but I'm new to music production/making/anything. I want to try and get my hands into all variations of art(including visual, audio, crafting, etc).
I'm going to show this:
http://soundcloud.com/aruigus808/gtsa

And then ask this:
I have no idea what kind of genre I'm going for. I like to listen to dubstep, house, hardstyle, and pretty much anything in electronic so I want to try and make that sort of stuff. But my main question is, how do I set things up? I know there's pretty much "no rules" when it comes to music but I'm just having a very very very hard time setting things up...kind of like walking in the dark.

Again, I'm very new to music so when you say stuff like, "just listen to the music and analyze it" it doesn't help me too much since I literally have no clue as to what I'm doing. If that's the only advice you have then say so, it's just that I don't really know what to do :/ My creative thoughts are just so confused when it comes to forming beats and notes and what not. Thanks ^3^
~aruigus808

[Navron]

Well, on the plus side, your notes match up into a chord, so you at least have a sense of what sounds good, and what doesn't, and that's all you need really to analyze music.

Actually, it depends on analysis techniques.

When I listen to Tool, I can hear changes from 4/4 to 5/8 time, and stuff like that, and know what they're doing to achieve that.

A person with no background on music theory may not be able to pick up why they can't reproduce a Tool riff, not realizing they're in 4/4 time the entire way through.

I'd start with the MLR Music Guide, and check out this website: http://www.musictheory.net/

Lots of information, but start with the fundamentals, don't rush into it, and you'll notice improvements start to take place.

[aruigus808]

Well, on the plus side, your notes match up into a chord, so you at least have a sense of what sounds good, and what doesn't, and that's all you need really to analyze music.

Always gotta start somewhere

I prefer to draw a lot more so trying to make music is a bit of a struggle for me. I have checked out that website before and must say that I'm bad when it comes to text book learning...I prefer to do stuff on my own and then have someone tell me why it's wrong. Inefficient? Beyond yes, but it's really the only way I like to learn.

I've also checked out that thread. Which is a really good compilation of info.

I guess I'm also having trouble finding what else to add to what I have. I know the little notes towards the end are a good start but nothing that should be the centerfold of the song. So I'm just confused on what kind of stuff is used to make it sound more...full. Not too sure what I'm talking about myself but I'm sure it makes sense to someone on here
~aruigus808

[lunarz]

So, I'm not too sure if this should be in here or not but I'm new to music production/making/anything. I want to try and get my hands into all variations of art(including visual, audio, crafting, etc).
I'm going to show this:
http://soundcloud.com/aruigus808/gtsa

And then ask this:
I have no idea what kind of genre I'm going for. I like to listen to dubstep, house, hardstyle, and pretty much anything in electronic so I want to try and make that sort of stuff. But my main question is, how do I set things up? I know there's pretty much "no rules" when it comes to music but I'm just having a very very very hard time setting things up...kind of like walking in the dark.

Again, I'm very new to music so when you say stuff like, "just listen to the music and analyze it" it doesn't help me too much since I literally have no clue as to what I'm doing. If that's the only advice you have then say so, it's just that I don't really know what to do :/ My creative thoughts are just so confused when it comes to forming beats and notes and what not. Thanks ^3^
~aruigus808

Welcome to my world bro

[soup2504]

Figuring out what genre you want to do, can be a bit hard. Make a couple songs with different genres, find what you enjoyed making the most, and stick with it. Or just do multigenre!

As for me, I like making house the most, especially electro house, but I still do different genres. I've done a dubstep-ISH song(which was pretty sloppy, but fun to listen to), and I'm working on a DnB song, and another electro house song. As for now, I'm sticking with multigenre, as it's a lot of fun to figure out how different genres work.

For everything else, look up tutorials, and watch them a lot. And I mean a lot, like 5 times each...

[Navron]

A big tip that I've found helps with analyzing songs. Pick 1 (ONE) instrument or sound, and listen to what that does through the song, and then pick another sound, and so on.

Redundant? Yes

Make the song sound less complex? Yes

Realizing each instrument is not as chaotic, and actually relatively simple? Priceless

[North Kozar]

To reinforce what NavyBrony said, yes, do that. I really don't know anything technical about music yet. Most of what I do know has just come from lots of music listening. Basically, by listening to a song with an analytical ear, you'll eventually be able to tune out other parts of it and just listen to how the artist worked on a specific layer/track/whatever. So, for example, if you can't figure out what to do with drums, listen to various genres and focus your mind/ears/psychic brain waves on just the drums. Then you can compare what you hear between different songs (whether it's between different genres or not). Something that might help when trying to listen like this would be to visualize in your mind the different parts... I'm not sure how you would do it, but for me I've visualized whatever sequencer I'm using and imagined the tracks running along there.

Other than that, just mess around with stuff. Like, anything and everything. Don't be concerned with getting something to "release," but just try different things each time. Maybe just make weird little one minute things. Then if you find something you like working on, you can expand from there, post it here, get suggestions, and go from there (well and if you want tips/advice on your other experiments, we'd be more than happy to help there, too). You'll find what you want in time, don't worry.

Oh, right, and HAVE FUN doing it! That's an order. Well, a suggestion... Ish... thingy... (sorta [kinda]).

[Mundius]

I prefer to draw a lot more so trying to make music is a bit of a struggle for me.

I know I'm being off-topic here, but a random generator based off art would be amazing in music.

Just saying.

[bartekko]

I prefer to draw a lot more so trying to make music is a bit of a struggle for me.

I know I'm being off-topic here, but a random generator based off art would be amazing in music.

Just saying.

There is. It's called audacity. (you wanted a random genreator, right?)

[aruigus808]

Thank you all for the advice! It actually never really occurred to me to just listen to songs and analyze them. I'm just worried that I'll start copying the song pretty much...but I guess for now, I just need to understand how everything works and such.

The next thing I would have to ask is what stuff do I need for my program? I use FL Studio 10 and I do have some samples but I've also noticed that people use other plugins/whatevers that isn't apart of FL Studio. Is there plugins that would help a noobie like myself or is that just getting too complicated?
~aruigus808

[colortwelve]

NI Massive is extremely versatile and pretty easy to get a handle on. Try that out. (And z3ta+ is also a pretty good VST, but I still have no idea how to use it. It scares me despite its awesome sound.)

[Mundius]

I prefer to draw a lot more so trying to make music is a bit of a struggle for me.

I know I'm being off-topic here, but a random generator based off art would be amazing in music.

Just saying.

There is. It's called audacity. (you wanted a random genreator, right?)

BASED OFF ART. Input image, output music.

[Magnitude Zero]

Thank you all for the advice! It actually never really occurred to me to just listen to songs and analyze them. I'm just worried that I'll start copying the song pretty much...but I guess for now, I just need to understand how everything works and such.

I wouldn't worry about accidental copying. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The next thing I would have to ask is what stuff do I need for my program? I use FL Studio 10 and I do have some samples but I've also noticed that people use other plugins/whatevers that isn't apart of FL Studio. Is there plugins that would help a noobie like myself or is that just getting too complicated?
~aruigus808

As colortwelve said, NI Massive is a pretty good one. One of the first VSTis I installed is called TranceDrive. It took me a little while to figure out, but after some experimentation I found I was able to understand it and a lot of other similar synth plugins. Still use it, too. Also, it's free, so there's that .