Almost every beat maker hits a point where he hits a musical "wall" or "plateau". By "wall", I don't mean writer's block where you can't think of things to write, but rather, a point where you can think of things to write but they all sound the same. When you reach this point, it is easy to give up because beat making starts to feel like a chore and it's no longer fun. However, it is at this point where you should push yourself through this wall because when you make it to the other side of this wall (which you will), you will come out a much better beat maker than you did before. In this article, we'll discuss a few things that will help you to stay inspired when you reach these musical plateaus.
Before we jump in though, remember, despite how frustrating a wall can be, frustration is a good thing. Frustration is the energy that when harnessed properly, will force you to change what you are doing. If you were content with the way things were, your beats would all sound the same because you'd keep doing the same things over and over again and have no incentive to change. In other words, don't get too discouraged and embrace this feeling of frustration. It is a good thing.
Listen to new music: Listening to a new song that you fall in love with can restore your passion for music and give you new musical ideas for you to place with. However, don't just listen to music that you always listen. Experiment with different genres of music and go beyond the bounds of hip-hop. If you notice, truly great producers like Dr. Dre and Timbaland have their unique sound because they don't just sample soul and funk records. They sample ethnic records, jazz, and classical etc. The world of music is much bigger than hip-hop so go out and listen.
Get new sounds: Sometimes, using the same sounds over and over again can be uninspiring. If you've used the same vst or or keyboard for a few months, you'll start to know your favorite sounds and keep using them over and over again. The result is that your beats will eventually start to have your favorite sounds appear again and again and the end result is beats that sound the same. Every once in a while, keep things fresh by buying a new vst or keyboard.
Experiment with new effects: On the flip side, sometimes, you can add a new spin to existing sounds by applying new effects to them. Effects programs like CamelSpace and CamelPhat are great programs for doing this. You'll be surprised at how different your sounds can be when you feed them into these types of programs.
Using a few of these tips above will help boost you creativity and inspiration. Remember, embrace the frustration and power through it. When you do, you will grow as a producer.
Before we jump in though, remember, despite how frustrating a wall can be, frustration is a good thing. Frustration is the energy that when harnessed properly, will force you to change what you are doing. If you were content with the way things were, your beats would all sound the same because you'd keep doing the same things over and over again and have no incentive to change. In other words, don't get too discouraged and embrace this feeling of frustration. It is a good thing.
Listen to new music: Listening to a new song that you fall in love with can restore your passion for music and give you new musical ideas for you to place with. However, don't just listen to music that you always listen. Experiment with different genres of music and go beyond the bounds of hip-hop. If you notice, truly great producers like Dr. Dre and Timbaland have their unique sound because they don't just sample soul and funk records. They sample ethnic records, jazz, and classical etc. The world of music is much bigger than hip-hop so go out and listen.
Get new sounds: Sometimes, using the same sounds over and over again can be uninspiring. If you've used the same vst or or keyboard for a few months, you'll start to know your favorite sounds and keep using them over and over again. The result is that your beats will eventually start to have your favorite sounds appear again and again and the end result is beats that sound the same. Every once in a while, keep things fresh by buying a new vst or keyboard.
Experiment with new effects: On the flip side, sometimes, you can add a new spin to existing sounds by applying new effects to them. Effects programs like CamelSpace and CamelPhat are great programs for doing this. You'll be surprised at how different your sounds can be when you feed them into these types of programs.
Using a few of these tips above will help boost you creativity and inspiration. Remember, embrace the frustration and power through it. When you do, you will grow as a producer.
About the Author:
Curious about hip-hop beats for sale? Check out Frank Lubsey's web page to learn about how to purchase beats and to explore articles and videos about beat making.
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