How to Make Electronic Music: A Beginner's Guide

"I want to make music, but I have no idea where to start." That's probably the sentence we hear most often from people dreaming of producing electronic music. And you know what? It's completely okay not to know. We were all beginners once.

You Need Less Than You Think

Let's start with some liberating news: You can make professional electronic music with a computer and a pair of headphones. That's it. No expensive synthesizers, no fancy studio, no music degree. And when you're ready to create your own unique sounds, you can dive into sound design [see our course].

Of course, you can invest in gear later – and it can be super fun – but it's not a prerequisite for getting started. Some of the world's biggest producers have made hits on a laptop in their bedroom.

What Is Electronic Music, Really?

Electronic music is, at its core, music that is created or processed with electronic equipment. It can be anything from techno and house to ambient, drum & bass, dubstep, hip-hop beats, and pop production.

The cool thing about electronic music is that you are the entire band. You're the drummer, bassist, keyboard player, and producer all at once. You build the music layer by layer, sound by sound, and shape it exactly as you want.

What You Need to Get Started

1. A Computer

Mac or PC – both work fine. Most modern computers can run music production software without any problems. If your computer can stream video and run regular programs, it can probably make music too.

2. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

A DAW is the software you make music in. Think of it as your digital studio. The most popular ones are:

• Ableton Live – fantastic for electronic music and live performance
• FL Studio – popular among beatmakers and hip-hop producers
• Logic Pro – Mac only, but powerful and reasonably priced

All three have free trial versions, so you can try them before you decide. At Rumkraft, we teach Ableton Live because we love its workflow for creative expression – but all DAWs can make fantastic music.

3. Headphones or Speakers

You need something to listen to your music with. A decent pair of headphones is fine to start with. Studio monitors (active speakers designed for music production) are nice-to-have, but not a must in the beginning.

First Steps: From Zero to Music

Start by Listening Actively

Before diving into software, spend some time listening to music in a new way. Pick a track you love and try to break it apart in your head:

• What are the drums doing?
• When does the bass come in?
• How is the energy built up?
• What happens in the breakdown?

This kind of active listening is one of the most important skills you can develop as a producer.

Get to Know Your DAW

Install your chosen DAW and spend time exploring it. Click around, try things out, make noise. Don't be afraid of breaking anything – you can always undo or start over.

Most DAWs come with a library of sounds, loops, and instruments. Use them! There's no shame in using preset sounds, especially when learning. Even professional producers use presets as starting points.

Build Your First Beat

Start simple. A basic electronic beat typically consists of:

• Kick – the deep "bump" on 1 and 3 (or all four beats in house/techno)
• Snare/Clap – the sharp hit on 2 and 4
• Hi-hats – the fast, bright sounds that drive the rhythm forward

It might sound simple, but this is the foundation of most electronic music. Once you've got the basic beat down, you can start experimenting with variations, fills, and more complex rhythms.

The Most Important Workflow Tip: Finish Things

Here's perhaps the most important advice in this entire article: It's better to finish 10 mediocre tracks than to have 100 unfinished projects.

As a beginner, it's tempting to start new projects all the time. You have a cool idea, make 8 bars, and then it doesn't quite work... so you start something new. We've all been there.

But the truth is that you learn the most from finishing things. It's at the end of the process – the mix, the arrangement, the final details – that you really develop as a producer.

Set Time Limits

A good exercise is to give yourself a timeframe. Tell yourself: "I have 2 hours to make a track from start to finish." It doesn't have to be perfect – it just has to be done.

You'll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you don't have time to overthink everything.

Avoid These Beginner Mistakes

Buying Too Much Gear Too Quickly

It's tempting to believe that the next synthesizer or plugin will solve all your problems. But the truth is that limitations often foster creativity. Learn what you have before buying more.

Comparing Yourself to Professionals

The producer you admire probably has 10,000+ hours behind them. It's okay that your first tracks don't sound like Aphex Twin or Bicep. That's actually completely normal.

Working in Isolation

Music production can feel lonely, especially when you're stuck. But you don't have to do it alone. Find a community – online or physical – where you can share your music, get feedback, and learn from others.

Find Your Community

This is probably the most important point in this entire article. The best way to learn is together with others.

When you're stuck at 11 PM and can't figure out why your mix sounds muddy – that's when it's invaluable to have someone to ask. A friend, a mentor, a community. People who understand what you're trying to achieve and can help you move forward.

That was exactly the situation we found ourselves in when we started. And that's why we founded Rumkraft in 2015. We wanted to create the community and support that we ourselves had been missing.

Next Steps: Try It Yourself

The best way to find out if music production is for you is simply to try it. Download a free DAW trial and play with it. Watch some tutorials. Make some noise.

And if you'd like to try it in the company of others – with professional equipment and experienced instructors to guide you – come by our monthly open house.

We look forward to meeting you!