SAMPLEDHow Do You Make Beats as a Beginner?
A step-by-step guide to making your first beat: the gear you need, the order to build it in, and the mistakes that keep new producers stuck.
Making beats is easier to start than ever. You need a computer, free software and headphones. What takes time is learning the order to build a beat in, so you finish tracks instead of looping eight bars forever.
What do you need to start making beats?
- A computer. Almost any recent laptop works. See what computer you need to run a DAW.
- A DAW (music software). Free options are fine to start. Here are the best free DAWs for beginners.
- Headphones or speakers. Closed headphones are the cheapest accurate way to hear your beat.
- Optional: a MIDI keyboard or pad controller. Helpful, but you can click notes in with a mouse.
What are the steps to make a beat?
1. Pick a tempo and a vibe
Tempo (BPM) sets the feel. Rough starting points:
| Style | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Boom bap | 85–95 |
| Lo-fi | 70–90 |
| Trap | 130–160 (often felt at half time) |
| R&B | 60–80 |
| House | 120–128 |
2. Start with drums
Lay down a kick, a snare or clap, and hi-hats. Keep it simple: a kick on beat one, snare on two and four, and steady hats. Groove matters more than complexity.
3. Add the 808 or bass
The bass should follow the kick. In trap, the 808 usually hits with or right after the kick and plays the root note of the chord.
4. Add a melody or sample
Play a chord progression, write a melody, or chop a sample. If you sample, learn the rules first — clearing samples protects you once a song makes money.
5. Arrange it
A loop isn't a beat yet. Copy your loop across the timeline and build sections: intro, verse, hook, verse, hook, outro. Remove elements to create contrast — dropping the drums for two bars before a hook is a classic move.
6. Mix it
Balance the levels so the kick, 808 and main melody are clear. Our guide to what EQ is in music covers the main tool for making parts fit together, and gain staging keeps everything clean.
Photo: Smithsonian Institution via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) (CC0)
What mistakes do beginner producers make?
- Never finishing. Set a 60-minute timer and export something, even if it's rough.
- Too many sounds. Three or four strong parts beat ten weak ones.
- Mixing too loud. Leave headroom so the track can be mastered later.
- Buying gear instead of practicing. Your first 50 beats teach more than any plug-in.
How long does it take to get good at making beats?
Most producers say it takes a year or more of regular practice to make beats they're proud of. The fastest way to improve is volume: make a beat every day, study songs you love, and recreate their drum patterns.
How do you make money from beats?
Once you have a catalog, you can lease or sell beats online. Our guide to the best websites to sell beats online compares the main options.