Starting Point

[dahkter]

Normally when I get to making a track, I start by going through some preset sounds. In the past, I used to normally start by going through some vinyl for samples. Once I got a foundation, I add tracks until it seems full.
I see that many formally trained musicians, normally they think of a song in their head, and then sit down at the piano or pick up a guitar and make it happen.
I'm wondering what people's starting points are, how they go from walking into a room to creating the foundation of a track.
Me personally, I'm thinking of incorporating more thinking before playing this year...

 

[Relic]

I hear it alot of times first, but many times Ill just listen to samples then peice it all together.
If Im strictly composing I str8 hear it .

 

[2GooD Productions]

Sometimes I hear a little melody in my head and just recreate it with the keyboard. Then I add a beat and then other samples/synths until its full. Other times I start by programming a drum pattern then see what I can come up with on the keyboard. I normally try to come up with something repetetive melodywise, and then build on the repetiveness by adding variation of all kinds(beat changes/extra layers/dropouts etc).
Other times when using samples the direction is some way dictated by the samples.

 

[P.Noccio]

I just take a seat behind the piano and start playing.. when I'm playing a melody starts to come up and than I just seek the matching chords.. and also sometimes I got something in my mind that I like and I try to figure that out. I'm not that good with samples.. how do you make samples? do you use specific software for sampling or do you just cut it in fl or other programs?

 

[Relic]

I just take a seat behind the piano and start playing.. when I'm playing a melody starts to come up and than I just seek the matching chords.. and also sometimes I got something in my mind that I like and I try to figure that out. I'm not that good with samples.. how do you make samples? do you use specific software for sampling or do you just cut it in fl or other programs?

We listen to , well we'll say YOU playing the piano, and we hear a riff that we like, its mixed a certain way its played a certain way w/e.. So we use either hardware (mpc) or software (Reason) and sample that riff, maybe we chop it into smaller samples so you dont know that it was you who played it anymore. Then we "flip" (play it our own way) the sample into a beat that we make.
Capiche?

 

[Low G]

I usually start something 3 different ways depending on how I'm feeling.

1. flip up a sample
2. play some chords or a basic melody
3. make a drum pattern

Each way has lead to something good but I think the most important part is thinking before you move. Plan your path before you walk it sort of thing.

 

[P.Noccio]

We listen to , well we'll say YOU playing the piano, and we hear a riff that we like, its mixed a certain way its played a certain way w/e.. So we use either hardware (mpc) or software (Reason) and sample that riff, maybe we chop it into smaller samples so you dont know that it was you who played it anymore. Then we "flip" (play it our own way) the sample into a beat that we make.
Capiche?

Yup, thanks.. I'm gonna give it a shot sometime

 

[2nd_Man]

I'm not really gifted when it comes to music, I don't really hear melodies to often or get sparks on inspiration. But it starts with a melody, whether it is an idea, or whether im jus playin the keys and hear something, or w/e. then you jus start buildin harmonies, counter melodies, or a change of rhythm, whatever sounds gd
idk, im still new to beat makin, i dont have a particular methodology developed yet, and i think it would b gd not to have one at all, keeps your mind open and your ideas fresh