Producing is a stage of making a song. Self-producing is when a gifted multi-instrumental plays all instruments to record a song. More so is it is its own composition.
If you are not a multi-instrumentalist able to play more than one instrument, you probably are more into beat-making for yourself.
The first thing to look out for is doing something else than intended. It isn’t uncommon to start a project and then end up with a completely different beat. There is nothing wrong with that. But if you practice staying on what you decided in the first place, it will result in a new skill. Composing and creating what you have in your mind. Let’s say you decide to do a trap beat, in the meanwhile you get inspiration for something else, depending on your priority I suggest you record quickly that idea and then back to the original trap beat project. If the new idea is powerful, close the trap beat project and start a new one but don’t diverge as soon as you get stoked, and don’t overlay this different idea on the trap beat project. By doing so you will keep the project separated and will be able to retrieve the trap beat later.
Soon you will start to complete beats by training yourself to follow your directions. It takes diligence at first, but then it becomes a habit. This way you can aim for any mood, type, and pursue it with confidence.
Another thing to look out, losing yourself in a sound library. You maybe know what I’m talking about. Sometimes you start the search for something in a library instead of “creating” it or recording it. What happens is that you focus too much on this, that composing becomes secondary and when you get back your momentum is gone.
A solution is to arrange a draft for the length of the song, following the lyrics if you have them, using a couple of main instruments. A lead and a rhythm. For example, you are composing a dramatic hip-hop beat, you know what instrument you want on it. As soon as you’ve got the melody and simple chord progression layout them for the entire length of the song with a rhythm instrument (high hats, for example, nothing that captures the attention but you can lean on). Takes notes of the chord progression in a dedicated sheet that you will need later when adding other instruments to match the progression. Then when adding a new instrument follow your chord progression sheet and when possible go from start to end. Anyway, at this moment you capture the main intention of the song, what you just need to do now is compose around what you have and fix them to facilitate new sound to be inserted.
Last but not least is other distractions. I know it is hard to turn your phone ringing off and that there are e-mail, social media, and things to be done. If you organize yourself to dedicate a certain moment to beat-making you will see an increase in enjoyment and project achievement because your mind will be set for it.
In conclusion, is all about self-discipline and willingness to do it. If it brings you joy a bit more consistency will only help you out. If not making money, at least making you happy for doing better beats.
