how long....

dstruction wrote:

Smoove03 wrote:oh im only 20 believe it or not.

damn, smoove, i didnt know you was so young! (not too much younger than me though)
Yo, Ive been makin beats for 5 years now i think. I started with a bossDR5 (got for free), then jumped on the 2000 about a year after that. I already had a old turntable, all I needed was wax. Only other real investment i made was my 8 track recorder, which i really dont use to make beats, just to flow on. You will get your ish, man. But I know when you do, you will be hungrey enough to use it to its advantage. Just take this time before you get your mpc, to read up on this site. Jot down any useful tips you learn, and youll be ahead of the game. Oh yeah I just turned 23 on april 5, so Im a young dude too!

man i get that a lot. but yea im a youngin, but u know its all gravy. start early and get the jump on things. you'll be good by the time u 20 if you stick wit it. as far as writin, i been writin since 11. then i started gettin interested in the music behind the raps. so i started wit dreamstation (a synthesizer software) and cool edit (i mastered cool edit by the time I was 17). then i moved to fruity loops for a few years. now i got my hardware.

thanks for the comments,cuz music is all i got and i wanna make it a living!

yo kvee, we have all been there before and deal with it somethings now but if you want to make beats and it is in your heart your equiment is on its way man. just have faith. it summer, cut grass ... if you want it go get it bro. that same attitude will help you make it in the game. do not take no as an answer. do what it takes (legilly).

mwalker wrote:...it summer, cut grass ... if you want it go get it bro....do what it takes (legilly).

I agree. it aint gonna come TO YOU. you gotta go get it.

and i noticed you threw the legally part in the end...
thats good advice

Hey, I hate to admit this and scare anyone off but I started messing with samples in the late 70's. I had 2 tape decks and I would record onto one and then play it back and record into the 2nd one while adding something to it. Technology today is amazing and I still enjoy it as much as I did then. Maybe I should get off my butt and try to do something with it. Nahhhhh!!!!!.

digital_bastard wrote:Knowing how to read/write notes is highly overrated, I think. Since I stopped taking saxopone lessons, I've not used notes one single time. Now I don't even remember how to do it anymore.

Money issues suck, but you don't need a lot of hardware to start making music. Hell, if you've got a computer, buying an issue of future music will set you back 5 bucks or something, and with it comes a cut-down version of the sequencer muzys + a bunch of software instruments and effects.

When I comes to making beats I truley think that knowing how to read notes and knowing music theory and knowing how to harmonize is a def must. Say you get a dope as sample and you wan't to drop your own bassline from your keyboard youll be shit out of luck quick If you dont at least know a little bit. I think the more you know the better. It is music after all and why not learn It because It pretty simple once you get the hang. granted this is not a must, and you can make tight beats without knowing, but If you ask a pro that has made it they probably know how to read notes and know some theory. just my two cents

I have been spending the last 7 months on learning music theory. It is very helpful because now I am writing my own melodies and songs down and being able to hear pitches and intervals in my head. It takes a long time to understand, but it really basic music 101 is a must if you make music. Just to know keys, scales, chords, mode, circle of fifths, intervals, harmony, melody, and notes and octoves. It is hard to understand some of it but it gets easier when you work on it.
Like this is to me a very important thing.
Halfsteps. Check it. Halfsteps are a white to black key on a piano. Whole steps are white to white key (2 halfsteps). (cept for the ones with no black keys). Now to sum up a lot of ish, this is how chords and scales are made. Pretty simple concept. These are called intervals.
on a keyboard the first key on the keyboard is a CthenDthenEthenF(notice e + f are together?) G, A, B, C(B+C together also) again. This is an octove. C to C. This is called the Chromatic Scale. Basicly these notes, pitches, are the same all the way up the scale. this is because music is in freqs. An a note = 440 hertz. That is how digi tuners work. Now an A on octove higher is 880. They double up to = the same note only higher pitch.
Now the notes between those (black keys) are called accidentials or sharps or flats. This means whicher ever way you are going that is the note. the black key between the d e is a D # (sharp) or an E b flat.
Still with me?
Now the same half steps needed to get to one another are the same all the way up the keys, frets, whatever
Okay so a major scale is 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 This is all halfsteps.
So first note is C, then 2 jumps (c shrap to d=2halfsteps) D then go another 2 = E, nother 1 =f then 2 =g, then 2=a, then 2 =b, then 1=c. This is the halfstep formula from any note just use half steps
This means that on a key board a major chord root (first note that you hit), 4, 3.
so lets start on the first key of the piano.
C go 4 half steps, so that would be c sharp then d then d sharp then e (4 half steps)
then from there go 3 halfsteps
f (1) F sharp (2) G (3) So its a G
Hold these 3 notes (C,E,G) = major chord
Minors formula= root, 3, 4
look at the halfsteps on this page down towards the bottom. You can just memorize the halfstep pattern for any scale, chord, and you will be able to play them. GOTO
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/
Tah daow.

Learning about music is probably the most slept on thing by electronic musicians.Buy some books and teach yourself.You would be so very surprised how easy it is to make your own compositions usings samples and or synths once you know how make it all happen.I for one believe that there are alot of people out there that can come up with really good music but if you sit them in front of an intrument(keyboard,guitar,MPC,synth,turntables) they would not know how to make it all happen.Me personally I find music pretty interesting from all angles be it song writing,beat composing,DJ'ing etc...The knowledge to be the best is out there you just have to reach out and grab hold of it because it will not grab hold of you!

I learned music theory, how to read and write music and all that stuff. It's good to know but I rarely find myself applying that music knowledge when doing hip-hop. R&B, yes. But it rarely comes into play for me when doing hip-hop

Late!?! 16? SMH. I'm 26 and shit is still on. Production is different than rapping. Age doesn't really matter in the hip hop world when it comes to beats. Ryhming is a different animal altogether. All of the major producers in the game are mid to late 30's. Quincey Jones still does stuff and isn't a has been. Quiet as kept, unlike other music genres, hiphop is still young as hell and the culture is still developing as we type. This is the only pop music where a 40 something yr old parent is more in touch than his or her kids. Think about it, who created Hip Hop? A bunch of now 40 somethings from the Bronx. As the music grows, so does the audience. I grew up on this and I am not stopping. I wrote my first little rap around '86-87. Should I stop just because mtv doesn't fell me or image? No! If I were you, I'd first start looking into getting a workstation keyboard, learn how to play it, and get some theory under my belt . I repeat, learn how to play the keys, bass, and learn music theory. I order to chop shit properly ya'll need to know some theory. ( Playing the keyboard will help train your ears.) How many times have you heard soundfiles uploaded on a soundclick page where the song uses different samples, all in the wrong **** key-patchwork? look here: http://www.musictheory.net/lessons.html dude, you are at an age where you can learn all the aforementioned instruments and more an still have a life outside of this dream. one

binger0 wrote:I have been spending the last 7 months on learning music theory. It is very helpful because now I am writing my own melodies and songs down and being able to hear pitches and intervals in my head. It takes a long time to understand, but it really basic music 101 is a must if you make music. Just to know keys, scales, chords, mode, circle of fifths, intervals, harmony, melody, and notes and octoves. It is hard to understand some of it but it gets easier when you work on it.
Like this is to me a very important thing.
Halfsteps. Check it. Halfsteps are a white to black key on a piano. Whole steps are white to white key (2 halfsteps). (cept for the ones with no black keys). Now to sum up a lot of ish, this is how chords and scales are made. Pretty simple concept. These are called intervals.
on a keyboard the first key on the keyboard is a CthenDthenEthenF(notice e + f are together?) G, A, B, C(B+C together also) again. This is an octove. C to C. This is called the Chromatic Scale. Basicly these notes, pitches, are the same all the way up the scale. this is because music is in freqs. An a note = 440 hertz. That is how digi tuners work. Now an A on octove higher is 880. They double up to = the same note only higher pitch.
Now the notes between those (black keys) are called accidentials or sharps or flats. This means whicher ever way you are going that is the note. the black key between the d e is a D # (sharp) or an E b flat.
Still with me?
Now the same half steps needed to get to one another are the same all the way up the keys, frets, whatever
Okay so a major scale is 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 This is all halfsteps.
So first note is C, then 2 jumps (c shrap to d=2halfsteps) D then go another 2 = E, nother 1 =f then 2 =g, then 2=a, then 2 =b, then 1=c. This is the halfstep formula from any note just use half steps
This means that on a key board a major chord root (first note that you hit), 4, 3.
so lets start on the first key of the piano.
C go 4 half steps, so that would be c sharp then d then d sharp then e (4 half steps)
then from there go 3 halfsteps
f (1) F sharp (2) G (3) So its a G
Hold these 3 notes (C,E,G) = major chord
Minors formula= root, 3, 4
look at the halfsteps on this page down towards the bottom. You can just memorize the halfstep pattern for any scale, chord, and you will be able to play them. GOTO
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/
Tah daow.

Take a class at community college. you will learn all of this stuff above and more. Whats three hours a week, for three months for a lifetime of skills?

The only way to get the gear is hard work and dedication. To buy my MPC it took me about a month and a half of saving, cutting down on my spending (peanut butter and jelly sandwitches for lunch EVERY DAY), and using my income tax refund. Worked out for the better cause I'm very happy with my purchase and my experiences in music I wouldn't trade for hte world.

jonloc wrote:

binger0 wrote:I have been spending the last 7 months on learning music theory. It is very helpful because now I am writing my own melodies and songs down and being able to hear pitches and intervals in my head. It takes a long time to understand, but it really basic music 101 is a must if you make music. Just to know keys, scales, chords, mode, circle of fifths, intervals, harmony, melody, and notes and octoves. It is hard to understand some of it but it gets easier when you work on it.
Like this is to me a very important thing.
Halfsteps. Check it. Halfsteps are a white to black key on a piano. Whole steps are white to white key (2 halfsteps). (cept for the ones with no black keys). Now to sum up a lot of ish, this is how chords and scales are made. Pretty simple concept. These are called intervals.
on a keyboard the first key on the keyboard is a CthenDthenEthenF(notice e + f are together?) G, A, B, C(B+C together also) again. This is an octove. C to C. This is called the Chromatic Scale. Basicly these notes, pitches, are the same all the way up the scale. this is because music is in freqs. An a note = 440 hertz. That is how digi tuners work. Now an A on octove higher is 880. They double up to = the same note only higher pitch.
Now the notes between those (black keys) are called accidentials or sharps or flats. This means whicher ever way you are going that is the note. the black key between the d e is a D # (sharp) or an E b flat.
Still with me?
Now the same half steps needed to get to one another are the same all the way up the keys, frets, whatever
Okay so a major scale is 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 This is all halfsteps.
So first note is C, then 2 jumps (c shrap to d=2halfsteps) D then go another 2 = E, nother 1 =f then 2 =g, then 2=a, then 2 =b, then 1=c. This is the halfstep formula from any note just use half steps
This means that on a key board a major chord root (first note that you hit), 4, 3.
so lets start on the first key of the piano.
C go 4 half steps, so that would be c sharp then d then d sharp then e (4 half steps)
then from there go 3 halfsteps
f (1) F sharp (2) G (3) So its a G
Hold these 3 notes (C,E,G) = major chord
Minors formula= root, 3, 4
look at the halfsteps on this page down towards the bottom. You can just memorize the halfstep pattern for any scale, chord, and you will be able to play them. GOTO
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/
Tah daow.

Take a class at community college. you will learn all of this stuff above and more. Whats three hours a week, for three months for a lifetime of skills?

I did take community college course on Music Theroy 101. And a lot of it was timing and notation. Basic stuff. Then they went into periods. I didnt learn anything new. But intervals and halfsteps have opened doors that I never new exsited.

Hey, i just wanna tell kvee something about how i saved up. You'll need a job obviously. Try a video store or something. I straght up stopped smoking pot, so don't start, and barred drinking(I couldn't save before that). Also, soft drinks are expensive and harmful to your body, you r made of water, drink it, it's cheap! I'm 21 now and started at around 18 and have got all I need to make music. Keep it simple(ends up cheaper) and know your craft as best you can on software sequencers till u know that the money wil be worth it. Peace and good fortune!
Oh and so everyone knows, 9th Wonder who produces for big brother, uses fruity loops, check him out if u can. He got work now with Jay Z. Not biggin up fruity loops, just sayin the limitations to your music are not in your gear. Though Mpcs are quick to lay nice ish down

Big Brother? You mean Little Brother, 9th Wonder produces for Little Brother. Big Brother is a tv show, and the codename for Uncle Sam who I owe money to on my income taxes... remember, he's watching!