· Learn the basics

You don’t start making beats overnight. Develop your knowledge on the subject and learn the jargon. Just like any other subject, beat making has its own language. From simple terms we’re all familiar with like bass, treble, and mix, to MIDI, the basic language used for most production software out there.

· Find quality software

You don’t have to buy the most expensive gear money can buy, but you also don’t want to buy shoddy stuff because it’s cheap. Invest in something that will help you produce great music until you make enough profit to pay for top-of-the-line software. There is quality software out there that is not going to empty your pockets.

· Know your materials/equipment

When building a personal studio, you’ll need more than just software. There are so many different types of microphones, headphones, audio mixers, etc. and cables to go with everything. Look around before you go to the store and end up with the most expensive piece of equipment that doesn’t do anything similar to what you thought it would.

· read your manuals

I’ve never bought anything that didn’t come with a manual/instructions and I doubt you do. A lot of us like to play around with the material until we figure it out and a lot of times that works. However, as we begin this production journey, the last thing we want to do is damage our investment. There are also manuals to help you better understand your equipment.

· practice practice practice

Allen Iverson might not agree with this advice, but where did it lead him? A league MVP, no Olympic gold medals, no NBA championships! Do you know who he practiced? Michael Jordan who has 5 league MVP awards, 2 Olympic gold medals and 6 NBA championships. Raw talent will only get you so far; You must hone your craft to rise to the next level. So would you rather be AI or MJ?

· Patience

Learning to produce a quality song doesn’t happen overnight. Producers take hours to create ONE song. Since you’re just starting out, the first 5 beats you make won’t be your best work (I hope not, we want to continually improve anyway). Keep it up and don’t let a few disappointments derail you from your goal of making a great beat. This goes back to the tip above, the more you practice, the better you will become.

· Network

How is anyone going to know you’re the next big thing if you don’t jump in? Join a forum related to song production and set up an account on a site that will allow you to promote and sell your beats. Audiojungle, Soundclick, Soundcloud, and MyFlashStore are a few to get you started.

· Be the first in you!

Do you want to be the next Kanye, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland or Dr. Dre? Well, I think you’d like to be a better one. How about being the first to be you? If a popular artist wants a Kanye West sound for his next song, he won’t come to you; they’re going to go to Kanye. He finds your own sound. That way, when someone wants your sound, they will come to you.

Keep these tips in mind and follow them, then you will be well on your way to becoming a successful producer. I look forward to hearing your music.