Starting your music production journey is exciting, but it’s also easy to fall into bad habits or waste time on the wrong things. Whether you’re trying to make your first Drum and Bass track or experimenting with House or Techno, knowing what to avoid can fast-track your progress.
In this post, we’ll go over some of the most common mistakes new music producers make – and how to fix them.
1. Focusing too much on gear instead of skills
Many beginners think they need expensive plugins or hardware to make great music. The truth? Some of the best producers started with nothing but stock sounds and a basic laptop. Don’t get caught in the trap of gear envy.
Fix it: Focus on learning your DAW, practicing arrangement and mixing, and using what you already have. Limit yourself to a few tools and learn them inside-out.
Read our last blog post on why limitations make you a better producer.
2. Trying to finish a perfect track before learning the process
It’s tempting to try and polish your very first track until it sounds like a professional release – but that can hold you back. Your first 20 tracks won’t be perfect, and that’s fine.
Fix it: Set a goal to finish more music rather than perfecting one track. Each finished project will teach you more than months of tweaking one idea.
3. Ignoring arrangement and structure
Many new producers can create a great 8-bar loop but struggle to turn it into a full track. Without arrangement, your ideas won’t go anywhere.
Fix it: Use reference tracks in your genre to study structure. Copy their arrangement to understand how intros, breakdowns, builds, and drops flow.
Read this blog post on finishing music.
4. Overloading the mix with too many elements
Less is more – especially in electronic music. Too many layers can muddy the mix and take away from the energy of your core elements.
Fix it: Keep your mix clean by focusing on a strong core idea. Use fewer, high-quality sounds instead of stacking loads of samples.
5. Not using references
Producing without a reference track is like navigating without a map. You’ll get lost and spend too much time guessing.
Fix it: Always compare your track to a professionally mixed song in the same genre. It’ll help guide your levels, arrangement, and overall vibe.
6. Neglecting sound selection
No amount of EQ or compression can fix a bad sound. Picking the right samples and synth patches upfront is half the battle.
Fix it: Spend time curating sounds that already sit well together. Choose samples with intent, and don’t just throw sounds in at random.
Read our blog post on curating your own sample library.
7. Avoiding feedback
It can be scary to share your music, but getting constructive feedback is one of the fastest ways to improve.
Fix it: Share your tracks with other producers or join online communities. Be open to criticism – it’s how you grow.
Conclusion
Avoiding these beginner mistakes won’t make you a pro overnight – but it’ll stop you from spinning your wheels. The key is to stay focused on learning, finishing tracks, and improving one step at a time.
Happy producing.
Conrad @ Quantum Samples
