DJ Samples - Learn How to Make Music at Home on your PC!

Making music has never been easier because you no longer need to know how to play an instrument, and you do not need band members to create beats or songs. You can learn how to make music at home on your PC which you can later burn to a CD, add to a video, or just have fun with.

Technology has changed the way music is created, even professionals rely on computer software programs to make or tweak their music. Learning how to create music on a computer is easy because some music making software is designed for beginners, and others are more complex and created with advanced users in mind.

A few terms you become familiar with are MIDI sequencer, VST plug-ins, tracks, EQ, and distortion; to name a few. Music programs are easy to install, and set up to match your computer components. You will need a quality sound card, and either speakers or a headset. If you will be recording vocals then you will also need a microphone.

A track in music making software is a horizontal time line. Tracks are used for separate instruments. Each bar in a track represents a whole note, so if you use quarter notes you will have four beats per bar, and half notes would be two beats, etc.

For example, if you have four tracks you might use one for the kick drum, beneath that track might be a track for snares, then some high-hats, and bass. Each track is independent so you can adjust the volume, add effects, pan left or right, and do much more. Keep in mind that the drums are usually dominate in beats and songs because they carry the rest of the instruments and sounds.

The layout/structure of a song
A basic structure of music will consist of common parts such as, a 2-4 bar intro, a 16 bar verse, the chorus or hook (in rap and hip hop) which is 8 bars, a 20-32 bar bridge, and an Outro of 16 or more bars. These parts are mixed to make a complete song or beat. You may have the intro, a verse, chorus/hook, verse, chorus/hook, bridge, verse, chorus/hook, verse, chorus/hook, verse, outro; but there is no hard rule to the layout.

Beats per minute and tempo vary, 75-105 bpm is slow, 105-120 bpm is moderate, and 120-150 fast. Understanding these basics will help you prepare to make some music.

Software synthesizers and VST plug-ins allow you to add cool effects. Also, there is software to create MIDI instrument tracks using only your computer keyboard and mouse. Or an electronic keyboard can be plugged into the computer, and used with music making software to create tracks.

Once you learn how to make music at home on your PC you'll know why it is so popular. It is easy, effective, and the future of music making. Create samples, backtracks, beats, and songs like a pro, all from the comfort of your own home studio.