How To Make Pop Beats: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making pop beats can be very stimulating and also very difficult. The all-in-one guide we present to you takes you through the steps that are necessary for you to make pop beats that beat the ears of listeners. These tricks are going to be of help in case you're a starting point or an expert producer in making music, these tricks are going to be of help to you in refining your sound and upgrading your music production skills.This article was curated from the Make Pop Music YouTube Channel's video How To Produce A Pop Song In 10 Steps | Make Pop Music . This has to be one of the best channels on YouTube that only focuses heavily on making pop beats and this channel has tons of content around making commercial pop music.

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How To Make Pop Beats: A Step-by-Step Guide 2

How To Make Pop Beats: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making pop beats can be very stimulating and also very difficult. The

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Track Preview

Prior to immersing yourself into the complex methodology of pop beat production, it is highly recommended to have a preview of the track you’re going to create. A structured preview is the best way to create the sound and the direction for your beat. Begin by listening to the pop songs that impact you most. Mark the outstanding elements that make them different from others like the lead melody, chord progressions, and rhythmic patterns. These will aid you in forming an outline for your own work.

Introduction

Crafting pop type beats is an exhilarating adventure. The type of music is multifaceted, merging a multitude of the inspiration and types. This manual will aside you through the main steps you need to know and tactics you must use to come up ith your own irresistible pop beats. From the choice of the most suitable lead melody to the structuring of your beat each element is fundamental in outlining your sound.

Step 1 – Finding Your Lead Melody

The main track is preeminent in establishing the character of a pop commerical beat. It is the part responsible for the initial impression and the primary motivation to the whole composition. Choose an instrument that you find comfortable with; a guitar, piano, or synth would do just fine. Test out different melodies until you identify one that fits perfectly. Always bear in mind that keeping it simple is the way to go most of the time in a pop tune.

After finding your lead melody, you should think of double tracking it to get the fuller sound. Panning the tracks to the left or to the right creates a stereo effect, which makes it more enriching for the listener. A piece that easily gets stuck in the listener’s head and is relatively simple to remember will be the lead melody that drives the listener through the song.

Example of lead melody

Step 2 – Build Out Chords

Having established a good lead melody, it’s now the right moment to blend in some accompanying chords. These are the chords that elevate the melody and give it a richer sound. Seek out suspended chords or bright triads which go well with the melody. The secret is to underscore the main riff mostly without taking it out of the picture.

Your chords can be more pronounced by blending them with various textures and sounds. The unique touch of a synth or plucked sounds can be achieved in this way. The combination of your lead melody and chords serves as the fundamental basis for the further development of the track.

Chords supporting the lead melody

Step 3 – Build The Rhythm

Every pop song is rhythm-based. The easiest way to begin the process is to write the simple drum pattern. You need to fix primarily with the kick and snare placing since they are the most energetic elements in the song. The main idea is often to put the kick on the lodgment and the snare on the lodgment. As a result, it will create the foundation of the track that others will enjoy.

Try various combinations of kicks to make your rhythm bounce. Syncopation is a technique that can make your beat sound more interesting and active. Do not use too many complex patterns that take the focus away from the primary elements of the song.

 

At last, you can add some more percussive elements to give the piece both texture and dimensionality. Hi-hats, claps, and rim shots can improve the rhythmic feel, which will then allow your pop beat to be livelier and more danceable.

Building the rhythm with drums

Step 4 – Add A Bassline

To create a strong bassline, you can either adhere to the chord sequence or select a permanent pedal note. I prefer a catchy way of creating the bass in this case as it lets the bass move on its own as well as complement the other elements. For our song, we chose a vacant bass sound from the disco pop pack, which brings depth to the mix without overshadowing it.

This bassline has to have some relationship with the kick drum, but it doesn’t need to play on all of them. Set it up that way, like the tide, coming in and out, to make a groove that is beneficial to the rhythm but not overpowering the arrangement. The bass and the kick together will bring strength to your pop beat.

Adding a melodic bassline

Step 5 – Layer, Layer, Layer

After establishing the core components, it becomes the right time to mix in various layers for your music to sound full and rich. At this point, you can begin creating the distinct pop beat that nobody else has. The ideas for adding texture, motion, and countermelodies are greatly welcomed. For example, the introduction of extra synths in a patch can result in a more dynamic soundscape.

 

 

Think about adding a second pluck sound to make the mix thicker. This pluck should have a slight distortion in order to give its more bite and make it more prominent in the mix. An EQ adjustment, that is positioned well, can help to blend these layers together very well.

Furthermore, vocal chops can introduce a very fascinating rhythmic element. First, you need to record a simple melody, then you process it with effects like reverb and distortion, finally you slice it to fit into the syncopate. The use of this method makes your track sound more complex, and it seems to move more.

Layering additional sounds for depth

Step 6 – Layer Up Percussion

Next, make sure to work on your percussions. The pop beat can be fully lifted with a thick percussive layer. To start with, you can add different snaps and claps to the beat and thus create a fuller rhythm. Each snap can do a different thing, like add looseness or provide body to the snare.

Utilize a multitude of snare sounds to add variety to your work. Consider using a super-roomy snare to achieve a rare nostalgic feel; exactly like The 1975 who used it. Processing the snares with reverb and compression has the potential to help them be in the front of the mix but still melodic.

Hi-hats and other percussion sounds, such as a trap loop or a cymbal hit, must not be left off in the layering. These sectorials will inject movement and keep your audience engaged. Keep in mind that the aim is to keep it balanced; there should be sufficient percussion to create the effect of the movement but not so much as to overshadow the leading elements.

Layering percussion for added rhythm

Step 7 – Adding Dynamics

An exciting way to make your track different is to add dynamics by diversifying the arrangement throughout the song. For instance, such can be accomplished by shifting the chord progressions or by using new instruments in the pre-chorus which in turn will better the contrast.

A great example to demonstrate this feature is the Rhodes keyboard, which by using it, you could easily add a totally different texture when transitioning between sections. The busy pattern that is played on the Rhodes can include more movement and help to put in the tension that is needed in the beginning of the chorus.

Make use of different pluck sounds and pads to assemble a dense synth layer. Consequently, every segment of the song will have a unique character and yet they will form a whole sound which will flow together perfectly. Besides, the addition of another hi-hat loop or an electric bongo loop will give a human touch and make the energy running.

Creating dynamics in the arrangement

Step 8 – Add Lead Vocal

The lead vocal is the core part of everything. It is a must that the vocal melody is in harmony with the instrumental arrangement. When creating the lead vocal, aside from the fact that the overall vibe of the song should be considered, the different sections must be taken in a way that they are/ Correspondingly.

Utilize changes in melody and rhythm in different parts of the verses and chorus. This will hold the listeners’ attention and create a feeling of development. For example, you might consider making the verse melody simpler before you give the chorus a more active and strong performance.

Be sure to stack the singing part with harmonies, and add ad-libs which could deepen the arrangement. Making several takes of distinct vocal lines is a lovely way to produce a denser quality that benefits the overall music of the composition. Every vocal layer needs to have a particular reason to be there, for instance, to add a kind of catchy tune, or to assist the main vocal part.

Adding lead vocal to the mix

Step 9 – Add Vocal Production

Vocal production is vital in completing pop beats. The first step is to put delay throws to add depth to the lead vocal without any overhanging. This method brings a very dry sound to the vocal but supplements some of the phrases. You can copy the main file vocal and add a delay effect, changing the wet/dry mix to feel smooth.

Adding delay throws to the lead vocal

Following that, you can add a falsetto harmony, which will contribute to the richness, especially in parts where the bass and drums are played. This harmony should be in line with the lead vocal but still be different, thus it would enrich the overall sound and not overshadow it. You can set a doubler and reverb to create a large bright effect, but filter the sound to keep clarity.

Adding falsetto harmony to the vocals

Want to have a more complete vocal presence? Then, try using an artificial low. All you need to do is to duplicate the lead vocal, create a pitch that is down an octave, and employ auto-tune. You should include it under the main vocal to add fullness, and remember to keep the mix balanced.

Creating an artificial low vocal layer

Pre-chorus is the part of the song where you can texture a vocoder to it. Shape the same MIDI chords as the ones used in your earlier arrangement, thus making a vocoder just to eat the whole sound. This will, in turn, make the pre-chorus section fuller and the transition to the chorus quite smooth.

Using a vocoder in the pre-chorus

Lastly, replicate vocal tracks in the chorus by layering them. Use harmonies and different melodies to make the chorus more beautiful and attractive. Duplicate the lead voice for extra width and apply the effects reverb and delay to bring out a feeling of emptiness. This combination of tracks would make sure that the chorus would be catchy and notable.

Layering vocals in the chorus

Step 10 – Add FX & Transitions

Using effects and transitions is important for your pop beat to sound polished, thus, you should add them. First, try to use risers and sweeps that cover the void to create expectation and then move on to the next section. These effects would be best if they are slight yet having a significant effect on the track’s movement.

Adding risers and sweeps for transitions

Employ the use of cymbal swells and hits for introducing a more dynamic downbeat. The addition of these elements transforms the whole thing into the energetic and lively way, so that the music transitions are more natural. A cymbal that is perfectly placed makes a statement about the music, and thus gives a hint to the audience.

Using cymbal swells for transitions

You may want to add shakers or other percussion intrusments to the mix to make it more full. These gives brightness and energy to the music, making it more interesting to listen to. Use reverb to create space for these sounds, making them fit nicely with the others.

Incorporating shakers for texture

Full Listen Through

It’s time to have an entire listen-through after you finish your pop beat. The step provides you with the possibility to check the track’s uniformity. Focus on the transitions, vocal layers, and the general arrangement. Write down the parts that may need some adjustments or improvements.

Listening to the full track

The entire listening experience allows you to pick out the sudden transitions or the out-of-the-ordinary segments. It is a chance for you to fine-tune your mix and make sure everything is in order. A well-defined structure and interesting components will make your pop beat in harmony with the listeners.

Outro

The process of forming pop beats includes a series of deliberate maneuvers that consistently develop together. Each part starting from the selection of the lead melody, to the insertion of vocal production and effects, forms an essential part of the puzzle in making a complete track. Experimenting with new ideas and improving your sound should be your main priority while you are in the process of coming up with skills. The path of producing pop beats is a continuous one, and every project you work on will improve your abilities as a producer.

FAQs About Making Pop Beats

What tools do I need to start making pop beats?

A digital audio workstation (DAW), a high-quality headphone or speaker set, along with some virtual instruments or samples are the essential tools needed for this task. The majority of the DAWs you can find in the market today feature preloaded samples that suit the genre of pop music perfectly. Daw Examples Logic Pro X, FL-Studio, Ableton, and Pro Tools

Can I make pop beats without any musical background?

Definitely! Most of the iconic music producers hardly knew anything about music at the beginning. It would help a lot to start with simple things like melody, harmony, and rhythm but the real secret is to test it out and practice.

How can I make my pop beats more unique?

You might consider the addition of other musical genres or the use of unusual sounds and samples to your music. The combination of different musical instruments and the addition of unique effects are two other ways by which you can make your beats original and different from other music makers.

Where can I find samples and sounds for pop production?

There are numerous online resources where you can find high-quality samples and loops. Websites like Splice, Loopmasters, and even our own Curated Videos & Articles On How To Make Beats provide great options for producers.

How do I know if my pop beat is ready for release?

Listen to your gut! If the mix, arrangement, and overall sound are to your liking, it is possibly good to go. Other people’s viewpoints could be of great help to you in judging if your track is okay for release.