Your Ears: The Most Important Equipment You Own

 Active Listening

"Seek to understand, then to be understood..." -- Monroe

One of the most important skills a music producer can practice is active listening. Studying the works of other prominent musicians will help you develop a strong creative mindset. One thing I learned from binging YouTube tutorials is, the more fluent producers have taken the time to study the greats rather than to consume tutorials. We often watch in admiration as notable YouTubers create simple beats that become the substance of our envy; however, those creators have taken the time to groom their sonic palettes.

Style/Genre

Before you begin entering the realm of active listening you should have a clear understanding of the genre you are attempting to study. It will be helpful to be a fan before becoming a student. Whatever genre attracts you the art of music production should be where you begin your journey. It will be much easier to spend countless hours listening to styles you are familiar with than to leap into a genre you aren’t likely to use. Make the process of active listening enjoyable, especially in the beginning.

Identify the Elements

When listening to the songs you enjoy, take time to make notes about what types of elements are used and how they complement each other. Ask yourself questions about how the elements function within each phrase related to each other. Are they layered together and presented as cohesive, or are they in conversation with each other? How much space appears between the elements. The more questions you develop about the song, the more you will engage.

Focus on Your Craft

Active listening will separate you from the average beatmaker. The more you put into studying the craft of production, the faster you will improve. After years of studying music production, I wish I’d put more time into breaking down compositions. It’s ok, I have already learned everything else, this is my last subject before capitalizing on my efforts. You have the chance to shave a lot of time off the learning curve if you develop your ears early in your career/journey.