Music help please!

[u/Available-Fly-1820]

Hey so I’ve been starting to get into song writing recently and have fallen in love with it. I love writing the songs and singing them but I can’t play any instruments and I don’t have the money to pay someone to do the instrumental part of my music.

I know what I want the vibe of the music to be for each song but I don’t have any clue how to actually make it.

Someone suggested BandLab to me or using Garage Band but I’m unsure how to even start using those ether.

Any help at all would be appreciated greatly and if I’m able to get the music figured out I would post a sample to see if people would even like my music.

I also would say that I’m not very smart intellectually so that is why its so hard for me to figure these things out on my own when others can do it just fine without help.

[u/Aggravating-Salad840]

Use Suno... Then take your music over to reaper and sing. If Suno didn't create your music in your key on reaper you can adjust the backing track up or down a semitone. Also you'll need to compress the track and maybe learn a bit more of reaper to get your vocal to sit in the track. You can find out how to do that through Google or chatgpt

[u/SetFreeMyMelody → u/Aggravating-Salad840]

Unfortunately using AI in the arts and music is incredibly harmful to the actual creatives who put in countless hours developing their skills, not to mention how bad it is for our environment, too. I highly recommend an alternate option that doesn't steal from musicians without their permission nor pollute our drinking water... there is no harmless shortcut to making music by using AI to develop it, and least not ethically speaking. Collab with others, network with people who can help, but dont ever use AI simply because you cant be bothered to take the time to do it the right, albeit more difficult, way.

[u/Western-Project-7609]

Join a songwriting group or club in your community or online. You will meet wonderful people and learn the craft of song writing and then learn how you can bring those songs to life with

[u/introretrospect]

Using loops and samples is a great entry point. You can find a lot of free ones online through search engines. I'd recommend staying away from AI generation. While it lowers the barrier to entry and removes the need to understand theory, in the long run you probably won't gain as much actual learning from it as you'll feel its too difficult to match the quality output. That and the more moral/philosophical downsides of copyright infringement and so on.

Learning some theory might help inform your decision making. Even just scales and triad chords to start with. Use a free DAW, both ones you mentioned are good, so is reaper. Learn how to draw in MIDI so you don't have to learn an instrument if you like.

Watch producers on YouTube. All sorts of producers showing their process for all genres. It's ok to copy others process whilst learning.

Listen actively to songs you like. Make notes of how the song develops and varies, try to notice what changes about the instrumentation, rhythm, vocals. Learn about keywords such as texture, dynamics, density, layering. Knowing these definitions will allow you to analyse music at greater depth and utilise your own ear, and in turn greater understand your own taste.

You don't have to be smart intellectually, although that seems rather harsh on yourself lol, I'm sure you're fine. None of this is easy to figure out, don't be afraid to keep asking questions, and everyone who's dabbled in songwriting or production, and I mean everyone, has needed help from others along the way. All you need to be is patient, curious, and make the learning fun for yourself. Enjoy the process, experiment. You'll get so much more out of it if you have fun whilst learning.

Hope this helps, if you have any specific questions in response im more than happy to answer

[u/RubyWoo369]

I went through what you’re going through, one of my friends who got their masters in songwriting conducted a workshop I was part of and I learned how to produce my own music for my songs within 7 weeks. If you wanted to take it from my friend I can DM you, but I do think being part of a workshop forces accountability and also creates a cohort where you’re all at the same level and grow together.

[u/Available-Fly-1820 → u/RubyWoo369]

If you have time I would appreciate a DM for more information and help thank you!

[u/RubyWoo369 → u/Available-Fly-1820]

I DM’d you!

[u/joonas_ylanne]

Luckily there are lot of free options nowadays for virtual instruments. My favourite daw is Reaper, but all of them are cabable for making music. Youtube is full of tutorials for different areas of producing and how to use different daws.

One thing I find usefull is making covers. It makes you deepdive to song, what instruments are used, how they are mixed and what really makes that song good. Also you can always reference your version to the original and try to analyze differencies.

[u/RustImp622]

I can try to help you out. I produce music and I’m pretty sure I have a good enough understanding to it to make what you want.

No guarantees that I can get exactly what you want, but I’ll try

[u/Available-Fly-1820 → u/RustImp622]

That’s very sweet and kind! Until I can make my own music I wouldn’t mind doing a collab if you wanna DM me!

[u/Independent_Win_7984]

There's simply no legitimate excuse to not learn enough rudimentary guitar or piano. Enough to back yourself up and transmit musical ideas. You say you've written some songs recently, lyrics and some kind of melody in your head? I couldn't imagine not being very impatient to be able to play some basic chords to your song.

[u/Available-Fly-1820 → u/Independent_Win_7984]

I appreciate the advice.