How To Make Beats For Free And Make Them Sound Professional

How to make beats for free and check beats sound quality at home?

When I first started creating beats, nothing I made had that “radio-ready” sound I was after. No matter how hard I tried, my beats still sounded amateur.

Sounds familiar?

Music is highly subjective, but there’s a clear distinction between amateur productions and professional ones. I knew that if I wanted my beats to get heard, I’d need to learn how to check my production quality.

Turns out, understanding production quality made all the difference!

What is Production Quality of Beats

Many up-and-coming producers think they have what it takes to get their beats noticed by labels and artists. While they might have the creativity and musical talent, most don’t even know where to start when it comes to improving production quality.

The beat market is more saturated than ever. Thousands of producers are trying to get their track in the hands of the next big hit-maker. What’s the thing separating struggling artists from the success stories? Production quality!

Good production quality can take your beats to the next level! It’s not about creating the most complex piece or even the most unique. Improving your production quality is about taking raw and unpolished work and turning it into something that sounds like something you would hear on a professional track.

Arrange Your Beats for Better Strong Structure

Take a look at your latest beat. Does your DAW arrangement screen look like a big block of colors? Chances are, your beats are structured incorrectly.

One of the biggest mistakes newer producers make is throwing too much in at one time. Songs are complex! They need nuance and depth. Even in high-energy beats, there needs to be some room to breathe.

Adding tons of layers all at once can make your beat sound condensed and muddy. Not only that, but you have nowhere to go! If you start off with a heavy mix with all the bells and whistles, how is the song supposed to move and grow as it progresses?

The song structure is crucial. Play around with your arrangement a bit to create some breathing room. For example, you could start off with a slow intro before adding in some more elements for your verses. Then, add even more the chorus before going all-in on the final chorus.

Think of it as climbing a mountain. You want to enjoy every part of the journey before making it to that peak. Throw in some transitions and use layering to your advantage. The goal is to keep your beat exciting while still giving it some good pacing to move forward.

Fine-Tuning Your Arrangement and Orchestration

Hip hop beats are known for being bass-heavy. But you don’t want to focus all of your attention on the low end. Beats with good production quality work with the entire frequency spectrum. You need to add some good midrange and sparkling highs to make your track really pop!

Knowing how to create good orchestration takes time and a lot of experimentation. But, it’s going to be the thing that sets your beats apart. Don’t be afraid to use unique instrumentation or synths that are in a higher register than you’re used to. Even if you’re working exclusively with a drum kit sample pack, throw in some snare or high-hat to add that high-end touch.

Understand Music Theory

You don’t have to be a music theory wiz to become a successful producer. But having some knowledge of the basics can push your creativity even further.

Understanding chord progressions, beat syncopation, and note values can make all the difference.

Everyone knows how to do a simple kick-drum beat or make a basic melody out of one chord. Throwing in some more complex sounds off the beat or introducing some unique chord progressions can make your track sound more dynamic and exciting.

Find the Best Samples Possible

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to have a sick setup to get good production quality. It’s possible to make high-quality beats from your own home studio! The key is to choose the right samples.

Your samples are going to define your beats’ signature sound. There are tons of sample packs out there. If you’re on a budget, you can easily find free and clear sample packs to use. Many producers stick with free VSTs or virtual instruments that come with a DAW.

Whatever the case may be, familiarize yourself with your samples and pick sounds that are true to your style. Think of it like an artist choosing his paint colors. You’re about to create art with those samples, so take some time to choose the very best sounds that you can find.

They don’t have to particularly unique. Many producers see success with classic 808 samples and basic virtual drum kits. You can always tweak the samples with EQ and plugins! But having that core selection of sounds to work with is the first step.

Listen and Reference

There’s no better way to check the production quality of your beats than to simply listen and compare. Every beat-maker has an artist or producer that inspires them. Find yours and cross-reference your track to see how it stacks up!

Pay attention to the composition, sample quality, and arrangement. Make sure to place yourself on the sweet spot between your studio monitor while doing so, and get the most accurate sound outcome.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with Type Beats. There’s a lot of demand for beats in similar styles to big-name artists. You can create similar beats to work on your production quality. Over time, you’ll find your own sound and start developing tracks in your own unique lane.

Good Beat, Good Groove

Improving your production quality takes time. But, all that work is worth the effort. The last thing you want to do as an artist is to repeat the same cycle of creating amateur tracks. The goal is to improve and compete with the big dogs, right! With better production quality, you can set yourself apart and get a taste of that sweet success you’re after!

If you want to make sure that you work exclusively with the top-shelf beats, make sure to check out Supreme Track’s Top 40 instrumental beats store.