The Honest TRUTH About What Beginners Get Wrong

Summary

In this video, the speaker critiques the reliance on paid courses and tutorials for learning music production, emphasizing that true growth comes from hands-on practice and embracing failures. They argue that music production is subjective, with no right or wrong methods, and that developing one's own taste and problem-solving skills is key. The speaker advises beginners to focus on the basics—creating melodies and finishing tracks—rather than getting caught up in gear, mixing, and mastering. Ultimately, they encourage producers to experiment, trust their own judgment, and make music that resonates with them.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on practice over theory — real learning happens by doing, not just by watching tutorials or taking paid courses.
• 😀 Struggle and failure are essential to learning — you'll remember solutions better when you find them yourself through experience.
• 😀 Music production is about personal taste — there's no right or wrong way to make music, it’s all about what sounds good to you.
• 😀 Harmony theory should come after experimenting — don't start with theory; first, explore what sounds good to you and use theory to describe it later.
• 😀 Don’t rush into buying expensive gear — start small and understand what you want to create before investing in professional equipment.
• 😀 Mixing and mastering come last — they’re just the finishing touches and shouldn’t be the focus at the beginning stages of your track.
• 😀 Avoid overfocusing on mastering and mixing — if your melody, structure, and vibe aren’t working, no amount of mixing will fix that.
• 😀 Experiment with multiple genres — trying different styles helps you fail more and learn faster, while also blending knowledge from various genres.
• 😀 Don’t get lost in the details — focus on the big picture, finish your tracks, and don’t obsess over making every sound perfect from the start.
• 😀 Feedback should be selective — not all feedback is useful, especially from family or non-musicians. Seek feedback from people who understand your skill level.
• 😀 Don’t be too harsh on yourself — embrace the learning process, and understand that growth takes time. It only gets better as you continue creating.

Q & A

Why does the speaker feel uncomfortable with the idea of selling paid music production courses?

The speaker feels uncomfortable because they come from an East German, communist background, where the idea of charging money for knowledge feels wrong. They also believe that paying for courses doesn't truly teach you everything you need to know, as real learning happens through personal struggle and experience.

What is the main issue with watching YouTube tutorials or taking courses, according to the speaker?

The main issue is that while these resources provide tips and tricks, they create a false sense of mastery. Viewers may think they know something just because they've watched someone else do it, but in reality, they haven't learned how to solve problems or overcome challenges on their own.

How does the speaker compare learning music production to playing a video game like Super Mario?

The speaker compares it to being thrown straight into the final level of Super Mario without having played the earlier levels. To succeed, you need to go through the process of struggle and failure at every stage to gain the experience necessary to succeed in the end.

What is the speaker's opinion on harmony theory for beginners in music production?

The speaker believes that starting with harmony theory isn't the best approach. Instead, beginners should experiment by playing random notes and combinations on an instrument or MIDI keyboard to find what sounds good to them, then use harmony theory later to describe what they have already created.

Why does the speaker caution against purchasing expensive music production gear at the start?

The speaker advises against buying expensive gear upfront because it leads to a situation where producers may not know how to use the tools effectively. Instead, they recommend starting with basic equipment and software to gain a better understanding of what they actually need as they develop their skills.

How does the speaker suggest beginners approach mixing and mastering in their music production process?

The speaker emphasizes that mixing and mastering should not be a focus for beginners. They argue that beginners should concentrate on creating strong melodies, structures, and overall tracks first. Mixing and mastering are just small details that come at the end of the process.

What is the speaker’s stance on specializing in one genre or style of music at the beginning?

The speaker advises beginners not to limit themselves to a single style or genre. Exploring multiple genres allows for more creative freedom, more opportunities to fail, and a better understanding of various musical elements, which can then be applied across different styles.

Why does the speaker encourage beginners not to focus too much on small details early in the production process?

The speaker warns that focusing on small details, like perfecting a sound, too early in the process can lead to losing sight of the bigger picture. They suggest using simple sounds at first and focusing on finishing tracks rather than getting lost in the minutiae of sound design.

What is the speaker’s view on the role of feedback in music production?

The speaker notes that feedback can be tricky, especially from people who are not familiar with music production. They recommend seeking feedback from people who understand your skill level and can offer constructive criticism. However, they also caution that not all feedback is useful, especially when it comes from family or friends who may not be knowledgeable.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'no one cares' about the technical details of your music production?

The speaker is emphasizing that listeners often don't care about the technical aspects, such as the tools or the synthesizers used in the production process. They focus more on whether the music sounds good to them. The speaker suggests that producers should prioritize making music they love, rather than obsessing over technical perfection that others may not even notice.