Creating Music with FL Studio Software: A Basic Guide to Making a Song

FL Studio is a software sequencer that allows anyone with a computer and creative mind to make really complex, professional-sounding music. When first using FL, the step sequencer in the middle of the screen is a good place to start. In most modern music the beat is 4/4 which means the song has four quarter notes per bar. To make a basic beat highlight the 1st, 5th, 9th, and 13th squares for the kick. This will make a short bass kick that is very danceable. Then add a snare on the 5th and 13th square. This high pitch of the snare will add that cracking sound to break up the bass. The snare may be substituted for a clap if that sound is more desirable. A hi-hat may be added for variety.

Once you figured out the drum beat look above the step sequencer and find where the pattern select is. You want to move to the second pattern so you can make a bass track separate from the drums. In the browser window on the left, find a bass sound. If at any time the step sequence or browser disappears, go to the browse menu and reselect the desired choice. To find a bass sound in the browser, click plugin presets -> generators -> sytrus -> bass. You can preview the sounds by clicking on them. When you found one you like, right click it and click send to new channel. To make a bass sequence or melody right click the newly added bass sound in the step sequencer and click piano roll. You will now see the piano roll application which has the keys on the left and spaces to put the notes on the right. You can play around by clicking the piano keys until you find a note you like. Click the pencil tool in the piano roll and draw the notes you desire horizontal to the keys on the left. Now you should have a drum pattern and a bass pattern.

Once again go towards the top of the screen to get to the next pattern (pattern 3). Since we have the bass and drums we could use something like a piano or synthesizer to create a catchy melody. Go again to the browser and preview the sounds until you find something you like. Look under sytrus, 3x osc, ts404 or wasp for some good lead sounds. Also an appegiator may be used, which when played accends or decends the scales making a very cool sound with little effort. Once you have your sound, go into the piano roll again and pencil in some notes.

Now you should have three patterns: drums, bass, and a lead synth, in patterns 1, 2, and 3 respectively. On the title bar go to View and make the Playlist become active. In the Playlist the patterns are displayed on the left side with their number starting from one at the top. Make sure you have the pencil icon clicked and pencil in one square next to each of the first three patterns. Now here is the moment of truth where the parts of your song come together. Make sure the box next to song is highlighted at the top menu screen and hit the play button. Your song should play with the drums, bass, and lead all together looping until you decide to stop. If you don’t like how it sounds, feel free to re-edit the patterns that you made before. You can also adjust tempo to speed up or slow down your jam. If it seems confusing at first, keep working at it because it will feel so good when you make a song that you really like. Now stop reading this and start creating some killer beats and hot tracks.