How to Make House Music

House music has been a cornerstone of the electronic dance music (EDM) scene since its birth in the early 1980s. Early house music, characterized by its distinctive disco and synth-pop influences, live vocals, and affordability of electronic equipment, played a significant role in the evolution of the genre. With its infectious rhythms, deep basslines, and uplifting melodies, house music continues to captivate audiences worldwide. If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own house tracks but weren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of how to make house music using Sesh, the free, all-in-one digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for seamless collaboration.

Understanding House Music: The Foundation of Groove

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of production, it’s crucial to understand what makes house music unique. House music is characterized by several key elements:

• Four-on-the-Floor Beat: A consistent kick drum pattern on every beat, providing the driving force of the track.

• Basslines: Deep, driving basslines that groove with the beat and add energy to the track.

• Synths and Chords: Lush synths and chords that add harmony and melody, often creating the emotional core of the track.

• Vocals and Samples: Many house tracks feature soulful vocals or catchy samples that add character and hooks.

Deep house, a notable subgenre of house music, is distinguished by its smooth, melodic compositions characterized by lush chord progressions and intricate percussion. Unlike other subgenres, deep house emphasizes a laid-back groove and flow, making it a prominent style within the broader context of house music production.

Understanding these elements is key to creating authentic and compelling house music. As you progress in your production journey, you’ll learn how to manipulate these components to craft your unique sound. For a detailed breakdown, check out this beginner’s guide to house music production.

Getting Started with Sesh: Your House Music Production Hub

Sesh is a powerful tool designed for both beginners and seasoned producers to start producing house music. Here’s how to get started on your house music production journey:

• Sign Up and Set Up: Head over to Sesh.fm and create your account. Once you’re in, take a moment to set up your workspace.

• Explore the Interface: Familiarize yourself with Sesh’s user-friendly interface. You’ll find all the essential tools you need for music production right at your fingertips.

• Collaborate in Real-Time: One of Sesh’s standout features is its ability to allow multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. This makes it ideal for remote collaborations, enabling you to work with talented producers from around the world.

Creating Your First House Track: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you’re set up, it’s crucial to understand the basic song flow, which serves as a structured framework for arranging house tracks. This flow guides producers in transforming loops into full compositions and is especially important for beginners exploring various elements in electronic music. Let’s dive into the process of creating your first house track using Sesh.

1. Building the Beat: The Foundation of Your House Track

The foundation of any great house track is a solid beat. Here’s how to create one using Sesh:

• Start with a Drum Pattern: Use Sesh’s built-in drum machine to create a four-on-the-floor beat. Focus on a strong kick drum to anchor your track - this is crucial in house music. In big room house, techniques like sidechain compression and specific chord progressions are essential to achieve the energetic and distinct sound.

• Add Percussion: Enhance your beat with hi-hats, claps, and other percussive elements. These additional layers will add complexity and interest to your rhythm section.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different drum samples and patterns. The key to a great house beat is finding the perfect balance between consistency and variation. For more tips, check out this YouTube tutorial.

2. Crafting Basslines: The Groove of House Music

Basslines are what give house music its irresistible groove. Here’s how to craft them in Sesh:

• Choose Your Bass Synth: Sesh offers a variety of virtual instruments. Explore different bass sounds to find one that fits your style and the subgenre of house you’re creating.

• Create Bass Patterns: Design a bassline that complements your beat. Use Sesh’s MIDI editor to draw in notes and experiment with different patterns. In house music, the bassline often plays a crucial role in driving the energy of the track. Bass house, for example, emphasizes heavy basslines and energetic drops, setting it apart from other subgenres.

Remember: In house music, less can often be more. Don’t overcrowd your track with too many competing elements. For a detailed guide on crafting house music basslines, visit this article on producing house music.

3. Designing Synths and Chords: Adding Harmony to Your House Track

Synths and chords add emotion and character to your house track. Here’s how to design them in Sesh:

• Sketch Your Chords: Start with a simple instrument like a piano to sketch out your chord progression. Focus on creating a progression that supports your bassline and beat.

• Layer with Synths: Once you have your chord progression, layer it with synths for a fuller sound. Experiment with different synth patches to find the perfect combination.

• Explore Progressive House: Progressive house is a subgenre that blends traditional elements with lengthy buildups and anthemic melodies, creating an epic and immersive listening experience.

Pro Tip: Many house tracks use lush, sustained chords to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different chord voicings and progressions to find your unique sound. For inspiration, check out this video on creating house music synths.

4. Incorporating Vocals and Samples

Vocals and samples can add an extra layer of interest and make your house track stand out. Here's how to incorporate them in Sesh:

• Choose Your Vocals: Look for vocal samples that fit the mood and style of your track. You can find royalty-free samples online or record your own.

• Edit and Process: Use Sesh's audio editing tools to chop, pitch, and process your vocals. Adding effects like reverb and delay can help them sit well in the mix.

Remember: When using samples, make sure you have the right to use them in your productions. Always respect copyright laws and use royalty-free or properly licensed samples. For a comprehensive guide on working with vocals in house music, read this tutorial on making a house track.

Arranging and Structuring Your House Track

Arrangement is key in house music, as it guides the listener through the track’s journey. House music, as a subgenre of electronic music, has evolved significantly over time, with affordable electronic equipment playing a crucial role in its development. Here’s a typical structure for a house track:

• Intro (0:00 - 0:30): Start with a simple introduction to set the mood. Gradually introduce elements of your beat.

• Build-Up (0:30 - 1:00): Slowly introduce more elements to build excitement. This is where you start to layer in your synths and increase tension.

• Drop (1:00 - 1:30): The climax of your track, where the beat and bass hit hardest. This is the moment dancers have been waiting for!

• Breakdown (1:30 - 2:00): A calmer section to create contrast. Strip back elements of your track to give listeners a breather.

• Second Build-Up and Drop (2:00 - 2:30): Similar to the first, but you can introduce variations to keep it interesting.

• Outro (2:30 - 3:00): Wind down the track and bring it to a close.

Remember, this is just a basic structure. As you become more comfortable with house music production, feel free to experiment with different arrangements. For more on arranging house tracks, read this LANDR blog post.

Mixing and Mastering: Polishing Your House Track

Once you have your track arranged, it’s time to mix and master it to produce house music. This is where your house track really comes to life:

• Balance Levels: Ensure all your elements are balanced and sit well together in the mix. Pay special attention to your kick drum and bassline - these should be prominent in most house tracks.

• EQ and Compression:

• Use EQ to clean up frequencies and create space for each element in the mix.

• Apply compression to control dynamics and give your track a more polished, professional sound.

• Add Effects: Use effects like reverb and delay sparingly to add depth and space to your track. Be careful not to overdo it - in house music, a clean, punchy mix is often preferred.

• Mastering: Apply final touches to make your track sound polished and ready for release. This might include subtle EQ adjustments, stereo widening, and limiting to achieve a competitive loudness level.

Remember: A well-mixed house track should sound great on all types of speakers, from high-end sound systems to smartphone speakers. For a comprehensive guide, check out this article on mixing and mastering house music.

Leveraging Sesh's Collaborative Features for House Music Production

One of Sesh’s standout features is its ability to facilitate real-time collaboration, which is essential when making house music. Here’s how to make the most of it for house music production:

• Communicate Clearly: Use the chat feature to discuss ideas and provide feedback in real-time. Clear communication is key to a successful collaboration.

• Assign Roles: Designate specific tasks to each collaborator to streamline the workflow. For example, one person might focus on beats while another works on synth design.

• Share References: Share links to house tracks or artists that inspire your project to keep everyone on the same page. This helps ensure a cohesive vision for your house track.

For more on collaborative production, visit this guide on emerging house music trends.