The Basics of EDM Music Production

EDM is more than just a genre of music—it’s a culture, a lifestyle, and a passion.

EDM stands for electronic dance music, and it encompasses a wide range of sounds and styles made with electronic instruments and software. Since originating in the underground club scene, EDM has grown into a global phenomenon that has taken over dance floors and festival stages with infectious beats and melodies.

Whether you’re a die-hard EDM enthusiast or a budding producer looking to understand what makes this genre tick, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your first lesson into the world of making electronic music!

Remember: even your favorite DJs had to start somewhere!

Beginner EDM Music Production Equipment

First things first, the goods. Don’t worry, you don’t need a room full of fancy gear or an all-out studio to learn how to start EDM production.

At the very basic level, you only need a computer and a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Whether you’re a Windows or Mac user, ensure your computer has enough processing power and memory to run digital audio workstations (DAWs) smoothly.

Apologies for the tech terms in advance, but you should have:

• 64-bit Intel i5 multi-core CPU or AMD Ryzen 5-3600 processor
• 16 gigabytes (GB) of RAM
• 500GB – 1TB SSD or HDD (SSD preferred)
• 64-bit operating system
• 15″ screen or bigger

These are just the minimum requirements, so you can get better specs if you want. Undershooting these specs is a recipe for “straight-to-the-trash” remixes.

As for your DAW, it’s your very own creative playground. This software allows you to compose, arrange, and mix your EDM tracks. For beginner EDM production, the top DAW choices are Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro X.

They’re all great, but they have pros and cons so make sure you choose one that makes sense to you. *Cough* trial and error *cough*

Image source: Canva

The 5 Main Electronic Music Song Components

While you might listen to EDM Spotify playlists all day and think the artists were working on a different level, they built their music on these blocks. Everyone starts with the same music theory—the magic happens between the lines.

• Beats and Rhythm – Consider these your music’s heartbeat. EDM artists use drum machines, samples, and sequencers to set the pace for dancing.
• Melodies and Chords – When you produce electronic music, you’ll quickly learn that melodies and chords add emotional depth and harmony. You can use synthesizers to create anything from simple, catchy hooks to complex, ethereal layers.
• Bass Line – This is the backbone of your EDM track, delivering the low-end groove that gets people moving. All the best EDM songs have a great bass line.
• Sound Design – EDM music production also involves sound design, where you shape and craft unique soundscapes using synthesizers and effects.
• Vocals and Samples – Many EDM producers incorporate vocal samples, often from other popular songs. As you get better and more connected, you can collaborate with other cool artists or even sample your own vocals.

How to Arrange and Structure an EDM Song

The next lesson in our “beginner EDM production 101” class is arranging these elements into something that can be considered a song.

Structure helps create tension and release—the two keys to keeping your crowd on their toes. A typical EDM track has a simple structure like this:

Intro → Verse → Build-up → Drop → Verse → Build-up → Drop → Outro

Of course, you can experiment with different variations and transitions, but this is a good starting point to understand the basic flow of an EDM track.

The Final Step: Mixing and Mastering

Mixing and mastering is arguably the most important aspect of learning how to start EDM production. It might also be the most fun!

Mixing is the process of balancing the individual elements of your track, ensuring each instrument sits well in the mix (i.e. making sure you can actually hear the vocals over that pumping bass line you added in).

Mastering is the final touch when you produce music; it’s about adding polish to make your track dancefloor-ready. Proper mastering ensures your songs sound professional and don’t feature weird crackling, popping, or other issues.

Together, they ensure your electronic music slays coming out of all speakers. While every EDM producer has their own approach to both of these processes, we recommend watching some electronic music production YouTube videos to help get your bearings.

You might also find what’s “best” varies by EDM sub-genre!

Learn From the Masters of Electronic Dance Music

Looking for inspiration to take your EDM music production to the next level? Then you need to hit up Exodus Festival, Las Vegas’ hottest EDM music festival, to catch the best DJ sets!

Passes give you VIP access to see some of the most talented and inspiring EDM artists in the scene, such as David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and Calvin Harris. You’ll get to hear their latest tracks, see how they perform live, and, of course, have a ton of fun.

Secure your passes today—Vegas is our “beginner EDM production 101” class field trip!