Can't Stop Making Mellow Beats, Plz Help Me!!

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Qwerty

Sshsh-Straight fiya!
ill o.g.
Every time I make a sample-free beat, I always end up making some mellow beats. There's nothing wrong with that, but my cousin keeps telling me I'm making "beyotch songs" eventhough he thinks they're good. I know how to make a dark beat but I just can't seem to make a hardcore beat like Mobb Deeps's - America's Nightmare or When You hear The. Or even something like "You Don't Know".

I know you're going to tell me to study these beats, but what sounds exactly do you use to make more rugged beats?And also, did this ever happen to you, that you couldn't make another type of beat?

I don't know if I'm gonna get good answers for this, but I was just sick of my cousin telling me this, i had to get it off my chest!!
 

eXampuL_oNe

LOW-PRO
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 21
You can pretty much use any sounds you want.. I think your problem is what your playing, try playing some more Grimey chords rather than laid back.. Start with a simple paino melody or something that just sounds dark and work around that... What are u using?
 

Cold Truth

IllMuzik Moderator
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 25
its the old cliche- it isnt the sounds you use, its how you use them.

generally minor keys can be made to sound either melancholy or sinister. a, e, c, and g minor all have dark/dramatic/sinister tones to them.

by contrast, dominant 7ths tend to have rich, dramatic sounds but are "happier" tones.

start with those basic four minor chords- the rest has to come from you though. any instrument can be made to sound any way.... its in what you play and how you play it. you need to play melodies that have intensity and aggression- and create drum lines tp match.
 

DJ Increment

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
yo man im like the opposite!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalways want to make some happy shis!! but always comes out dark!!
 

Qwerty

Sshsh-Straight fiya!
ill o.g.
Cold Truth said:
its the old cliche- it isnt the sounds you use, its how you use them.

generally minor keys can be made to sound either melancholy or sinister. a, e, c, and g minor all have dark/dramatic/sinister tones to them.

by contrast, dominant 7ths tend to have rich, dramatic sounds but are "happier" tones.

start with those basic four minor chords- the rest has to come from you though. any instrument can be made to sound any way.... its in what you play and how you play it. you need to play melodies that have intensity and aggression- and create drum lines tp match.

great tip yo, that made me make a little research about piano scales and chord and I found that site: http://www.free-online-piano-lessons.com/ . I'm reading it right now and it's a great site, not complex at all
 

WORDAMOUPH

NUPHONIX PRODUKTIONS
ill o.g.
I dont know nun about scales and shit, but just switch your melody around. DOnt go with the same patterns were all you do is play up and down the keys. That is what alot of new producers do. Just switch up the keys and keep them drums banging!@
 

2_nice

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
i in all my craziness (one of the more crazy things i have done) when i was studying orchestration made a 'book' on chords and there approximate moods (with the help of my lecturer). I've actually thought about going all out and including progressions because we all know that's what it is about.

i.e two individually happy chords can be placed next to each other and become ruff
 

Teknology

Beatmaker
ill o.g.
DJ Increment said:
yo man im like the opposite!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalways want to make some happy shiss!! but always comes out dark!!


haha i am the same way i try to make some upbeat or club shit and it always comes out evil as hell
 

Donovan

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
I remember when I started out producing I'd never end up with the product I wanted... Then I realized, so what (after like 9 months of thinkin I sucked). Whatever comes out in the end is always entertainnig to listen to, and eventually you'll make that badass song.

Anyways I think your problems is that you're not hype when you're producing... Try standin up and dancin around the room to your ish. You ever seen a video of a pro producer in the zone? Ish is hilarious, they're real hype, and so is their song... Works for me, it'll work for u.

You can make any chord evoke any emotion mayn...
 

Shonsteez

Gurpologist
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 33
Hmmm....In repsonse to what yer cousin is sayin to ya - Does his influence and words impact you that much to where u need to change for someone elses tastes?......Im saying this becuase, regaurdless of your possible lack of understanding of all the available chords out there maybe making your progressions limited in some sort - theres also the reality that when u create something it comes out that way because thats how u feel inside.

So if your making happy beats, aint nothin wrong with that at all man. Keep doing what your doing and youl only improve and make even more interesting songs that still happy in one way or another, i just think its funny when people get insecure about the fact that their songs are on the happier tip, rather then all drab and dark and shit, both can be cool, and theres room out there in the music world for all flavors. All im sayin is maybe your not cut out to drop mean, dark-scary beats, and maybe you are, i dont mean it like u cant make one specifically, but maybe your actually more gifted at making a happy song and thats pretty cool in my opinion.
 

Qwerty

Sshsh-Straight fiya!
ill o.g.
DueceMade Ent. said:
Hmmm....In repsonse to what yer cousin is sayin to ya - Does his influence and words impact you that much to where u need to change for someone elses tastes?......Im saying this becuase, regaurdless of your possible lack of understanding of all the available chords out there maybe making your progressions limited in some sort - theres also the reality that when u create something it comes out that way because thats how u feel inside.

So if your making happy beats, aint nothin wrong with that at all man. Keep doing what your doing and youl only improve and make even more interesting songs that still happy in one way or another, i just think its funny when people get insecure about the fact that their songs are on the happier tip, rather then all drab and dark and shit, both can be cool, and theres room out there in the music world for all flavors. All im sayin is maybe your not cut out to drop mean, dark-scary beats, and maybe you are, i dont mean it like u cant make one specifically, but maybe your actually more gifted at making a happy song and thats pretty cool in my opinion.

Thx, you're right, I feel I'm better at making these type of songs. But when you say "Does his influence and words impact you that much to where u need to change for someone elses tastes?" It's not about his tastes that I'm concern, I am concern about my versatility, if you know what I mean. But great feedback on this man
 

Shonsteez

Gurpologist
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 33
No, i kno what u mean, i just wanted to offer that point of view. Sometimes people dont want to see all sides of the coin, but i honestly didnt know what his words meant to you so i just said that as well. I also said it that way becuase ive noticed from personal experience and being around others that hear things like that and then they try to change for the sake of what other people are saying about them, but that nots the case here obviously.:)
 

Shwaz

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
I have the same problem. I once saw a Mr. Rogers when I was a kid where he visited a marble sculptor. This guy starts with a huge block of marble and a chain saw, and he said, "I never know what I'm going to make, I just see what’s inside." He cut the block up and it turned out a beautiful work of art. This made no sense at the time, but now....

This childhood anecdote aside... There are two programs that might help you. You put in the key, and it lists all the scales and chords you could imagine. They have many scales on there I have never heard of. The first is called Key-Note. I used to have this, but I haven't seen it anywhere online for a while. Piano Chordz is available on download.com in an eval version that only gives you access to a few scales. With the full version it has midi input and can tell you what scale and key your playing in, and thus the other progressions that will sound good. the problem is when you go to the website to buy it, the link to purchase doesn't work...so maybe call them.
 

sYgMa

Making head bangers!!!
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 26
I think creation is a reflection of your mood and perceptions...

and I have the same problem... cant make a laid back song... not the ones I'd like to do... they are grimmy, dirty, club or anything else than laid back... that's why I'm learning about chords and all... so I can really compose a melody...
 

2_nice

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
smoking crack although not something i necessarily condone should get rid of you mellow beats blues.
 
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