Today, we’re diving into a big and important subject.

Stay with me, and I’ll share everything I’ve learned about how you can actually improve your music production skills.

If you’re here, you’ve probably already noticed that music production isn’t about tricks, plugins, or waiting for inspiration to hit. 💡
It’s about showing up, listening closely, and making small decisions that compound over time.

Over the last few years, I’ve worked with a lot of artists - both in the studio and remotely - and I’ve also spent time teaching producers how to build beats from scratch.
And during all of that, I started to notice some patterns.

Certain habits that actually help you grow - and others that just waste your time.

This article is focused on the stuff that works.

So if you’re a vocalist trying to write and record better, a producer trying to stop overthinking and start making progress, or you just feel stuck - not because you lack talent or discipline, but because you don’t have a clear direction - this is for you.

Let’s break this down into three areas that will help you develop real, practical music production skills.

Listen Closely

If you’re serious about improving, the way you listen to music has to change - at least once a week. 😅

Most people hit play and either vibe with a track or skip it. That’s fine.

But if you’re producing or writing songs, it’s not enough. You need to start listening analytically.

That means asking yourself:

• What are the main layers in this beat?
• When does the bass drop out - and why?
• What kind of reverb is on that vocal?
• How many elements are actually playing in the chorus?
• What instruments do you hear?

It might sound like a lot at first, but once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature.

I remember a period when I was deconstructing beats during my train rides to work. I had a notebook, headphones, and just sat there like:

"Okkk okk, I hear a clap, kick, hi-hat... some open hats here and there... there's a second snare anddddd or is that a shaker? Yeah, shaker. Melody is built on some kind of keys... maybe a pad? And there’s a violin every 32 bars. Alright, I got it."

I did that a few times - and just like that, I became a better producer. 🎧

I still do this now. When I hear a song that really hits me, I open FL Studio and start breaking it down right away - not to copy it, just to understand why it moved me.

If you want to start, try this:

Pick a song you really like. Listen, enjoy it.

Then go back and replay it a few times - each time, focus on just one element:

• Only the drums
• Only the vocal effects
• Only the chord progression
• Only how the beat builds and drops
• Only the instrumentation

Write down what you notice. Build your own “reference folder” of songs you admire - not just because they sound good, but because they do something you want to understand and apply in your own music.

Eventually, that mindset will follow you into every session. You’ll start making smarter decisions - not because someone tol you what to do, but because your ears know what feels right. (and that alone will take you far on that journey)

Oh, and one last thing - I never recreated full beats or songs.

For me, that always felt like a waste of time. I’d rather hear something that inspires me and then create something original with a few similar ideas or sounds.

But anyway - let’s keep moving.

Practice Without Pressure

This might be the most important advice I’ve ever given:

Make music just to make music. 🎹

A lot of people I’ve worked with sit down in front of their DAW thinking every beat has to slap, or every song has to end up on Spotify

And because of that pressure, they overthink everything - and get stuck before they even begin.

That’s not how you grow.

If you want to get better, you have to let go of the outcome.

The goal isn’t perfection - the goal is fluency.

You want to feel so comfortable inside your DAW that you stop thinking about the software.

You want your ideas to come out naturally - not in slow, clunky steps.

And that fluency only comes from repetition. 🔁

Personally, I had weeks where I made two or three beats a day. No structure, no plan - just loops, random ideas, small sketches.

Maybe one out of twenty became something real. But I got faster. I understood sound placement better.

I learned shortcuts! (that’s a big one too).

Same goes for vocalists.

Practice freestyling melodies - even if you delete them later. 

Write hooks over type beats - even on days when you don’t love how your voice sounds.

Try harmonies, play with weird phrasing, double your verses — not to impress anyone, just to build the muscle.

Because of that muscle, when the right idea finally shows up - you’ll be ready to capture it. Quickly. With confidence.

And if you’re recording in FL Studio and want to skip the boring setup part, I built a custom FL Studio Recording Template to help you jump straight into the session - no confusion, just clean takes from the start.

But...

Let me be completely real with you, my mindset wasn't always like that.

At one point, I had to take a six-month break from music because my expectations were too high every time I tried to create something.

And when it didn’t come out the way I wanted, I got frustrated. Demotivated. 

That mindset almost killed my relationship with music for good. 😔

But luckily, I figured it out - the hard way - that the outcome isn’t fully in your control. Not really.

And the second I let go of that pressure and just started making things freely - that’s when everything changed.

And yeah, it took time. I had to unlearn a lot. 

But once it clicked…

Man, I’m telling you - my shit slapsss now, haha. 😂

Good Sounds = Better Music 

Let’s be honest - you can’t polish a sound that’s weak at the source.

One of the biggest things that holds people back is that they’re trying to mix or “fix” low-quality samples, bad instruments, or overly processed loops.

It’s like trying to build a house with soft wood and broken tools.
You can spend hours stacking effects and EQ - and still end up frustrated.

So, here’s the fix: start with better sounds.

Drums

If your drum samples are flat, thin, or messy - nothing will groove right. I don’t care how many compressors or transient shapers you throw on them.

Use clean, mix-ready sounds from the jump.

Platforms like Splice are perfect for this - curated packs with tight, clear percussion that already sounds good raw.

You’ll save time. You’ll get better results. You’ll stop trying to “fix” your kick and start focusing on what actually matters.

Instruments & VSTs

This applies even more when it comes to instruments.

You can make good music with free plugins. I’ve done it. Many times.

But once you’ve tried high-quality tools like Keyscape or Omnisphere, you’ll hear the difference.

There’s a depth and realism that just changes how the entire beat feels.

For someone just starting out, I always recommend Native Instruments Komplete - it gives you a broad palette to explore without needing to hunt 100 plugins across the internet.

Here’s what I personally use most:

• FL Studio (my base - always has been)
• Splice - drums sounds, atmospheres, textures - sometimes samples.
  
• Omnisphere - amazing for dreamy, dark, or layered melodic work
• Keyscape - probably the most expressive piano sounds I’ve used
• Kontakt - especially for sampled instruments and textures

It’s not about having the most expensive setup.

It’s about using sounds that match the vision you have in your head - so you’re not fighting the mix just to make a piano sound like a piano.

Sometimes the fastest way to improve your sound is to upgrade what you're putting in - not how you're treating it later.

I know this tip requires a bit of a budget - and trust me, I’m not out here spending all my money on VSTs. 💸

I love the plugins I already have, and I use them all the time. I rarely buy anything new.
But I do try to keep some solid, reliable sounds in my arsenal - especially if I want to compete with the kind of music I admire.

Wrapping It Up

There’s no hack for improving your music production skills.

But if you keep listening like a musician, practicing without pressure, and choosing better ingredients from the start - you’ll notice it.

In your mixes. In your workflow. In how much easier it is to finish ideas.

You’ll start moving more by instinct, less by trial-and-error.

And yeah - some days it won’t work. Some days nothing will sound right.
But if you treat those sessions like practice, not failure - they’ll still move you forward.

That’s how I’ve seen producers grow. That’s how I’ve seen vocalists find their sound.

Not by chasing perfection - but by staying close to the process.

And I've seen it on myself too.

So... to wrap this up.

If you’re an artist and you’ve been looking for something that actually sparks an idea - I’ve got a catalog of beats that might help.

You can check it out here and see if anything clicks.

Take your time. Trust your ears. And keep going.

Hope to hear something from you soon.

Take care,

Baxon 👊