Level 1: The Basics

This is where you’ll get to know Ableton and the basics of music theory, composing your songs, drum programming, and using automation + effects.

You’ll learn things like:

• the key features and tools in Ableton that will speed up your compositions massively

• the thing about a song that makes people move, bob their heads, and make babies — and how you can harness it in your own mixes to create these reactions

• what makes something "music" as a opposed to just "noise" and how you get people feeling something from your songs

• easy to remember formulas that will have you writing full and harmonious soundtracks

• the "Fold Trick" that eliminates the need to count intervals or remember sharps or flats when writing your music

• how to create the feeling you want to express even if you've never played anything musical in your life

• the common elements & sections of songs and how create and organize them to create the best impact in your music

• the powerful Ableton feature that allows you to quickly and creatively try out your ideas and discover what will work best for your song

• how to arrange your music based on the genre you're going for

• get a list of the best places for audio samples — including some free options

• how to warp audio to fit recordings perfectly into your song — and how to do it quick

• how to master creating interesting movement in your music by using automation — the key to good transitions, buildups, and keeping loops interesting

• the 2 kinds of effects and how to use each properly

• discover what kind of track you need to be using with time-based effects such as reverb, delay to create the sound you’re after

• should you go for quantity or quality with your projects? We'll teach you what's the best way to improve quickly

• how to maintain momentum when composing your music — very important on the journey to creating what you've imagined in your head

• the hotkey cheat sheet that will keep you blazing through your compositions