Step 1: Creation.
Come up with anything that makes you happy, or sad, or angry, or anything you enjoy feeling at the moment. String chords together in phrases that evoke that emotion to a fever pitch. If your music should be calming, write mellow, pretty chord progressions. If it should be aggressive, write choppy, aggravating and violent music. If you want lyrics, make sure they're interesting and showcase you the way you want to be seen and talked about. The creative process is never over until the album comes out. Feel free to make changes right up to and during your recording session. Have fun and don't worry about the music distribution process until after your recording is complete!
Step 2: Repetition.
Play your song over, and over, and over, and over, and over. Play it blindfolded. Play it behind your back. Your song should be so simple for you to play that you can perform it flawlessly and win a pie-eating contest at the same time. Through tireless repetition your song will morph into something you couldn't have anticipated. All songs have their own spirit that is brought out in repetition, not recording. Live performances are the best for this by far. Have fun!
Step 3 (optional): Perform.
Now that you're an expert at playing your music, go out and see how people react to it. If they're not amazed by your performance at first, don't feel bad. You're going to get much, much better, and so is your music. Stage fright is entirely normal, and it passes. Getting over stage fright adds to a person's character many qualities people pay thousands of dollars to learn, such as leadership, public speaking, and self-confidence. Perform every weekend if possible, and more if you can. You'll need to book your own shows. Prepare for hours of driving. Have fun!
Step 4: Record.
A modern computer makes a better recording studio than any of the soundboards used in the 1980s. It is possible to make an astoundingly excellent album using a fairly inexpensive Macintosh laptop computer. Depending on your level of expertise and the quality of sound you desire, you may wish to invest in a sound card for your computer, microphones, and other staples of recording. Freely download-able software will supply you with a virtual engineering board. Do a little Internet research on how to record your music. Many tools used in professional studios can be fabricated with household items. Egg crate sponges will soundproof anything. A wire hanger and some pantyhose can make a pro-grade pop screen for your microphone. Get creative! Be honest with your takes, though. No mistakes are admissible. On a record, every performance is forever. Only keep your very, very best. But remember, have fun!
Step 5: Mix.
Unless you're Joan Baez or Bob Dylan, you're going to have lots of tracks for each song: a drum track, bass track, guitar track, vocal track, and who-knows how many others. Live drums usually have separate mics (and tracks) for each piece of equipment, snare, hihat, kick, crash, ride, etc, etc. When mixing your record, be honest about what you can't hear. Be careful that you're not subconsciously burying a track in the mix because there are errors in the recorded take that are screwing up the sound. Re-record those, or delete them altogether. The tracks shouldn't all be the same level, though. Drums are only as loud as vocals for dance music. Lead guitars should be louder during solos and softer during verses. Use your best judgment and don't be afraid to ask others what they think. Be honest with yourself, too. You may really love the song's bass line, but does your bass deserve to lord over the trumpet and harmonica? Probably not. Enjoy the music. Have fun!Step 6: Master.
If you're reading this and learning things, your mastering should be done by a paid professional. Most of these geniuses are themselves starving artists who will lovingly master your album for as little as they can possibly charge. If you've done everything else right, your music will come back sounding like a Hollywood masterpiece.
Step 7: Art.
Once your music comes back from mastering, its a done deal. Now you just need an image for it. Any image will do, but make sure your album cover looks the way you want people to see you. It's a representation of your music, but it's also a very serious representation of you, yourself. Make sure you're dressed to impress through your album cover, even if you're not literally pictured on it.
Step 8: Distribution.
Music distribution is all online these days, because most people listen to music on electronic mediums now. Global music distribution is not expensive, but it's important to choose a company that will speak with you about your concerns should something arise. Many of the biggest companies are almost totally automated, right down to their robotic customer service telephone lines. Other companies have fantastic reputations and will reply to your emails almost instantly, and talk to you on the phone if things get sticky. MondoTunes.com is perhaps the most well respected distribution authority in terms of customer service today, and they're often less expensive, too. Go figure.
Step 9: Party!
When your release date hits, be sure that there's a party going on. If you can perform a show, make it a big one and make sure everyone you love is there. Album release parties are one of the most important marketing dates your album will ever have, so make it fun, big, and – well, fun. Don't forget to sell music online for maximum exposure.
