The 5 Stages of an Electronic Music Producer

Back in 2015, Sam wrote an article that changed my life. Here's my take on it for 2022, and I hope it inspires you as well.

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0:00 What are the 5 stages?
0:53 Stage 1 - Initiation
3:52 Stage 2 - Exponential Learning
8:48 Stage 3 - The Dip
11:57 Stage 4 - Proficiency
15:04 Stage 5 - Mastery
18:03 A Recap

[Maximoltz]

"It is a lot of fun if you just expect nothing" well said.

[Bittamin]

Shout out to all my boys in the dip right now. I really took off with stage two the beginning of this year, last month I put out more than 6 finished tracks and this month I haven’t finished one.

[ThreeBeingOne]

Personally I needed to really understand chord theory before I became happy enough with what I’m doing to move forward. It’s different for everyone but I feel like as long as you are working on something that is functionally moving you towards your goal. Your only goal should be creating what’s in your heart, because once achieved everything else is at beck and call

[CemeterySoulsMusic]

I think part of the transition to mastery is that you've finally gotten the tools and workflow so ingrained and good that it is no longer a barrier to creativity

[omegabattyacid]

I'm in stage 4 and I gotta say, so much that never clicked for me before is clicking now. Watched likely thousands of tutorials throughout the years and they only kinda made sense to me now matter how well explained they were, for years I thought I just wasn't cut out to do this instead of the affirming thought that I just wasn't ready for those tutorials, revisiting them now is like a night/day difference

[ImJonasCortez]

I felt like I wasn't sure which stage I was at until you said that Stage 3 morphs into Stage 4 slowly and that's exactly where I'm at rn. I'm kinda getting out of the dip, don't have inspiration everytime, but still make stuff. I have felt like quitting multiple times, but producing is just too fun and it's just too satisfying to be proudly listening to your track or idea on loop. This has helped me through my dip :)

[ameer]

After pumping out 70-80 songs in the span of 2 years I'm now finally in the dip

[fungimusic]

Initiation period for me! But I place way too much pressure on myself to be good already. I just need to enjoy playing around with the software & learning this mental journey of music production

[hellkeyproduction]

3 - 4 months in the dip stage... hopefully soon enough out and going to enjoy the shine. Thanks for the video, man, for sure it is very motivating while going through this damn hard time

[eli-shulga]

This is very much true to other crafts as well. Drawing, animating, software development and even sports.
Any skill basically.
Once you get the basics and get above the beginner level, progress curve slows down, and even mite plato.
Naturally it "feels" like we got to our peak potential, and if its "not getting results" like money or outside acknowledgment one mite quit. But its not.
You just need to keep going and pushing forward.
If you managed to get to that step with the mentality of getting enjoyment out of the process more than
the results, you have much better chances to "survive" this dip, as you are not motivate by the results but by
the process.

Very Important video! Hope this gets a lot of views :)

[jasondecourcy]

I’m nearing end of the dip and targeting my learning - and mastering parts of the craft. This is an incredibly helpful video and inspires me to keep at it. Keep at it everyone!!! It’s just time - and joy! Great channel. Love you guys.

[Wolfbladekai]

Thank you for making this video. I feel like I'm dipping rn and feel like an overwhelmed loser, but this has really made me feel inspired

[thJ]

The dip hit me a few weeks ago
It went from fun to being a ton of work to make a good song
My inspiration is crushed by realization that getting the idea from birth to finish is an entire journey where things can get lost

[jeejeejee]

Spent nearly 8 years on the dip phase, quit production entirely somewhere around 2015 out of frustration. I've been starting again lately with completely new perspective.

[carlosesteban]

I’m feeling exactly in the dip phase, is not easy and it’s really about to either quit or continue, now this video has changed my mind and see that it’s worth it to keep !

[vxti_cxn]

Im just starting and going through void, but you gave me some hope and envy to learn and improve, thanks a lot🙏

[Bcutter]

One song a week! I like that tip. I have been producing music for 25 years now and I am still finishing like one per year. I think it is about time to speed up. Great video with tips that are good to hear again even for experienced producers.

[extendedblundering]

that "make friends" that will give honest feedback and know production hit me in the feels ha! I think I'm in the exponential learning phase if anyone wants to ride through the dip with me hit me up LOL

[fressco]

My dip is/was when I thought I knew everything and didn't try to apply simple techniques or felt "too good" to try them. When you put yourself open to all info and inspiration good or bad, you slowly turn into stage 2/stage 4

[ryansturgiss]

Very helpful to hear as i'm definately in the dip stage. THANK YOU!