How to Make EDM
Complete guide to electronic dance music production. Covers house, techno, dubstep, trance, future bass, and drum and bass. Learn drops, sidechain, synth design, and mix techniques.
Step 0: Detect the Key Before You Build
Before choosing a BPM, writing chords, or picking a synth patch, detect the key of any sample or reference track you are building from. The wrong key means out-of-tune synths, bass, and melodies.
Step 01: Choose Your BPM and Subgenre
EDM spans a wide BPM range depending on subgenre. Pick your target subgenre first, then lock in a BPM. Most producers start at 128 BPM for mainstream house or progressive EDM.
| Subgenre | BPM Range | Feel | Keys | Key Artists | Signature Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House / Deep House | 120-128 | Four-on-the-floor groove, warm, soulful | Minor and major, C/F/G/A minor | Fisher, Chris Lake, Disclosure | Off-beat chord stabs, walking bass, vocal chops |
| Tech House | 126-132 | Driving, hypnotic, minimal loop | Dark minor, A/C/E minor | Fisher, Skrillex, John Summit | Bass groove is the hook, minimal melodics |
| Progressive House / EDM | 126-132 | Build-drop-breakdown, emotional peak | Major and minor, G/A/C major | Martin Garrix, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii | Euphoric melody in the drop, 8-bar breakdown |
| Dubstep / Brostep | 140-150 (half-time 70-75) | Heavy wobble bass, aggressive drops | Minor only, C/G/A/E minor | Skrillex, Excision, Virtual Riot | Design the wobble bass in Serum/Vital with LFO on filter cutoff |
| Trance / Uplifting | 128-145 | Euphoric, emotional, sweeping pads | Major preferred, A/G/C major | Armin van Buuren, Above and Beyond, Ferry Corsten | 16-bar breakdown with piano or pluck melody |
| Future Bass | 140-160 | Bright, emotional, heavy mid-side width | Major keys, C/G/D major | Flume, Marshmello, San Holo | Supersaw chords, heavy reverb, emotional drop melody |
| Drum and Bass (DnB) | 160-180 | Fast breakbeat, sub bass, rolling rhythm | Minor, dark atmosphere | Chase and Status, Pendulum, Netsky | Amen break or programmed rolling beat, deep sub |
Pro tip: 128 BPM is the universal EDM starting point. It works for house, tech house, and progressive. If your track sounds too slow, go to 130-132. If it sounds too rushed, try 124-126. Match the BPM to your reference track for best results.
Step 02: Build the EDM Drum Pattern
Most EDM is built on a four-on-the-floor kick pattern. The kick lands on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4). Hi-hats fill the spaces. Snare or clap marks beats 2 and 4. The details change by subgenre.
16-Step Drum Grid (128 BPM House)
Four-on-the-floor: every beat. For house, keep it punchy with a short decay. For techno, a longer sustain works. Sample or synthesize (808-style transient for tech house).
Beats 2 and 4. Layer a clap with a snare for thickness. In trance and progressive EDM, layer 2-3 snares for a rolling fill in the buildup.
Closed HH on every 8th note. Open HH on offbeats. Add velocity variation (70-100%) to avoid machine-gun flatness. Automate the HH to drop out in breakdowns.
Shakers, congas, rimshots, or claps on offbeat 16th notes. Essential for house and tech house groove. Adds human feel without disrupting the four-on-the-floor.
Buildup drums tip: In the last 4 bars before a drop, add a snare roll that doubles in speed (8th notes to 16th notes), cut the kick on the final bar, and remove all elements on the very last beat. The silence before the drop creates maximum impact.
Step 03: Sidechain Compression (The EDM Pump)
Sidechain compression is the defining production technique of EDM. It makes synths, pads, and bass duck in volume every time the kick hits, creating the characteristic pumping sound. Without it, EDM loses its energy and the kick gets buried.
How to Set Up Sidechain
- 1. Place a compressor on the synth or pad channel you want to pump.
- 2. Set the sidechain input to the kick drum channel (not the main output).
- 3. Set Attack to 1-5ms (fast, so compression grabs instantly when kick hits).
- 4. Set Release to match BPM so volume recovers before the next kick.
- 5. Set Ratio to 4:1 - 8:1 for strong pumping. Higher for bigger rooms.
- 6. Lower threshold until GR meter shows -6 to -14 dB on every kick hit.
Release Time by BPM
The release should allow full recovery before the next kick. At 128 BPM, each kick is 469ms apart. Release at 200-350ms keeps the pump tight without killing the groove.
- 120 BPM - kick every 500ms, release 200-380ms
- 124 BPM - kick every 484ms, release 200-360ms
- 128 BPM - kick every 469ms, release 150-340ms
- 130 BPM - kick every 462ms, release 150-330ms
- 140 BPM - kick every 429ms, release 120-300ms
| Subgenre | Attack | Release | Ratio | GR Target | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House / Deep House | 1-5ms | 50-100ms | 4:1 to 6:1 | -6 to -10 dB | Gentle pump, breathing groove |
| Tech House | 1-3ms | 60-120ms | 6:1 to 8:1 | -8 to -14 dB | Aggressive pump, kick dominates |
| Progressive / Big Room | 1ms | 80-150ms | 8:1 to 10:1 | -12 to -18 dB | Heavy pump, full volume duck on every kick |
| Dubstep (drop) | 2-5ms | 40-80ms | 6:1 | -6 to -10 dB | Pumping during drop only, subtle in verse |
| Future Bass | 1-2ms | 60-120ms | 6:1 to 8:1 | -10 to -16 dB | Wide pad pump, emotional swell on kicks |
Ghost kick trick: For cleaner sidechain without the kick always audible, create a duplicate kick channel with the volume turned all the way down. Route the sidechain from this ghost kick channel. The silent kick triggers the compressor without adding any sound. This lets you control the pump feel independently from the main kick level.
Step 04: EDM Chord Progressions
EDM chord progressions are usually simple and loopable. Four chords over 4-8 bars, played as stabs on the offbeat in house or sustained pads in trance. Detect your key first with BeatKey, then choose a progression.
Short, percussive chords on offbeats. Core house technique. Mute the chord release to keep it punchy.
Long, reverb-heavy chords held for 4-8 bars. Core trance and future bass technique. Wide stereo field.
Multiple detuned sawtooth oscillators for a wide, modern sound. Core progressive house and future bass.
Arpeggiated chord notes on a pluck synth. Core trance and progressive. 1/16 note or 1/8 note timing.
Step 05: Arrange the Drop
The drop is the defining moment of every EDM track. It follows a buildup-breakdown-drop cycle that creates tension and release. The contrast between silence and full energy is what makes crowds react.
| Section | Bars | Elements | Energy | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro | 16-32 | Kick, hat, basic groove, no melody | Low | DJ friendly, sets the tempo and vibe |
| Verse / Groove A | 16-32 | Full groove, bass, chord stabs begin | Medium | Main groove established, tension builds gradually |
| Buildup | 8-16 | Snare roll, rising synth, filter open, kick removed | Rising | Maximum tension before drop, silence at the end |
| Drop | 16-32 | All elements, kick + bass + melody + sidechain pump | Maximum | Peak energy, the payoff moment, hook melody |
| Breakdown | 8-16 | Remove kick, sparse melody, atmosphere, pads | Low | Emotional contrast, prepare for second drop |
| Second Build | 8 | Snare roll, riser, synth arp, impact coming | Rising | Reload tension for final drop |
| Second Drop | 16-32 | All elements, louder, additional layer added | Maximum | Bigger than first drop, climax of the track |
| Outro | 16-32 | Groove without melody, elements strip back | Falling | DJ-friendly exit, returns to intro feel |
Riser and Downlifter
A riser is a long synthesized sound that sweeps up in pitch and volume over 4-8 bars. It signals a drop is coming. A downlifter does the opposite (going into a breakdown). These transitions are what separate amateur and professional EDM arrangements.
The Silence Trick
Cut ALL sound (including the riser) for the last 1 beat before the drop. This silence creates a split-second anticipation that makes the drop feel enormous. Even half a beat of silence works. Without it, drops often feel flat even if all the sounds are right.
Step 06: Synth Design Basics
EDM sounds are mostly synthesized (not sampled). Knowing the basics of subtractive synthesis gives you full control over your sound. Most EDM synth plugins (Serum, Vital, Massive) use the same principles.
Multiple sawtooth oscillators slightly detuned against each other. The core of progressive house and future bass.
Short attack, fast decay, low sustain. Works great as an arpeggiator. Core trance and progressive house.
Low-pass filter modulated by a fast LFO. The LFO rate determines wobble speed. Core dubstep and brostep.
Sine wave or round sub at the root note of the key. Sits below 80 Hz. Felt more than heard on small speakers.
Slow attack, long sustain, heavy reverb and chorus. Fills the stereo field in breakdowns and verses.
White noise with a volume and pitch sweep upward over 8-16 bars. Signals a drop is coming.
Step 07: Mix and Master for EDM
EDM mixes need to be loud, wide, and punchy while keeping the kick and bass clear. Streaming targets for EDM are -9 to -7 LUFS (louder than other genres due to limiting expectations on club and streaming systems).
Gain Staging
- • Set all channels to peak around -12 dBFS before mixing
- • Kick and bass should be the loudest elements
- • Leave 6 dB of headroom on the mix bus before mastering
- • Use a spectrum analyzer to check no single frequency is clipping
Kick and Bass Separation
- • Sidechain bass to kick (see Step 03) for pumping
- • HPF the bass at 30-40 Hz to remove sub rumble
- • Give kick a presence boost at 3-5 kHz for click-through
- • Use mid-side EQ to keep bass mono below 150 Hz
Synth and Pad EQ
- • HPF all synths above 150-200 Hz to keep bass clean
- • Boost air at 12-16 kHz for sparkle and width
- • Cut competing mid frequencies between synths at 500-800 Hz
- • Use parallel compression on pads for consistency without squashing
Stereo Width
- • Keep kick, bass, and sub bass mono (below 200 Hz)
- • Pan percussion and percussion layers wide (L40/R40)
- • Use Haas effect or stereo delay on synth layers for width
- • Check the mix in mono to catch phasing
Reverb and Delay
- • Use reverb on sends only, not direct inserts
- • Short reverb (0.5-1.5 sec) on drums for cohesion
- • Long reverb (2-5 sec) on pads and synths for atmosphere
- • BPM-synced delay on plucks and arps (see table below)
Mastering Targets
- • Streaming (Spotify, Apple Music): -9 to -7 LUFS integrated
- • Club-ready master: -7 to -6 LUFS, True Peak -0.5 dBTP
- • Streaming platforms normalize to -14 LUFS (EDM exempt)
- • Brick-wall limiter last in chain, True Peak at -1.0 dBTP
BPM-Synced Delay Times for EDM
| BPM | 1/8 Note | Dotted 1/8 | 1/4 Note | 1/16 Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 250ms | 375ms | 500ms | 125ms |
| 124 | 242ms | 363ms | 484ms | 121ms |
| 126 | 238ms | 357ms | 476ms | 119ms |
| 128 | 234ms | 352ms | 469ms | 117ms |
| 130 | 231ms | 346ms | 462ms | 115ms |
| 140 | 214ms | 321ms | 429ms | 107ms |
Free EDM Production Tools
Detect key of any sample or reference track
Find chord shapes in any key for synth stabs
Find melody notes and scale positions
BPM-synced delay ms for arps and plucks
Exact Hz for synth tuning and 808 pitch
Find compatible keys for mashups and transitions
6 Common EDM Production Mistakes
Fix: Add sidechain compression on all synths and pads. Without it, the kick gets buried and the mix lacks that pumping EDM energy.
Fix: Add snare rolls, rising pitch sweeps, filter automation, and increasing energy in the 8-16 bars before the drop. The buildup creates the payoff.
Fix: Cut all audio for the last 1-2 beats before the drop hits. That silence makes the drop land 3x harder.
Fix: Use sidechain compression, HPF the bass above 30-40 Hz, and give the kick an EQ cut in the 60-80 Hz range where the sub bass lives.
Fix: Keep the mix bus peaking below -6 dBFS. Use a limiter only in mastering, not while mixing. Headroom is required for a clean master.
Fix: Detect the key with BeatKey first. Then tune every synth, bass, and pad to the detected key before adding effects.
FAQ: How to Make EDM
What BPM should I use for EDM?
128 BPM is the universal starting point for mainstream house and progressive EDM. Tech house and modern EDM often sit at 126-132 BPM. Dubstep and drum and bass go higher (140-180 BPM). Pick a BPM that matches your reference tracks and target subgenre.
What key should EDM be in?
Uplifting trance and commercial progressive house typically use major keys (G major, A major, C major) for euphoric energy. Tech house, dubstep, and dark progressive use minor keys (A minor, C minor, G minor). Detect the key of your reference track with BeatKey at beatkey.app before starting.
How do I make an EDM drop hit harder?
Three techniques make drops hit harder: (1) Add complete silence for 1-2 beats immediately before the drop, (2) Automate sidechain compression to engage on the first kick of the drop, (3) Add a low-frequency impact sound (a large kick layer or sub hit) on the first beat of the drop. The contrast between buildup tension and drop release is what creates the impact.
Do I need a DAW to make EDM?
Yes, you need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to sequence, mix, and master EDM. FL Studio, Ableton Live, and Logic Pro X are the most popular for EDM. GarageBand (free on Mac/iOS) and LMMS (free, Windows/Mac/Linux) are good free options to start. Most EDM producers use Serum or Vital for synth design alongside their DAW.
Related Production Guides
Four-on-the-floor, sidechain, chord stabs
Hi-hat rolls, 808s, trap workflow
Sliding 808s, Phrygian, off-beat kicks
Complete beginner to advanced production
Vocal chain, EQ, compression, reverb
Chorus on synths, pads, and leads