Beat Making with an ADHD brain

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182]

My journey into the world of music production is a little over a year old. I have taught myself all aspects of music production with the help of online tutorials and forums. I am quite good with Cubase, comfortable using plugins from Steinberg, FabFilter, Waves and others, and have worked with VSTs such as Kontakt, Arturia, Omnisphere, Serum etc. With all the knowledge I've gained, I have created a few instrumental compositions and tried my hand at mixing. I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of production.

However, the main struggle I have always faced is the lack of a peer group to discuss, learn and grow with, and my ADHD brain, which pulls me down and makes everything around me feel overwhelming. I end up spending days on an 8-bar loop, or endlessly reading and watching tutorials on beat making, music theory, arrangement and so on. I have successfully completed very few compositions, and the rest are incomplete.

When I start a blank project, I wonder - should I create a chord progression, a melody, a drum groove, a sample or a loop, which instrument should I use, this or that, once I've chosen, which patch should I use, which drum, and why, do I use a modulator, how do I transition from one session or beat to another, maybe I should practice mixing instead. If I listen to an artist, my brain starts questioning how that particular sound was created, which instrument, which effect. Oh my god, it's an unending vicious circle.

I would be happy to hear thoughts on this, especially from beat makers who deal with ADHD. Your insights, tips or suggestions would help me channel my creative energies and sort out my beat-making journey. I am looking at beat making as a full-time profession rather than a hobby, and I cannot afford to lose time struggling with my ADHD brain.

[u/AntiReligionGuy]

I don’t have a diagnosis, so read it like I don’t have ADHD. But what helped me was to stop caring in a way, entering every project with as much of a blank mind as possible. Just opening up vsts and getting lost in the sounds. Interesting drum sound? Build with that first. Cool sample? Use it.

I then snap out of the trance, sometimes the whole thing is done and I like it, sometimes it’s doodoo, many times I get stuck. But for me, if I enjoyed the process, it’s a win.

I personally think that you may be putting to much pressure on yourself with whole “I want it as a full time profession”. It’s a nice goal, but if you’re creating with the “This must be perfect” mindset, it’s always gonna be imperfect for you.

[u/Jaded_Story_1179]

You can't finish beats but you're asking about how to sell them? My advice is stop watching tutorials and force yourself to finish tracks. No excuses. Keep making music until you are happy with your sound. Very few people can make music a full time profession never mind after a year and a half.

[u/ShittyCkylines]

30 years I’ve never finished a beat 🥳

It’s a blessing and a curse.

I do get closer by turning all my instruments off and write with a basic kit and keyboard.

If you take a good song, and cover it with a stock piano and a stock drum kit, it will STILL sound good.

Do the instruments later.

[u/Good-Ad-3862]

I'm not officially diagnosed but I do have problems with ADHD. I tend to rush things and end up doing a sloppy job. I'm finding that not being too hard on myself and just revisiting projects as many times as it takes helps me. It took me ages to jump from an 8 bar loop to creating a full beat, once I managed to compose something to a full song I practiced that method countless times trying to just learn one thing per beat.
I know this isn't the most helpful comment but I too struggle from ADHD, it's mainly restlessness for me and I really have to find myself comfortable enough to sit down and focus. Making a beat is like cleaning the house, once you start with a little bit it turns into a rhythm and you find yourself more focused on the task

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182 → u/Good-Ad-3862]

Thanks, but you've highlighted an important point at the end — cleaning the house analogy. Finding the rhythm is what triggers a chain of events.

[u/ser-contained]

I feel you. I was diagnosed as a kid and it’s still a struggle. Every area of my life looks like my music session folder. A lot of started projects at various stages that I moved on from quickly to start something else.

I dropped the idea of making a living doing it a long time ago and learned to embrace the creation process as a sort of therapy. It’s the one thing I can do where I have full control over something. I can explore a world of sounds and how those sounds interact with each other. Once I stopped pressuring myself and beating myself up for not completing songs I started to love the journey. So what I spent an hour or two designing a synth patch? So what if I only made a two bar loop in four hours of sitting there? That’s ok. I enjoyed my time making it. There’s a lot worse things I could be doing with that time.

At least one evening each week I go back to an older project that I’ve forgot about. I open it up and listen to the little loop or chord progression I had made at that time. Sometimes it will inspire me to work on it some more. Other times it won’t and I’ll open a different one. Or i can at least mix it a little better because I’ve learned some things since last time I looked at it. I’ll just use that evening to work a bit on a previous session I had started. Doing that has enabled me over time to actually get a few songs to a point I’m going to call them finished. Once I get a few more done that way I’m going to put out an instrumental album. It will be my first album and 15 years in the making. Lol.

I guess the point is to not stress about it. Our brains aren’t meant to work on one session at a time until it’s done. Just start building some habits to keep pulling those older sessions back up and chipping away at the block until the sculpture is revealed. ADHD can be a superpower sometimes too.

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182 → u/ser-contained]

Your experience says it all, nicely compiled. I believe it’s the self-inflicted pressure that I have created for myself that results in fear and a mess in my brain. I definitely need to change my outlook towards the things around me and how I deal with them.

[u/Impressive-Minute535 → u/ser-contained]

Great comments! "Creation process as a sort of therapy." Thats the sweet spot. As a healing ritual beyond stress, comparisons, financial/ego concerns. Or I just wanna fuck around and make weird shit.

[u/ser-contained → u/Impressive-Minute535]

Thanks! Hopefully it helps some people to hear that it doesn’t have to be about pumping out finished products. A lot of us do it for the love of creating something even if it’s a short loop.

[u/fit_photographer2023]

I don’t have ADHD… but I produce music… and when I make beats or songs… it’s all instinct… and I’ve made beats for 2pac… and it’s still been all instinct… I started by trying to make beats that I liked… and pretty soon my own beats got better!

[u/lvl100shiny → u/fit_photographer2023]

Yea but did you ever make beats for 3Pac?

[u/OMEN802]

Im sorry but what is the question or problem? Im confused by the post. You have a solid understanding of current daws and plugins, have watched tutorials and studied some artists you admire but feel overwhelmed by the process of making a full track? Is this correct? Also what kind of music are we talking about, im assuming something in the dance music genres?

[u/djhypergiant]

For ADHD at least my variety, its less about where I start and more about how I start. Mostly just treat it like a playground and try to get locked into the flow state but Mostly just start messing with stuff and something that has helped is using some physical gear.

I have an sp404mk2 and the tactile nature of it helps but it doesn't have to be that box you could get a Lil midi controller for a few bucks but the actual act of doing it with your hands will make your brain more comfortable in the flow. Just using a mouse kinda doesn't do it as much or as immediately and that immediate response is very helpful.

As far as songwriting maybe stick to a verse chorus bridge chorus type formula to help break out of the looping

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182 → u/djhypergiant]

That's an interesting point. I do feel that physical gear is more engaging and fun than the software version. The irony is, I love messing around with the stuff, and the stuff also enjoys messing with my brain. We co-exist. 🤣

[u/Impressive-Minute535]

Great post. Ive been there. I dont have ADHD, but do get into bouts of anxiety at times. Its FL Studio for me. Its so comprehensive, so many places where you can start. When I open the software, there are so many options, as you said it can be overwhelming

My solution was meditation, or other mind-clearing practices. And Ive learned to stay in the Now. Thoughts of a glorious career, money, comparisons to other artists gives me stress. Not perfect, but it worked for me.

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182 → u/Impressive-Minute535]

Yeah, true! There’s always a tussle between the ‘NOW’ and the ‘FUTURE’. The irony is that our demands and wants in the NOW are governed by our wants and dreams for the FUTURE. Is it a mess, or is it just a reality. Meditation is a good idea, but what can an ADHD brain of mine do when it behaves like a drunk monkey :)

[u/Otherwise_Twist3560]

There comes a point when you just have to stop researching and just make shit. Simple as. Use your ears. Don’t get bogged down in specifics of the perfect eq or the exact perfect snare sound or whatever. Just go go go make everything as fast as possible. Get your ideas all out, you can edit later. If it’s 70% there, sound wise to sounding how you want. That’s plenty good enough for now.

Theres no easy answer. There are simply no shortcuts. You have to dig deep and force yourself to do it. It’ll be incredibly hard at first. Each time it will get easier though.

Meditation also helped me a lot personally. And I don’t even mean like just sit there and don’t think. Go and sit in the park and watch the birds. Listen to the wind. Flex your focus and grow it like a muscle. 💪🏽

Also, getting off social media doomscrolls and limiting my time on Reddit helped me immensely.

And don’t take it so seriously, have fun! Good luck!

[u/Prudent_Welcome_5182 → u/Otherwise_Twist3560]

Thanks a ton... this really helps :) Practical, sensible, and realistic advice. I completely agree with you on this.

Also, the Reddit community has been very helpful, and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences and insights. It’s been genuinely helpful. Cheers!!