You Don’t Need to Be a Musician to Start Making Something
There’s a weird myth that still hangs around music and audio creation. The idea that you need years of training, a wall of expensive gear, or some mysterious “musician brain” to get started.
Honestly, this rogue belief stops a lot of people from ever even opening a project. And here’s what really suck, the belief is all wrong.
I live in Tokyo part-time and connect with musicians and artist from all around the world. And the thing that makes them great? They take action and don’t let any lack of tools, skills or training stop them from creating something.
If you’re curious about sound, storytelling or creating melodic vibes in your bedroom, then you’re already qualified to make something.
Don’t Ask “Am I a Musician?” (Ask “What Am I Making?”)
The word “musician” is doing a lot of unnecessary gatekeeping here.
Making music doesn’t have to mean writing a three-minute pop song with a chorus and a bridge. It can mean creating a loop that feels good. A texture that adds tension. A soundscape that makes someone stay on a video a little longer. Simple counts.
Honestly, simple can be better than complex. Some of my best work is often the simplest.
Your First Move Doesn’t Need to Be Serious
“The fastest way to kill motivation is to expect a polished result on day one.”
Perfectionist pressure keeps people stuck in planning mode instead of actually making anything.
A better approach is to lower the stakes and start small.
Loop a drum pattern you like. Stack two sounds and see how they feel together. Record something from daily life, a door closing, a train passing, your phone buzzing, and mess with it until it sounds interesting. Remix something you already love just to understand how it’s put together.
The goal is not to impress anyone. The goal is to get comfortable touching sound and realizing it’s not fragile, it’s material. You can move it around.
The Tools Are Way Less Scary Than You Think
A lot of hesitation comes from imagining music software as an endless maze of buttons and jargon. That used to be true, but it mostly isn’t anymore.
You don’t need a studio setup or a shelf of gear to try ideas. Browser-based platforms and beginner-friendly tools make experimenting feel closer to playing than studying. LANDR Studio, for example, lets you play with production tools, samples, and mastering without committing to a complex workflow. You can open it, try something, close it, and come back later without feeling like you’re lost.
And when you land on something you like, sharing it doesn’t have to be some intimidating industry ritual. Putting a track out, even just for friends or a tiny audience, is part of the creative process. Tools like LANDR Distribution exist so you can release something without needing to understand contracts, labels, or how streaming platforms work. You make it, you share it. You learn from what happens.
Explore more:
➤ Creative Skills to Learn This Year
➤ How to Make Music Without Instruments
Progress Comes From Showing Up, Not From Talent
Here’s the part nobody likes to hear, because it sounds obvious and boring, but it matters. The people who get better aren’t the ones who start with confidence. They’re the ones who keep touching the work.
Confidence usually shows up after repetition. Motivation isn’t something you wait for, it’s something that grows once you see yourself finishing small things. Even unfinished sketches count. Each one teaches you what you like, what you don’t, and what you’re curious to try next.
(psst) You’re Allowed to Make Things Without a Label
You don’t need permission, a diploma or a title. You don’t need to decide what kind of creator you are before you start.
If you’ve been sitting on the idea that you’re “not musical enough,” consider letting that thought go for one afternoon. Open something simple. Make something small. Close it if you want, or don’t.
And keep things minimal. All you need is a your laptop (even just your phone actually) and some creative confidence. When you’re ready to take things up a notch or release tracks, I use LANDR (a staple in my suitcase studio kit).
Creation just requires trying, having a little fun with it, and seeing what happens next.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for you here.
Later ✌️
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