How to Use a DAW for Songwriting Beginners

Did you know that over 90% of today’s top chart hits were made using Digital Audio Workstations (DAW)? Whether you’re writing pop, rock, hip-hop, or electronic music, DAWs have become the essential tool for songwriters of all levels. For beginners, learning to use a DAW might feel overwhelming, but the benefits far outweigh the initial learning curve. Instead of worrying about hardware limitations, DAWs enable you to focus purely on creativity, allowing you to experiment, arrange, and refine your music with ease.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics of using DAWs specifically for songwriting. From choosing the right DAW to practical tips to boost your songwriting process, this step-by-step guide will help you navigate the world of DAWs and make your songwriting journey smoother.

Just like technology constantly advances, I will update this guide. Be sure to bookmark this page and come on back to see what’s new.

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is a software application designed for recording, editing, and producing audio files. Whether you’re recording live instruments or working entirely with virtual instruments, DAWs provide all the tools necessary to create a professional-sounding track from start to finish.

For beginners, DAWs allow you to experiment with various aspects of songwriting without an expensive studio setup. In fact, many modern-day songwriters can produce radio-ready tracks using just a laptop and a good DAW.

Some of the most popular DAWs for songwriting beginners include GarageBand, which comes pre-installed on many Apple devices, and FL Studio, which offers a user-friendly interface and extensive tutorials.

Both DAWs are ideal for beginners because they offer a simple layout and essential tools like loops, MIDI editing, and track recording. As your skills grow, you can explore more advanced DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or Reaper.

When selecting a DAW, it’s important to pick one that aligns with your needs and style. Some DAWs are specifically designed for beat-making and electronic music, while others are better suited for traditional songwriting with instruments and vocals.

Ableton Live is a DAW renowned for its unique session view, which allows for real-time audio manipulation and performance. Ideal for live performances and electronic music production, Ableton Live provides a powerful, creative workflow with a focus on loop-based composition and improvisation.

Ableton Live

RELATED ARTICLE: With the purchase of some MIDI Keyboards, Ableton Live is sometimes provided for free.

Here’s a link to a useful MIDI Keyboard Guide to help you.

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GarageBand is a beginner-friendly DAW developed by Apple, offering a simplified interface and an array of built-in instruments and loops. It’s designed for newcomers to music production, providing an intuitive platform to create, edit, and mix tracks with minimal technical knowledge.

GarageBand for MacOS

GarageBand Windows Version

FL Studio is a versatile DAW known for its pattern-based workflow and comprehensive suite of virtual instruments, particularly popular in electronic music production. Its intuitive interface and range of built-in plugins make it accessible to beginners while still offering advanced features for professionals.

FL Studio

Logic Pro is a professional-grade Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) developed by Apple, known for its user-friendly interface, robust set of features, and seamless integration with macOS. It offers powerful tools for music production, composition, and editing, making it ideal for both beginners and professionals.

Logic Pro

Reaper is a highly customizable and affordable DAW that is widely praised for its flexibility, efficiency, and lightweight design. Though it requires more initial setup compared to other DAWs, Reaper is suitable for a wide range of audio production tasks and supports virtually any operating system.

Reaper

Ableton Live includes an extensive set of built-in lessons, as well as official tutorial videos on the Ableton website and YouTube. Users can also explore many community-driven tutorials, forums, and paid courses that cover every aspect of the DAW.

FL Studio offers comprehensive official video tutorials via the Image-Line website and YouTube channel. There are many user-made tutorials on the internet, catering to both beginners and advanced users, focusing on specific production styles.

GarageBand comes with built-in tutorials and an intuitive help system, perfect for beginners. Apple provides official online guides, and there are countless free beginner-focused tutorials available on YouTube and other learning platforms.

Logic Pro offers a wide range of official Apple tutorials, in-app help features, and a vibrant online community. Users can access Apple’s Logic Pro resources or third-party platforms like YouTube and Skillshare for step-by-step guides on production techniques.

Reaper provides extensive documentation, including a detailed user guide and video tutorials directly from the developers. The Reaper community also offers many free online tutorials, and users can find tailored lessons on YouTube and forums.

Ableton Live

• Cost: $99 (Intro), $449 (Standard), $749 (Suite).
• Ease of Use: Highly intuitive for live performance and electronic music creation, though mastering its full potential may take time.
• Features: Focuses on live performance and improvisation, with a unique session view, real-time manipulation, and extensive plugin and instrument support.

FL Studio

• Cost: Ranges from $99 to $499 depending on the edition (one-time purchase).
• Ease of Use: Easy to grasp for beginners, especially in electronic music, but deeper features may require more experience.
• Features: Excellent for electronic music production, with a pattern-based workflow, extensive plugin support, and a wide range of virtual instruments and effects.

GarageBand

• Cost: Free with macOS devices.
• Ease of Use: Extremely beginner-friendly, with a simple drag-and-drop interface designed for ease of use.
• Features: Basic but solid set of tools for recording and editing, with a decent collection of virtual instruments, loops, and effects for quick music creation.

Logic Pro

• Cost: $199.99 (one-time purchase).
• Ease of Use: Fairly user-friendly, especially for macOS users, but with a slight learning curve for advanced features.
• Features: Comprehensive set of professional tools for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Includes high-quality plugins, software instruments, and loop libraries.

Reaper

• Cost: $60 for a discounted license, $225 for a commercial license (one-time purchase).
• Ease of Use: Highly customizable but has a steeper learning curve for beginners compared to other DAWs.
• Features: Lightweight, flexible, and compatible with virtually any plugin or operating system. Offers extensive scripting and customization options.

Here’s a basic step-by-step guide to get started with songwriting using a DAW:

1. Set Up Your Workspace: Open your DAW and create a new project. Start by organizing your workspace—set up tracks for different instruments, like drums, bass, and melody.

2. Create the First Track: Begin by creating a rhythm section. You can use pre-recorded drum loops, or enter them using plugins and a MIDI keyboard controller. (Keep an eye out for an upcoming article on MIDI keyboards).

3. Add Melody and Chords: Use a virtual instrument like a piano or guitar to create the basic melody and chord progression of your song. This will form the backbone of your track.

4. Record Vocals or Instruments: If you have a microphone, now is the time to add your vocals or record live instruments. Be sure to set sound levels to avoid distortion.

5. Arrangement and Editing: Once you have the core parts of your song, it’s time to arrange them. DAWs let you easily copy, paste, and move parts of the song around, so experiment with different structures and arrangements until you’re happy with the flow.

By following this workflow, you’ll have a well-organized project that allows for efficient songwriting and experimentation.

Even though DAWs offer great flexibility, beginners often make a few common mistakes:

🔵 Overcomplicating Production: It’s easy to get lost in all the tools and effects. Start simple and add complexity as you go. Focus on the song itself, not just the production elements.

🔵 Relying Too Much on Presets: While presets are convenient, don’t forget that a great song starts with strong melodies, lyrics, and structure. Use presets as a starting point, but don’t rely on them too heavily.

🔵 Neglecting Songwriting Fundamentals: A DAW can help you arrange and produce a song, but it can’t replace solid songwriting skills. Always prioritize your lyrics, melody, and arrangement.

Here are some tips to streamline your songwriting process:

🔵 Use Templates: Create a DAW template with pre-set tracks for drums, vocals, and instruments. This saves time so you can jump straight into creating. Don’t stick to a single template. Instead, create various templates so that each song doesn’t sound the same.

🔵 Organize Your Sound Library: Keep your samples and loops organized so you can easily access the sounds you need without disrupting your workflow.

🔵 Record Clean: Whether you’re recording vocals or live instruments, make sure your audio is clean and free from background noise. This will make mixing and editing much easier.

Mastering a DAW is an essential step for any beginner songwriter. By learning how to use basic features, choosing the right tools for your needs, and following an efficient workflow, you can turn your musical ideas into fully formed songs. The key is to keep experimenting, honing your skills, and remembering that the song itself is the most important element.

What Do I Use?

For me, I began finding my way around GarageBand. Then, eventually shifted to Reaper. I often found myself getting lost in it a few times until I spent the time to go through the full series of tutorial videos. To me, it’s inexpensive and fully-featured.

Feel free to share your favorite DAW features or tips for songwriting beginners in the comments!!

About Me…

Anthony M. Davis is an Author, Artist, ASCAP Songwriter/Publisher, and Certified Leadership, Success and Stress Coach. He is also a clinically trained Board Certified Hypnotherapist.

He has earned a national reputation for his Transformative Life Centering work with clients from across the nation. As a 2x stroke survivor, his unique approach helps clients remove underlying fears and triggers, and then, through coaching, helps them pursue and accomplish life and career goals.

If you have challenges and are ready to move past them, Contact him Here to create the life change you desire.

To hear his growing repertoire of songs, visit his YouTube Channel.

Related Topics:

Audio, Composition, Digital Audio Workstation, Editing, Instruments, Loops, MIDI, Mixing, Production, Songwriting