FL Studio workspace with musical instruments and vibrant sound waves.

Creating Catchy Melodies in FL Studio: A Step-By-Step Guide


In this tutorial, we dive into the world of melody creation using FL Studio 20. Whether you're a beginner or just looking to refine your skills, this guide will help you craft catchy melodies that can elevate your beats. Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

  • Set your BPM to match the genre.
  • Use harmonic minor scale for a unique sound.
  • Experiment with different sounds and instruments.
  • Record and edit your melodies for better results.

Setting The Scene

To kick things off, we set our project at 130 BPM, which is a common tempo for hip-hop. However, we decided to crank it up to 140 BPM for that extra energy. This is a typical range for many hip-hop tracks, so it’s a good starting point.

Choosing The Right Scale

Next, we switched our scale to harmonic minor. This scale gives your melody a distinct flavor, making it stand out. It’s a great choice if you want to add some depth to your music.

Selecting Your Instrument

For this tutorial, we used Harmless, one of the many free sounds included in FL Studio 20. It’s a versatile instrument that can produce a wide range of sounds. You can choose any instrument you like, but make sure it fits the vibe you’re going for.

Recording The Melody

Once you have your instrument ready, it’s time to record. Here’s a quick rundown of the steps:

  1. Hit the record button.
  2. Play your melody. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; you can always edit it later.
  3. If you mess up, just zoom out and delete the parts you don’t want.

Editing Your Melody

After recording, you might find that some parts need tweaking. Here’s how to clean it up:

  • Select all the notes you want to keep.
  • Use Control + A to select everything, then drag it over to the right spot.
  • If you want to repeat a section, use Control + B to duplicate it.

Adding A Counter Melody

To make your track more interesting, consider adding a counter melody. Here’s how:

  1. Clone your original sound.
  2. Play around with the notes to create a complementary melody.
  3. Keep it simple; sometimes less is more.

Mixing Your Sounds

Once you have your melodies down, it’s time to mix them. Here’s a simple way to do it:

  • Move your sounds to the mixer.
  • Assign them to the same mixer channel for a cohesive sound.
  • Adjust the levels to ensure everything blends well.

Wrapping It Up

And that’s pretty much it! You’ve created a basic melody in FL Studio. Remember, the key is to keep experimenting and refining your sound. In future videos, we’ll dive deeper into finishing the beat and adding more layers. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks!

Thanks for watching, and happy music making!

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