Pros and Cons of Using Instrumental Beats in Songwriting
In this new article from GuitarRec Online Studio, we explain in detail the pros and cons of using instrumental beats for your music. We analyze the main characteristics of using non-exclusive, free, or paid instrumental bases, and the key differences between hiring the exclusive, custom music production of your songs.
What is a Beat or Instrumental Base?
Modern music divides compositions into two parts. On one hand, we have the instrumental part, or beat of the song, usually produced by a music producer or beatmaker. On the other hand, we have the vocal part, typically performed by the artist. However, in many cases, the artist may also take on the role of beatmaker.
A Little History of Beats or Instrumental Bases
Years ago, any aspiring artist who wanted an instrumental track for their songs was forced to either rely on a producer or have the resources to create it themselves. This not only required the theoretical knowledge to create such instrumentals but also all the necessary equipment to achieve it.
But everything changed with the advent of the Internet. Many platforms, like Napster, began offering free music libraries. This exponentially increased piracy, enabling free access to all kinds of instrumentals. Additionally, with the emergence of YouTube, users could access instrumentals that some beatmakers started uploading.
On Copyright of Instrumental Beats
Although artists could access these beats for free, they rarely had the legal rights to distribute their music, as they did not own the rights to the instrumental. Only when the instrumentals were specified as “free to use” could the artist freely distribute their songs with those instrumentals. The introduction of Creative Commons in 2001 allowed beatmakers to communicate what rights were granted and which were reserved.
Today, even though accessibility to these instrumentals is much easier than before, beatmakers are far more cautious regarding rights and licenses. For this reason, platforms have emerged in recent years where instrumental composers clearly and effectively sell the rights to their works (including our own section of beats or bases for songs).
While using these beats makes it much easier for beginner artists to develop their projects, it’s also important to consider other factors that might work against you. Below, we examine all the advantages and disadvantages of using non-exclusive instrumental beats for our artistic project.
On copyright and music licenses: Here’s more information on how to register songs online.
Advantages of Using Instrumental Beats
Efficiency and speed: As we mentioned earlier, using online instrumentals for song composition greatly simplifies the creation process, especially for beginner artists with limited resources.
Accessibility and variety: The development of digital platforms selling beats has created an almost infinite catalog of instrumentals. This provides great flexibility for artists, allowing them to better adapt their songs by choosing the beat that best suits their needs.
Creative inspiration: Often, the creation process of a work can start with the beat rather than the lyrics. This is a common trend, particularly in the hip-hop genre, which can significantly boost an artist’s inspiration.
Disadvantages of Using Instrumental Beats
Creative limitations: While using online beats can boost creativity in some cases, it can also have the opposite effect. Over-reliance on them might make us lose our uniqueness as artists. Additionally, it prevents the creation of entirely new and unique works.
Sound homogenization and non-exclusivity: In the underground hip-hop scene, it’s very common to find songs with the same instrumental beat. Certain beats, due to their popularity, are used by many artists who may not realize that songs with those same beats already exist.
Rights limitations: Although issues can be avoided by carefully reading the vendor’s specifications, using third-party beats can lead to copyright problems. Each beatmaker imposes their own conditions, so there’s a risk of violating these and not being able to monetize your YouTube video if the beat is protected by the beatmaker’s Content ID.
Custom Music Production vs. Instrumental Beats
One key option to consider when aiming for professional production of our songs is completing all the phases of music production for our project by collaborating with session musicians, producers, and specialized sound engineers.
At GuitarRec – Online Recording Studio, in addition to having a section of beats for beginners, we specialize in providing custom music production services for composers and artists. Collaborating with a dedicated music production team ensures a professional result in the production of your compositions, quickly and easily. We cover all production phases: from creating a custom and exclusive instrumental arrangement with session musicians to vocal tuning, mixing, and final mastering of your song. Collaborate online with a team experienced in releases and tours with artists and labels on an international level.
Hiring online music production means that you’ll have an exclusive beat with musical arrangements and a custom instrumental created for your song, ensuring your music is unique, doesn’t sound like other songs, and fits perfectly with the style you have in mind for your project. Additionally, you’ll have all the phonogram rights (recording) at your disposal without any limitations on listens, unlike using non-exclusive beats.
You can find all the information about our custom productions and completed projects in the Online Music Producer section.
Important Considerations When Using Non-Exclusive Beats
If, due to the type of project or budget constraints, we decide to use a purchased online beat, we must consider certain factors to achieve the best possible result.
First, if we want to avoid having to stick to the exact song structure of the chosen beat, we need to ensure it’s an instrumental that offers flexibility. Some beats are easier to manipulate than others, providing greater customization for our songs.
Additionally, when choosing a beat, we must consider that the more popular it is, the more likely it is that a renowned artist has already used it. However, the more popular it is, the higher the likelihood of it being a quality beat. On the other hand, a beat with very low popularity doesn’t guarantee good sound quality, although it reduces the chances of it already being used by well-known artists. We should aim for the perfect balance to create a unique song with high-quality sound.
Finally, we’d like to emphasize the importance of reading the license terms for each specific beat. These conditions can vary greatly depending on the seller, so it’s essential to be sure about the rights granted.
New GuitarRec studio beats channel: Access and subscribe here >
Conclusion
In conclusion, technological advancements and global internet access have profoundly transformed the music industry. The easy access to instrumental beats has given emerging artists the opportunity to start their careers with limited resources. However, this convenience also comes with challenges. Using online beats can limit creativity and cause us to lose our “signature” as artists, particularly in genres where originality is crucial. Furthermore, legal issues related to copyrights can complicate distribution and monetization if not handled carefully.
For artists seeking unique, professionally produced music, custom production is an excellent option and a great investment for the medium and long term. In addition to weighing the pros and cons of using beats, it’s also highly recommended to start developing recording and music production techniques on your own and learn how to use music production software (DAWs), free plugins, and the main paid alternatives. This can save significant amounts if you continue producing and editing music in the future.
Finding a balance between accessibility, originality, and legality is essential to successfully navigating today’s music landscape. While technology provides incredible tools, artists must use them wisely to maximize their creative and legal impact.
