Time to buckle up and get on your horse as we look at some methods of making country-style EDM
Sara Simms is an acclaimed DJ and producer from Toronto who’s played some of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals alongside artists like Carl Craig, Victor Ruiz and more. She owns her own record label, Simmetry Sounds, which releases cuttingedge techno and house tracks crafted by the next generation of electronic music producers
Country-style EDM blends the traditional sounds and stories of country music with the beats and synths of EDM. This unique combination creates an energetic musical experience that resonates with fans of both genres. In country EDM you’ll often hear twangy guitars layered over catchy electronic hooks and driving basslines, creating a dynamic sound that’s as fun to listen to as it is to create.
This original genre has seen a surge in popularity largely thanks to the influential contributions of artists like Avicii. The legendary Swedish producer played a pivotal role in popularising this genre with his groundbreaking hits Wake Me Up and Hey Brother. Avicii’s innovative approach to blending country elements with electronic music captivated audiences around the world and opened doors for artists like Diplo, Loud Luxury and others to explore producing this style. In this month’s tutorial, we’ll explore how to craft country-style EDM so you can enjoy producing a vibe that’s perfect for dancing at festivals, long road trips or enjoying good times round the camp fire!
> Step by step
1 Choose a key to write in and create a four-bar chord progression for a strumming guitar. Write simple three-note triads in a blank MIDI clip, or use a MIDI chord generator like Captain Chords Epic to create a chord progression. While many country songs are written in major keys, you can choose either a major or minor key.
2 Create a new blank MIDI track, add Kontakt and open Native Instruments’ Strummed Acoustic. You could also use another VST that creates the guitar strumming sound. In Ableton, set the input of this MIDI track to MIDI from Captain Chords Epic (or the track with your MIDI chord pattern). Turn off the first MIDI track so only the guitar plays.
3 Create a new MIDI track and duplicate the guitar MIDI clip. Add a piano VST to create a piano chord progression. Copy the lowest note in each of the triads and drop it by an octave to add a lower tone to the piano. In the upper part of the chord, create a syncopated pattern that plays on the off beats to complement the guitar chords.
4 Create a new MIDI track and copy the piano MIDI onto it. Choose a second piano sound to complement the first. Select an electronicsounding piano, such as Nexus (preset Dancepiano 2k7 is our go-to). Group the piano MIDI tracks, add an EQ and cut the low end below 100Hz. Sidechain the p
