Looking for advice on making Chill/Relaxed Music

[Note Wise 30]

Hey everypony! 

I need some help, tips, advice, anything you guys can give me. A few months ago I made a song "A Night Under Equestria". It was my first chill song and I thought it turned out quite well for my first one! Now...I wanna work and create another chill song. However, I don't wanna make it to similar to Night Under Equestria, I'd like for it to have it's own identity, flow, emotion and feel. I just don't want it to be samey. If anyone who has experience making Chill/Relaxed songs, please help by giving advice or tips or even some artists for me to listen to so I can listen to more and understand what can go into Chill Music that makes it work. 

Thanks for your time,
Note Wise 

P.S Here's Night Under Equestria if you're curious to how it sounds and what I went for it. 

[NovaCosmic 126]

While I don't make chill music myself, I know a classical song that almost always calms me down. It's called 'Carnival of the Animals: The Aquarium' A bit different from what you made, but it's good inspiration.

[BlueBrony 388]

Nice atmosphere, I dig this track. If you are looking for a different approach, check out these tracks:

This guy uses lots of open space (silence) with a nice echo effect. the drum back track doesn't even come in until halfway through the track. Another cool thing about this is that his music tells a story, even if it is a little vague.

This guy likes to change around the instrumentation and balance. The most prominent sound in the mix is always changing- this gives a nice transitory effect and helps to make the track sound new and different throughout the entire thing (even if the chord structure almost never changes). Also, this track really puts the rythym in the melody and less emphasis on the drum track, which comes in and out throughout the song. Another cool thing is that this track uses both acoustic and electric sounds: we have the sounds of a piano and strings that pop out every once in a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRmVIQK-thw

If you are looking for something that my be a little out of your comfort zone- this track is a good example of how to do a chill-type piece without any drum track at all. Basically, its a matter of keeping the melody interesting without changing it too much. You have to have a little patience to get through this one, but i think it's overall a well put together track.

 

I would show you some of my stuff, but I think my style isnt exactly what you are looking for- my chill stuff is more cinematic than most chill tracks, they dont have a drum track, and honestly I dont think I have perfected it yet. In other words take my advice with a grain of salt

[SkullcandyPegasus 603]

There are a few tips I can give for creating this sort of music. First, keep a rather low bpm; I'd choose a maximum tempo that seems right to you and never exceed it. Second, you will need to learn how to make thick pad sounds. Not every song will require these (some may use strings and orchestra for example), but it's an invaluable skill for any music producer.

 

My personal max bpm (for chill music) is 112. Try to use simplistic drum beats because overly intense beats will make your song feel faster. Your instruments could be quick, but it's usually best to use a flowing sound such as an arpeggio. You might try remixing a song you like, and slowing down the vocals. This will make your vocals feel chill by comparison :33

 

As for pad sounds, you'll probably be looking into using a multi oscillator or unison plugin. (You can't reasonably make a thick sound with a lonely square wave.) You'll need to use a reverb, but if your synth begins to sound like a trance lead, tone things down a notch. Also, stereo widening will be useful as well, but be sure to apply it after reverb in your effects chain. That way, it will effect both the wave and the reverberation ^^

 

Finally (and most importantly), let go of perfection. If you allow your music to be imperfect, you will have far more creative freedom than you might otherwise. As a consequence of this, your music will actually be better than the "perfect" song you might have tried to write before.

 

And all the best of luck <3

 

~SkullcandyPegasus

[Lucky Shot 232]

The song sounds quite nice so far!

Your composition has a lot of ambience, which is a great start. In general, more relaxing music should have less complicated lead melodies and more background sound.

 

However, your percussion has a highly rigid rhythm and is relatively heavy, especially the bass drum, giving a dance or club feel. More relaxing music uses softer and less percussion, and this song might benefit from having none at all. If it feels too empty, consider using soft chords in the place of percussion (strings might work well), and use a non-standard, not-so-danceable rhythm. (I'm afraid I'm not formally trained in music and don't know the term for the rhythm I'd use for this track.)

 

The tempo sounds serviceable to me, but especially if you soften the percussion, it might be improved by being slightly slower, no more than 5 BPM. (Too sudden of a change will make your song sound ruined to you since you've likely been listening to it so much.)