The seven main types of music makers are:
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Musician – plays instruments and performs live or in-studio
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Singer – uses their voice as their primary instrument
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Rapper – speaks rhythmically with flow, tone, and wordplay
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Beatmaker – creates rhythms and instrumentals, often in DAWs
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Electronic Musician – sculpts sound through synthesis, sampling, and production
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Composer – writes music for ensembles, film, games, or media
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Lyricist – writes the words, metaphors, and poetry behind songs
and, of course, you can be a combination or one or more of them.
Some people grow up with a guitar in their hands. Others tap beats on lunch tables, or write lyrics on bus rides home. Some sculpt entire soundscapes with zero traditional instruments.
Welcome to the new world of music making — where identity isn’t just genre-based, it’s role-based.
Let’s break it down.
How To Get Started in Music Production, Recording & Mixing
🎸 1. The Musician
“I speak through my instrument.”
This is the player. Could be a guitarist, pianist, drummer, bassist, flautist, whatever.
Musicians bring technical skills and timing to the table — they know how to play, often by ear or with formal training. They shine on stage, in sessions, or during jams. Whether classically trained or self-taught, musicians are the bedrock of bands and live recordings.
🎯 Focus: Practice, performance, collaboration, improvisation
🎤 2. The Singer
“My voice is my instrument.”
A singer can carry a song with just their tone, phrasing, and emotional delivery. They’re often the most recognizable person in the room — but what sets them apart is their ability to make people feel.
Some singers write their own songs. Some don’t. Either way, their voice tells the story.
🎯 Focus: Vocal tone, breath control, pitch, emotion, storytelling
How to Record Vocals at Home Like a Pro
🎙 3. The Rapper
“My weapon is rhythm and rhyme.”
A rapper doesn’t need melody — they need flow. They ride the beat, dance with syllables, and punch through the speakers with rhythm, cadence, and message.
From freestyling on the block to writing intricate multi-syllabic rhyme schemes, a rapper brings urgency, energy, and truth to any track.
🎯 Focus: Wordplay, timing, tone, breath, bars
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🥁 4. The Beatmaker
“I build the world others live in.”
Beatmakers are architects. They craft the foundation — drums, bass, and groove. A great beat can be looped for hours and still feel fresh. They might not care about vocals, melodies, or lyrics — their obsession is with bounce and vibe.
Many beatmakers evolve into full producers. Some stay in the drum pocket forever.
🎯 Focus: Drums, rhythm, samples, arrangement, groove
🎛 5. The Electronic Musician
“I sculpt sound itself.”
These are the producers, synth wizards, and sound designers. They create textures, drop basslines, stretch samples, and build tension in ways a traditional band never could.
Electronic musicians are often self-contained units — writing, producing, mixing, and even performing their music solo.
🎯 Focus: Synthesis, FX, automation, builds, drops, energy control
Intro to Music Production for Beatmakers: Songs vs Beats
🎼 6. The Composer
“I write the whole thing down.”
Composers deal in form and flow. They often write for ensembles, orchestras, choirs, or films. Think scores, string parts, harmonies, arrangements.
Their world is part music theory, part emotional storytelling — building arcs, tension, release, and resolution on paper before it’s ever heard.
🎯 Focus: Harmony, voicing, orchestration, notation, themes
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✍️ 7. The Lyricist
“I make the words unforgettable.”
Not every great song has amazing lyrics — but the ones that stick with us usually do. The lyricist is the poet behind the melody. They shape the meaning, the metaphor, the memory.
Sometimes they write for others. Sometimes they’re hidden in the credits. But their fingerprints are always on the final product.
🎯 Focus: Metaphor, rhyme, imagery, structure, story
🧭 Final Thought:
In truth? Most music makers are hybrids. You might be a singer and a lyricist. A beatmaker and a composer. A rapper who’s learning how to sing. A guitarist who’s stepping into production.
But knowing your core identity helps you:
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Make better creative decisions
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Find collaborators who complement you
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And ultimately, finish more music
⚡ What type are you now? What type do you want to master next?
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Also read:
How to Start Your Own Online Business Teaching Music
Hey, I’m Futch – Music Production Coach and Ableton Certified Trainer
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