Why You NEVER Finish Your Tracks... (and how to fix it)

💥 Watch my FREE Workshop where I cover How I Create PRO Quality Music at Home - and How You CAN TOO here: produceracceleratorcourse.com...
Why do so many home studio producers get stuck and never finish their tracks... if this is you - I'm gonna help you finish MORE songs!
My Studio Gear List:
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I personally purchase my gear from Sweetwater and have for over 12 years -- these are affiliate links, meaning you can support my channel by using Sweetwater. The reason I trust Sweetwater is because they have the BEST customer support I have ever seen, two year warranty, free shipping, and they have they best reputation in the industry. You will never see me recommend buying pro audio gear from Amazon
Check out Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/MPRz3
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Lacie External Drive (storing sample libraries): imp.i114863.net/Xg2Bo
Logic Pro X: (use the app store)
Komplete Audio 6 (audio interface): imp.i114863.net/jNJbe
Presonus Eris E5 (monitors -- you'll need to buy a pair): imp.i114863.net/kyJ6z
Komplete Kontrol S88 (the BEST MIDI keyboard the link is the newer generation): imp.i114863.net/mLode
Lauten LS-208 Mic: imp.i114863.net/MPReJ
Avantone Pro CV-12 Mic: imp.i114863.net/d25dM
Shure SM58: imp.i114863.net/2oVmz
Audio Technica ATH-M40X (headphones - I have 2 pairs): imp.i114863.net/BNRL1
Novation LaunchPad X (also compatible with Logic Pro X): imp.i114863.net/0gRaM
Sample Libraries I HIGHLY Recommend:
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Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate (this is the BEST bundle you can buy): imp.i114863.net/OkyDz
Arcade: output.com/products/arcade
Signal: imp.i114863.net/Qa2DA
EastWest (Hollywood Orchestra): imp.i114863.net/PemxY
Spitfire LABS (free): labs.spitfireaudio.com/

[@finnchapman2631]

I just used the tips in this video and finished a song within a few hours, it felt amazing. I literally haven't done that in about 3 years

[@mikecalimusic]

This video is so money it doesn’t even know it. Found myself head nodding the whole time. Great stuff, Nathan! Learning so much!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Yeah yeah!! Love it. 😎🙏

[@TurdMcNugget]

Man, I need like ten more videos on this topic. As someone who's just getting things going, trying to get ready to release my first album in a couple of months, I feel this. It has taken me way too long to get things ready. From working full time, to making time for my wife and kids, sacrificing a lot of sleep, etc, it's a struggle to actually be able to calm my mind enough to be creative when I finally get some time to work on my music. Yes, it takes me sometimes a couple of weeks to finish a track, because I've got about two hours a day that I can actually sit down and work, and by the time I get there, I'm usually so tired that my brain is fried along with my creativity.

[@mache3984]

This all looks different for everyone. Spending a week, or even a month on a song isn't a bad thing at all. Some of the greatest songs have even taken up to a year to finish. Variables such as experience, family, jobs, etc can and will all contribute to your efficiency in the studio. If you are not highly skilled, taking advice to complete a song as fast as possible is one of the worst things you can do. It might be different for everyone but actually when I step away from a project for a few days or a week, I come back reenergized and excited to finish it.

[@tonyafranklin621]

So on point regarding making decisions! That’s been the biggest turning point for me finishing my tracks. I find that I’m improving faster by making decisions and moving on. Thank you for sharing great advice!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

100% true! Love this comment- well stated!!

[@davidsawyer5284]

Thanks again Nathan. Really great advice, inspirational. Have a book of lyrics of unfinished songs. I now understand the steps, to push forward to completion. Your free advice is of great value to many struggling song writers, I am sure. Have subscribed and will continue to use your guidance. You are truly a friend to all of us out there, who are learning the joy of creating and sharing music.

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Love it!! Thanks so much! Get after it! You got this

[@dirtkidbeats]

Pure gold right here! I´m already doing a lot of this but I will try to add more to my mindset. Thanks Nathan!

[@roman_volkov23]

So simple and so hard. Thank you for such videos that remind you how simple everything really is, that you don't need to complicate anything yourself.

[@paulscrevane]

I'm enjoying you zooming in on you gesturing the 'end' or the song on the viewers left, and vice verse.

[@WiseIntellectsCrew]

This was great thank you. I catch myself focusing on what my vocal sound like and smaller details when I haven’t even fully comped everything together. I’m aware of it but this always gets me stuck in the mud, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@raymusicc7810]

I'm so glad I found you on KZbin. You've helped me a LOT already!

[@drftls]

This is exactly what I was looking for to break my block. I'm recording more muses than ever before, but I'm finishing less tracks than I did in my first year of writing music. I'm looking for your videos on songwriting / arrangement next - removed everything else from my queue.

[@KonJonnorMusic]

Legit this is super dope advice! Recently just had that track where everything fell into place, quick decisions really do produce the snowball effect!

[@angelinemarsland]

Thank youuuu oh my gosh. Sigh of relief on getting some clarity and organization from your channel, truly!

[@MrMrbuddy2011]

I love your enthusiasm!

[@philipduvin]

Super helpful tip here. Thanks Nathan !

[@P-78official]

Oh man, yes yes! Started this morning and finished the mapping and even overall mixing and sound choice in one day. This is such a motivational and eye opening video Nathan. Thank you so much!

[@lincolngrwinski8143]

this was much needed! thank you for these nuggets of wisdom!!

[@Nanojix]

I love you ! The most useful video I’ve ever seen in my entire life!!

[@maitavsoni]

This is the best music channel.Your videos are very helpful to me.You explain the topics very precisely. Thank you

[@akash.s.manikandan9724]

Man this is GOLD......Thanks a lot man....this has helped me a LOT

[@ogreyes8653]

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@theunconciousmind7314]

Amazing video bro! Its so true! Structure is the main chunk

[@joshuajaimes121]

Thank you, I always feel stuck after making a great chord progression I like. The arrangement is something I have to get better at as a musician.

[@lukedifilippo2469]

Such great advice. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@nocalmusic3660]

Amazing video, great tips! Will definitely be using those immediately

[@Paris_skyy_]

This video helped me a lot! Thank you for these amazing tips bro🖤

[@trackzonville]

Dope content Nate!

[@chefen1966]

Mr Nathan Larsen, we have never met. But still you describe my last 25+ years trying to make music. And pretty spot on. Amazing or scary. So thank you for these great fixes and I promise to follow them ;)

[@ParthipanMusical]

This video is gold. Thanks Nathan for sharing all of these! :)

[@robertcooper457]

Amazing advice, thank you, so glad I found your channel

[@flashbangster6342]

Man, thanks for this video, I'm going to start applying all these tips today!

[@JamieRambles]

I appreciate how quickly you speak. I'm so impatient.

[@HairGlitter]

I have been recording my whole life. My dad used to do home recording. I really enjoy building all the parts. So nowni write my songs and record them. But I have never "finished " a song. I am inspired now after hearing your wisdom. Thank you

[@evan54905]

I needed this thanks for the great content!

[@mkjaerkjersson7749]

pretty helpful advice with the timer thing. Thanks a lot

[@sn0wherb]

this is WONDERFUL advice, thank you so much!

[@matthewskrovan3378]

you described my experience exactly, this channel is amazing!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

We all been there! Thanks a bunch!

[@heritagelegacy]

I have struggled with every single point that you made. But I will say that my biggest issue is second-guessing myself on a part I’ve played or which sound to use. Over the next month I am going to apply everything you said here and see if I can’t actually produce one or two songs

[@SKILIMUSIC]

amazing tips man!

[@YUJOYMusic]

Thanks Man! Good direction of thinking!

[@starrio713]

A lot of things this guy said are the things that many beginners producers struggling with, those tips are very helpful and I think that’s why he got thousands of subs within months🙌🏼

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Appreciate this! 🙏🙏🙏

[@paarismann]

THANK YOU!!!!!!! This video - the information in it has freed me from the very things you're talking about. I've gotten my rig? put together. And I'm frozen in my tracks, repetitively thinking all the questions you're stating - without me even having started. And my song? Is totally charted. But I'm not moving forward. I don't know why it matters so much. I think I must put it in writing that I won't condemn myself listening to my first try. Clearly, at this point, I am a better writer than I am an arranger. I promise no one has to talk me off the ledge. Just want to thank you, very much. Wow, reading other comments below tells me I'm in good company.

[@coolhandluke9987]

Wow this vid is powerful man thanks fr

[@madzia7671]

That's the truth! Thnx for reminding to think about structure and finishing it first. :)

[@qrisdavis]

This is gooood man. Thanks!

[@daniellezotter2224]

wow thank you so much Nathan!! You really hit the nail on the head for me. Subscribed! :)

[@RRRR-bf7gy]

Another great movie, thank you!

[@JoelAguero]

another great video, thanks

[@HaharuRecords]

This is some real talk.. I use 95% of my everything based on the lyrics I write, when I write i imagine everything (mostly focused on the melody as how it will be presented in detail)...But the idea will come always when you experiment from different directions from all the way possible (listen 1000s of songs) .So you will be flexible to beging from end to middle to start or anywhere... Just like tp share it...Keep up all and thank this channel.. a great blessing

[@TimVolkovPhD]

Lovely pep talk!

[@TheDeaf424242]

Great advice. Especially the bit about musical arrangement mattering more than mixing. If your arrangement is good mixing will be easy everytime.

[@eenouboii303]

Thank you. For everything.

[@MoeeTurbin]

He called me out but he’s making some valid points. Appreciate that, I needed that. I know have the ability and the ideas to create more songs, I just try to do too much too soon and get stuck. I need to just focus on solidifying a structure and process, and think about the end as much as i think about the beginning.

[@deepmixxer]

I love the hour timer trick thnx for that!!

[@willyviste904]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@GPM80]

Excellent advice nathan.....think it benefits everyone.....thanks

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Appreciate this Glyn! 🙏

[@Alexgudmusic]

For some reason I never thought of writing before producing… this was really helpful

[@TobiG4mer]

I am *extremely* glad I found your channel

[@mateo_no_swiping]

Making quick decisions is something I didn’t realize I needed to work on, let alone pay attention to. It’s time to change that. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@trapbeatproducer]

You are speaking my language. This is actually a sick channel! You've now got another subscriber 💪🏽

[@phoenixayo9040]

I can Absolutely relate to this man❤

[@craigseganti8999]

Right on, thank you.

[@sebastianbarragan623]

Verbal GOLD! thank you

[@anatolianINVASION]

This video is better than I expected.

[@Bittamin]

I’m hoping I can find arrangement tips for different genres. Listening to songs you like and writing/mapping out the structure by their section lengths and which elements are introduced and taken away is probably the best, but getting some experts to breakdown the structures would be dope. Time to research

[@jimsmith4611]

Excellent video. That said the most annoying thing is that I had worked most of this out already for myself but still keep doing it. The farting around and getting caught up in stuff that I don't need to do or to sort initially as the beauty of the DAW is that you can return any time to alter anything you are unhappy with... It is a 'creative discipline' issue for me as well as not having enough of a structure before hand.. I am still far far far too easily distracted and vanish down that rabbit hole of "I'll just so this wee bit then I'll get the rest of it done" ... Then I've lost two hours pissing around with a guitar tone. Again a tone that I can change as often as I want at any time in the future..!!!! Discipline disciline discipline + better structure at the outset thats what's missing for me and Only I can fix that.. Thanks for pointing it out so clearly...!!! Next project won't get started now until I have sat down and written out at least a flow diagram of the structure and I have covered one wall in post it's with discipline written on each one..

[@reese3344]

A true gem 👌🏼 thank u!

[@witotrox8254]

Thank you... This helped me a lot

[@clinkypockets4604]

Thanks, brotha.

[@user-sq4pe5yb8v]

great video bro

[@adamstola3704]

Jesus youre the best... Not only it helped me to change how I work, but this motivated me af. Thanks Natan, you really are the best!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

That's great - thanks man!

[@ash_dando]

Awesome tips. The stupid thing is that I already use this kind of structured high-level approach in my job, and somehow never wanted to take this approach with music! But this video has helped validate the idea for me, and I’m looking forward to taking this approach on my next track. I strongly agree with the approach of time-boxing music creation sessions. Even with a timer, I often find it hard to step away and take a break. But it definitely pays to take a break, even if you just stand up and go get a glass of water, that’s usually enough to snap out of the haze and realise that you need a proper break.

[@buffyguy10]

You hit it right on the head....STRUCTURE is very hard to guide yourself to finish it....i need this..lol

[@muimuhadresh3986]

Thanks for posting such good quality content. I rewatch this video after seeing it 1 1/2 years for the first time. And all these tipps are still relevant to me. I think the hardest part for me is also to make quick decisions. But for me it is my own demand to the quality of music i am able to put out (my skill) in comparison to the quality i am use to listen. You know, stuff like: will this be a good chord that people like, is this sounds like people would dance to it etc. Because I am unsure about how people would judge me based on my skill in music making.

[@muimuhadresh3986]

God, that felt good to write that down. Cheers

[@charliesmiler5618]

Thanks buddy, I have got about 50x Hardcore and Jungle tracks that are all 80-90% finished. The buzz of making a new one is always a huge temptation. I have taken some notes. Nice one ;)

[@NikosKatsikanis]

i needed this today

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

We all need to hear it sometimes - I wish I wouldve heard it when I started!

[@huntrrams]

Thanks for your tips! I actually agree with the 1 hour rule but I change mines to the pomodoro method where I go over the track for 25 minutes and take a 5 minute break.

[@ejaygunna3855]

Great video

[@StephenLyonsMusic]

Fantastic! Few take aways: 1) 'Intent to finish' 2) 'Creativity breeds creativity' 3) 'Dull creativity' resulting from over analysis 4) Get better at making faster decisions. I'm going to try the timer exercise today.

[@rome-sound]

thank you for this quick mock up i have it copy/pasted on the top line of my writing template

[@lezgogecko9870]

Second video I watch from you, first music tutorial channel I follow

[@Smartstartup1]

Man, thank you SO MUCH for the video. I have put a goal for 2022 year to create 24 tracks, but now i realize that it's not as much as i can and probably should.

[@luciferianjesuslover9453]

A track a week would be 52 tracks

[@mr.unXcepted]

Bro this genius ima take a lot from this!

[@erickstaehnke]

I’m just getting started in Cinematic sporty, actually I have native instruments komplete 12 ultimate. Very good video.

[@timschannel247]

You are right and the points you mentioned about should be repeated everyday like a prayer because I see people pretended to understand this and next day doing it exactly opposite and wrong.

[@atcordice]

Committing and moving on with the decisions

[@Amvdou]

thank you my guy

[@bigoak9417]

You understand humans! Great video, realy helpful.

[@djITALYLaChanceDeGonza]

Thank you!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Absolutely. 🙏😎

[@shannonlee4125]

Good shit dude, when I have 30 or 50 songs to finish and I've finished one or two I know I won't get bored but their is an element of work in their for sure however at least I'm working on different things ..... I don't always do this, I usually edit and produce while I'm making the structure of the song aswell but sometimes just sitting back and creating a bunch of songs, screwing around for a bit and then getting into editing and producing can be fun too

[@worldpeace6374]

@Nathan James Larsen Thank you for your videos!!! They really help. Stay blessed!!!

[@universe2906]

Thanks man! Universe is on the way. 🌌

[@anshuksahu9207]

so helpful, ive his channel and thought its clickbait and damn its helpful

[@mockinglips4623]

this helped thank u..

[@KingNiallGT]

I stumbled across this accidentally as I was researching how to make my midi keyboard ply on time with my song. This is exactly what I need since I have about 7 tracks I don't know how to finish. They are either 8 bar tracks to about half a song

[@rhysqqq]

Dude thank you

[@Micouniverse]

Well said. - Thank you very much. 🍀🖖🏽

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

Appreciate it!

[@josiahmkandawire91]

Ive finnaly discovered what my problem is,am sure it will work from now on....am strting to apply these tips right now

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

Hey there new to your channel, music is a serious hobby for me, Sometimes I make a small stipend for various theatrical projects and some foley art. I tackle a composition(s) wether its someone elses or my own about the same way I would as a visual artist. Sketch it out first the whole thing. I tend to get better results if I write out the chords and modes I might use but often I try to record a piece in a rough take on the fly. I always end up with lots of versions, I even take into account how long the song is going to be before I start. Yeh, you have to make decisions quickly, especially if you are performing your work live which is my ultimate goal, different pianos, keyboards different venues and versions that fit. Some would call that jazz, and I doubt decent structure is ever finished.

[@MelodyWithYuvi]

I've been binge watching Nathan's videos for a while now and all I wanna say is Nathan..., You dropped this 👑

[@raamiah]

Same 🙏🏿🙏🏿