One of the most exciting parts of learning music is discovering that you don’t have to sound like anyone else. In fact, some of the most iconic artists and musicians built their careers by blending influences into something that felt completely their own.
As a beginner, you may still be figuring out what genres you like or what kind of music you want to make — and that’s okay. This guide will show you how to explore, combine, and refine musical influences into a unique artistic voice that reflects you.
What Does It Mean to Have a Unique Sound?
Having a unique sound doesn’t mean inventing something no one’s ever heard before. It means:
- Combining your influences in new ways
- Making intentional choices about tone, rhythm, melody, and texture
- Infusing your music with your personality, background, and taste
- Creating music that feels authentic to you
It can take time to find your voice, but you don’t have to wait until you’re “advanced” to begin shaping it.
Step 1: Identify Your Musical Influences
Start by listing:
- Your favorite artists or bands
- Songs you keep replaying
- Albums or soundtracks that made an impact
- Instruments or styles you love
Then go deeper:
- What do you love about them?
(Their lyrics, rhythms, harmonies, vibe?) - Are they energetic or chill?
- Acoustic or electronic?
- Simple or complex?
This creates a blueprint of what resonates with you.
Step 2: Organize by Influence Type
Now sort your influences into categories:
- Genre: jazz, rock, indie, folk, lo-fi, hip-hop, pop, etc.
- Emotion: moody, dreamy, upbeat, mysterious
- Instrumentation: acoustic guitar, piano, synths, strings
- Production: clean, raw, vintage, modern, lo-fi
Seeing the patterns can help you understand the kind of sound you’re drawn to.
Step 3: Explore the Gaps
Sometimes your favorite artists come from very different worlds — and that’s a good thing. Ask:
- What would happen if I combined indie guitar with trap drums?
- What if I mixed folk lyrics with ambient textures?
- What if I sang jazz-style melodies over minimalist piano chords?
Blending influences leads to innovation. Your sound lives in the space between styles.
Step 4: Recreate, Then Reimagine
Start by covering or mimicking songs from your top influences:
- Play their chord progressions
- Copy their vocal phrasing or tone
- Program a beat in their style
- Try to replicate the production feel
Then — change one thing:
- Slow it down
- Swap instruments
- Write new lyrics over the same chords
- Alter the rhythm
This builds creativity through experimentation.
Step 5: Learn the Language of Each Style
If you love different genres, learn the core “rules” of each:
- Jazz uses 7th chords, swing, and improvisation
- Pop focuses on hooky melodies and repetition
- Rock relies on power chords, riffs, and drive
- Lo-fi is about texture, space, and laid-back grooves
- Classical uses structured form and harmonic depth
You don’t need to master every genre — just understand enough to borrow ideas intentionally.
Step 6: Mix Instrumentation Creatively
Think beyond genre — think in sound palettes. Try:
- Nylon guitar + ambient synths
- Piano + sampled drums + strings
- Trap hi-hats + folk guitar
- Vocals + vocoder + acoustic percussion
Record demos with free DAWs (GarageBand, BandLab, Soundtrap) and experiment. Don’t worry if it’s messy — creation comes from play.
Step 7: Use Your Voice (Literally or Figuratively)
If you sing, your voice already makes your sound unique. But even if you don’t:
- Your chord choices
- Your rhythms
- Your lyrics
- Your phrasing
- Your arrangement style
…all reflect your voice. You don’t need to sound like others. Sound like yourself.
Pro tip:
What do people compliment you on musically? That’s a clue to what makes your sound special.
Step 8: Develop Your Signature Moves
Great artists often have recurring elements. Think:
- Billie Eilish’s layered whispers
- Ed Sheeran’s loop-based acoustic grooves
- Tyler the Creator’s warped chords and quirky lyrics
Ask yourself:
- Do I like to use open tunings?
- Do I prefer minimalism or maximalism?
- Do I use delay or reverb often?
- Do I lean toward certain keys, tempos, or themes?
Build a “toolkit” of your favorite sounds and techniques — these become part of your musical fingerprint.
Step 9: Create Mood Boards for Sound
Use tools like:
- Spotify playlists
- Notion
- Google Docs with audio links and visual references
Organize:
- Songs you want to reference
- Sound design textures you like
- Lyric ideas, themes, or colors
- Visual aesthetics tied to your music
These boards help you define the vibe of your sound, even before it’s fully formed.
Step 10: Write With Boundaries
Constraints spark creativity. Try:
- Writing a song with only 3 chords
- Limiting yourself to one instrument
- Using only sounds you sampled from your environment
- Writing without lyrics — just vocal tones
- Composing in an unusual time signature
These exercises push your brain into new creative territory — and may uncover something unique in the process.
Step 11: Collaborate With Others
Working with others can:
- Expose you to new influences
- Highlight your strengths
- Fill in gaps in your skillset
- Challenge your habits
Try writing a song with a friend, jamming online, or swapping tracks with another beginner. The mash-up may become a revelation.
Step 12: Embrace Your Background
Your story, culture, language, and personal taste all influence your sound. Don’t shy away from it.
Do you:
- Speak multiple languages? Mix them into your lyrics.
- Grew up with folk, gospel, or samba? Let it shape your rhythms.
- Have a unique worldview? Infuse it into your storytelling.
Authenticity stands out more than perfection.
Step 13: Record Rough Demos Regularly
Don’t wait for perfection — just hit record.
- Use your phone, laptop, or free DAW
- Record tiny ideas: riffs, lyrics, beats, melodies
- Label by date or mood
- Review them weekly and highlight your favorites
Your sound reveals itself in the patterns that appear over time.
Step 14: Ask for Feedback (Strategically)
Share with people you trust — not just those who will praise you.
Ask:
- What stands out as “me” in this?
- Does it sound unique or familiar?
- What could I push further?
Feedback helps you refine your voice — but only if it supports your vision, not erases it.
Step 15: Let Your Sound Evolve
Your sound is a living thing. It will change.
Maybe you’ll start in indie folk, then fall in love with R&B. Or maybe you’ll blend video game music with acoustic piano. Let it happen.
You’re not stuck with one style forever. Growth is part of artistry.
Final Thoughts: You’re Already Original — Now Let It Out
You don’t need to be a genius, virtuoso, or producer to have a unique sound.
All you need is:
- Curiosity
- A love for music
- The willingness to explore
- The courage to combine what you love
Your influences are ingredients. Your personality is the recipe. Your sound is the dish no one else can cook.
So keep listening. Keep experimenting. Keep playing.
And trust: your sound is already in you — waiting to be discovered.