Have you ever wondered why pop songs stick in your head like glue?

The genre is known for its catchy, infectious quality that locks people in right away, even if it’s just the chorus on repeat for days. Modern pop, as we currently know it, has a polished, larger-than-life vibe that can feel like it’s coming from another planet. The kind of production that sounds almost too clean, too perfect to pull off without a high-end studio.

However, I want to break down the stigma that making quality pop music is some untouchable art form. With the right direction (that’s where I come in) and a few key skills, any musician can bring that “radio-ready” sound to life right from their bedroom.

Sure, pop music comes in different flavors, from the RnB, synth-heavy hits of The Weeknd to the twang storytelling of Taylor Swift, and even the genre-bending style of Doja Cat. Even so, there are a few core elements that remain universal: hooks that grab, beats that pop, and a melody that sticks.

In this guide, I’ll break down what you need to know about making your own pop tracks, covering everything from whipping up a signature beat to layering clean, airy vocals and adding that final polish.

Let’s demystify the process and dive into what makes pop music pop!

What Is Pop Music?

Let’s start with the basics: “pop” is short for popular music, meaning it’s music designed to reach as many ears as possible.

It’s the kind of music we hear everywhere, whether streaming playlists, the radio, commercials, or walking through the grocery store. Pop was made to grab attention and keep it, so it tends to follow certain tried-and-true tricks that make it instantly catchy and accessible.

Sure, pop music has changed a ton over the years, but there’s a recipe that still holds. Here’s a quick rundown of some core ingredients:

• Catchy Hooks – the choruses you can’t stop singing
• Steady Beat – simple but infectious rhythm to keep you moving
• Relatable Lyrics – songs that feel like they’re speaking right to you
• Polished Production – sleek and clean, without too many rough edges
• Melodic Simplicity – uncomplicated melodies that stick without the need for a music theory degree

So, where did today’s pop sound come from? To answer that, let’s take a quick stroll through pop’s history.

The roots of pop music in the West stretch all the way back to the early 1900s, when big bands and jazz ruled the dance halls. By the ‘50s, rock 'n' roll exploded, blending rhythm, blues, and a little rebellious energy. Fast forward to the ‘60s and ‘70s, and we’re in the era of The Beatles and Motown, with melody-driven songs and a growing focus on relatable themes. Then came the ‘80s with synths and massive production (not to mention massive hair), the ‘90s with catchy hooks and boy bands, and the 2000s with pop’s digital evolution.

Despite the changing sounds, one thing has stayed constant: pop music is meant to connect people. At its core, pop wants to reach out and tap into something real, whether love, heartbreak, happiness, or whatever makes us human. It’s music that feels like it’s talking to you , and that’s exactly what we’re here to create.

What Do I Need to Make Pop Music

Computer

At the heart of just about any pop production setup is a computer . These days, classic, heavy-duty analog gear, such as giant mixing consoles or drum machines like the TR-808 or LinnDrum, aren't essential. While producers once relied on walls of hardware to get their sound, today’s tech has made it possible to create chart-ready tracks on a laptop alone.

Now, don’t get me wrong - analog equipment still has a place in the pop world. In fact, I'm a huge fan of using my Moog Voyager and recording my guitars through my Supro Keeley Custom 12 . You’ll see many top producers layering in vintage synths or drum machines to add a little flavor here and there.

The great thing is that you don’t need it to get that polished, professional sound. In fact, almost everything you need to produce pop can be programmed on a laptop.

So, if you’ve got a computer, you’re already on your way.

DAW

Now that you’ve got your computer, you’ll need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). This will be your hub where you record, arrange, mix, and tweak every element of your track until it’s radio-ready. Essentially, it’s your virtual studio.

There are plenty of DAWs out there, each with its own style and vibe. Some of the big names in pop production include Ableton Live , Logic Pro , and Pro Tools . However, if you’re just starting out and not ready to invest, don’t worry. There are plenty of free options too. GarageBand (for Mac users) and Cakewalk (for Windows) are fantastic entry-level DAWs that offer tons of functionality without costing a dime.

Samples, Loops, and VSTs

Once you have your DAW, you'll need some musical components to actually start making a pop beat.

Samples, loops, and VSTs will be the building blocks of your track.

Samples and loops are ready-made snippets of sound, and can range from single drum hits to looped and mangled vocal chops, all of which you can drop straight into your track. They’re super handy for adding quick inspiration or filling out your arrangement without recording everything from scratch.

For access to royalty-free samples and loops, check out sites like Splice and Loopmasters . They’ve got libraries full of high-quality sounds across every genre.

Then, we have VSTs , which are virtual instruments and effects that expand your DAW’s capabilities. These can range from synths and orchestral strings to multi-fx plugins with endless modulation options.

Some of my favorite VST companies that I highly recommend checking out include:

• Native Instruments
• Spectrasonics
• Spitfire Audio
• Arturia

MIDI Controller

While you can make pop music without a MIDI controller, having one in your setup can make the whole process feel a lot more hands-on.

With a keyboard or drum pad, you can play your melodies, tap out drum patterns, and tweak sounds in real time instead of clicking around on your screen. It’s great for giving your music a more natural feel.

If you're looking for a good beginner controller, I recommend checking out either the Akai MPK Mini or Novation Launchpad .

Headphones and/or Studio Monitors

Your laptop speakers might be fine for listening to your favorite podcast, though they’re not exactly built for making pop music. Those tiny speakers won't give you the full picture of your mix, and if you want your track to sound good on everything from earbuds to car speakers, you’ll need a setup that lets you hear the full spectrum.

Studio monitors are designed to give you an honest, uncolored sound, so you’ll know exactly how your music actually sounds. If you don’t have space for monitors or you’re producing on the go, a solid pair of headphones will work just as well.

Where to Start

When making pop music, I like to break the process down into blocks. I'm generally a "to-do list" kind of person, so it helps keeping things organized and manageable.

However, real-life music production isn’t always a step-by-step, paint-by-numbers thing. Sometimes you start with a beat, get inspired, and suddenly find yourself writing the chorus before you’ve even touched the verses. Or you’ll get the melody first and build everything around it. In other words, the process can be all over the place, and that’s totally normal.

But for teaching purposes, a linear approach makes life a lot easier. So, in this guide, I’ll walk you through each step in a simple, straight-line way. Just keep in mind that once you get the hang of it, feel free to mix it up however inspiration hits!

Start with the Chords

In pop music, less is often more when it comes to chords.

You’d be surprised how many hits rely on just a handful of chords to create that unforgettable sound. Take Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” or Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.”

They’re built around simple, looping chord progressions that don't change throughout the song. The goal is finding the right few chords that serve as a foundation.

A great trick is to borrow popular chord progressions from other songs. You’d be amazed at how many hits share similar progressions, like the classic I–V–vi–IV pattern used in everything from Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.”

You’re not copying the song, just using a tried-and-true foundation that works.

Now, if you know a bit about music theory, it'll help you understand which chords go well together and give you more flexibility to play around with progressions and make them your own.

Add Some Drums and Percussion

Next up: the beat! In pop music, the drums are usually pretty straightforward.

To start with a standard pop beat, set your BPM (beats per minute) somewhere between 90 and 120 . This is where most pop songs comfortably sit. At its simplest, a pop beat has a kick on the 1 and 3 counts and a snare on the 2 and 4 counts. Once your kick and snare are sitting high and mighty, you can add a hi-hat playing eighth or sixteenth notes to fill in the blanks and keep your track driving forward.

Once you’ve got the basic rhythm down, you can get creative with a few extra percussion elements or fills to give the beat a little flavor. Just do your best to keep it clean and focused.

Add Bass

Now it’s time to bring in the bass. This will be the foundation of your pop track. Bass is meant to fill out the low end and anchor the beat and chords. Without bass, your track might feel a bit thin or flat.

To keep it simple, try starting by doubling the root notes of your chord progression . From there, you can play around with rhythm. Sometimes following the kick drum pattern can help lock the bass and drums together for a tighter, punchier groove.

I recommend using a short, punchy bass sound for an upbeat track, such as the one below:

On the other hand, you can try something smoother and more sustained if your song has a laid-back vibe.

Don't be afraid to experiment with different sounds! Synth basses are super popular in modern pop, but a sampled bass guitar can add a nice organic touch, too.

Come Up with a Melody

The part of your pop hit that everyone will remember is the melody! Pop melodies are meant to catch the listener's ear, and there are a few ways to get there.

You can either hum it out or play it on your instrument of choice. Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re just messing around, so don’t overthink it.

If playing keys isn’t your strong suit, you can always record yourself humming (or playing on any instrument you’re comfortable with) and then convert that recording to MIDI in your DAW. This way, you can keep your melody idea and tweak it digitally to fit perfectly with your track.

Any great pop melody has a good balance of repetition and variation .

Repetition helps make the melody memorable, while a bit of variation keeps things interesting, so the melody doesn’t get stale.

Structure Your Song

With your chords, beat, bass, and melody accounted for, it’s time to put everything together in a structure.

The best way to figure out a solid structure is to take a look at some of your favorite pop tracks. You’ll notice that most follow a similar flow.

Here’s a typical pop song structure to get you started:

• Intro – a short section to set the mood and introduce the main vibe
• Verse – where the story starts, often with a simpler melody and fewer layers
• Pre-Chorus – a build-up section to create anticipation
• Chorus – the big moment! The catchiest, most memorable part of the song
• Verse 2 – similar to the first verse but maybe with a bit more energy
• Pre-Chorus – building anticipation again
• Chorus – bringing back the main hook
• Bridge – a contrasting section, often with different chords or lyrics
• Chorus (final) – one more round of that catchy hook to close things out
• Outro – a short wrap-up to bring the song to a satisfying end

Songwriting and Composition

Great songwriting is what separates an iconic pop song from one that falls flat. Like I mentioned earlier, pop is about connecting with listeners on a personal level, which is why focusing on relatable themes is key .

Songs about everyday feelings like love, heartbreak, self-discovery, or having a good time tend to resonate much more than, say, a song about the intricacies of astrophysics or the atrocities of war. People want to hear lyrics that feel like they could apply to their own lives.

Take Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” as an example. The song taps into that playful, rebellious feeling that pretty much everyone has felt at some point, even if it’s just a hint of it. The lyrics are clever, a little cheeky, and relatable, which is why it’s become such an anthem.

How to Mix Pop Music

In pop music, the mix is incredibly important. A good mix helps every element of your song shine so that it sounds punchy and exciting on any speaker setup.

While there are no "golden rules" for mixing, here are a few quick tips to get you started:

• Keep the Vocals Front and Center – In pop, vocals are king. Make sure they’re clear and sit on top of the mix.
• EQ for Clarity – Use EQ to give each instrument its own space in the mix, so they don’t clash and create a muddy sound.
• Use Compression Wisely – Compression can help even out dynamics, giving your mix that smooth, controlled sound. Just be careful not to overdo it!
• Add Depth with Reverb and Delay – A little reverb or delay can add space and make your track feel bigger, but use it tastefully so things don’t get too washed out.
• Make the Low End Tight – Pop music benefits from a punchy, clean low end. Keep the bass and kick drum clear and in sync for maximum impact.

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the art of mixing, we’ve got a more in-depth article called " How to Mix Pop Music in 7 Easy Steps " that covers everything you need to know to get that perfect pop mix.

Making Pop Music Like the Pros

By now, you’ve got all the basics to start making pop music that sounds professional. If there is one main takeaway here, it's that making pop is about balancing simplicity and polish. The goal is to make it sound effortless while capturing something everyone can relate to.

Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment!