Song of the month challenge! Join me in finishing an entire song in one month. Each week I will be putting out a new video on how to finish an entire song in one month. In the video this week, we discussed laying out your very first track and mapping your song.
Recording Your First Track (Week 1 of Song in a Month Challenge)
In this video, Eric kicks off the Week 1 video of his “Song in a Month Challenge” by showing how to start your song project and record the very first track in Studio One. This initial step sets the foundation for building an entire song over the coming weeks of the challenge.
What the “Song in a Month Challenge” Is
What It Is:
The “Song in a Month Challenge” is a structured, week‑by‑week series where Eric guides you through writing, recording, and producing a complete song from scratch within one month. The goal is to help you make consistent progress and complete a real track instead of getting stuck in planning or perfectionism.
Why It Matters:
Breaking the process into weekly milestones keeps you productive and focused, and helps you learn real music‑making workflows in manageable steps.
Setting Up Your Project
How It Works:
Eric starts by creating a new Studio One session and setting up the basic framework for the track:
- Create a new song file
- Choose tempo and time signature
- Prepare your audio interface for recording
This ensures your session is ready to capture performances cleanly and consistently.
Key Tip:
Getting your session organized before you record saves time later and helps avoid technical interruptions once you begin playing.
Recording the First Track
What He Does:
Eric demonstrates tracking your first instrument take — often a guitar or main rhythm part — while keeping timing and feel in focus. This first recording becomes the foundation for everything that follows in the arrangement.
Why It Matters:
Recording the first track early helps you:
- Lock in the core groove or harmonic structure
- Establish a reference that other parts will build around
- Create momentum for the rest of the song creation process
Stay Focused on Progress
Core Philosophy:
Eric encourages viewers to keep moving forward — not to worry about perfection — because the purpose of the challenge is making progress and completing a full song over the month.
Why It Helps You:
This mindset lets you:
- Overcome creative paralysis
- Track ideas rapidly
- Build confidence as your project grows week by week
Conclusion
Week 1 of the Song in a Month Challenge focuses on starting your project and recording your first track in Studio One. Eric’s step‑by‑step setup and tracking guidance gives you a clear workflow for capturing the first performance that will serve as the backbone of your song. By organizing your session and recording confidently, you set up a strong beginning for the weeks ahead in the challenge.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/sL4f_zDFZ8w
Want to take your home recordings to the next level? Download my Free 5-Step Guide to Recording Pro Music from Your Home Studio and start producing high-quality tracks today 