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Make & Finish Beats in Ableton LiveMake & Finish Beats in Ableton Live
Take the quiz to get your personalized First Beat plan

Make & Finish Beats in Ableton Live

Learn the production decisions behind modern beats—then finish your first instrumental with confidence.
Learn the production decisions behind modern beats—then finish your first instrumental with confidence.
  • For beginners ready to create beats with clarity—not just copy a tutorial
  • Learn Ableton Live through one clear audio-first path
  • Build real ideas and finish a complete modern instrumental
Terence “polun” Lam
Created byTerence “polun” Lam
Multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer.
Background
Hero image

Today's Session

12 min • Build Your Arrangement

Continue session
Take the quiz to get your personalized First Beat plan
Why First Beat works

Finish a beat you’re proud of without getting lost in the weeds

First Beat is an audio-first Ableton Live path for aspiring producers, artists, and songwriters who want to create their own beats—not stay stuck copying tutorials or guessing what to learn next. You’ll build and export ideas as you learn, understand the producer decisions behind selection, groove, and the arrangement and energy principles behind modern commercial music, then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental. Most learners reach that capstone in about 12 weeks—the goal is real skill and momentum, not rushing through random production topics.

Feature image

Capstone instrumental complete

You built and exported ideas, learned the decisions behind them, then completed a full modern instrumental in Ableton Live with your own arrangement, energy, and finishing choices.

music_note

Stop guessing what to learn next

Instead of bouncing between plugins, theory videos, and random tutorials, follow one clear Ableton Live roadmap from first session to finished beat.

check_circle

Think like a producer, not just a beat-maker

Learn the high-level decisions behind selection, groove, arrangement, energy, contrast, and section flow so you build a repeatable way to shape your own productions with confidence, not just assemble someone else’s ideas.

auto_graph

Build multiple ideas. Finish one complete instrumental.

Build and export ideas along the way, then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental—without rushing the listening, sequencing, arrangement, and automation work that makes it feel like yours.

Inside the app

Terence’s pro production process, broken into daily steps

First Beat helps you move from "wanting to make beats" to actually finishing one. Every activity follows an Ableton Live, audio-first path focused on the foundations of how a beat works: selecting material, building drums, shaping energy, arranging sections, and finishing.

Make & Finish Beats in Ableton LiveMake & Finish Beats in Ableton Live
Take the quiz to get your personalized First Beat plan

Make & Finish Beats in Ableton Live

Learn the production decisions behind modern beats—then finish your first instrumental with confidence.
Learn the production decisions behind modern beats—then finish your first instrumental with confidence.
  • For beginners ready to create beats with clarity—not just copy a tutorial
  • Learn Ableton Live through one clear audio-first path
  • Build real ideas and finish a complete modern instrumental
Terence “polun” Lam
ByTerence “polun” Lam
Multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer.
Background
Hero image

Today's Session

12 min • Build Your Arrangement

Continue session
Take the quiz to get your personalized First Beat plan
Why First Beat works

Finish a beat you’re proud of without getting lost in the weeds

First Beat is an audio-first Ableton Live path for aspiring producers, artists, and songwriters who want to create their own beats—not stay stuck copying tutorials or guessing what to learn next. You’ll build and export ideas as you learn, understand the producer decisions behind selection, groove, and the arrangement and energy principles behind modern commercial music, then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental. Most learners reach that capstone in about 12 weeks—the goal is real skill and momentum, not rushing through random production topics.

Feature image

Capstone instrumental complete

You built and exported ideas, learned the decisions behind them, then completed a full modern instrumental in Ableton Live with your own arrangement, energy, and finishing choices.

music_note

Stop guessing what to learn next

Instead of bouncing between plugins, theory videos, and random tutorials, follow one clear Ableton Live roadmap from first session to finished beat.

check_circle

Think like a producer, not just a beat-maker

Learn the high-level decisions behind selection, groove, arrangement, energy, contrast, and section flow so you build a repeatable way to shape your own productions with confidence, not just assemble someone else’s ideas.

auto_graph

Build multiple ideas. Finish one complete instrumental.

Build and export ideas along the way, then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental—without rushing the listening, sequencing, arrangement, and automation work that makes it feel like yours.

Inside the app

Terence’s pro production process, broken into daily steps

First Beat helps you move from "wanting to make beats" to actually finishing one. Every activity follows an Ableton Live, audio-first path focused on the foundations of how a beat works: selecting material, building drums, shaping energy, arranging sections, and finishing.

Feature showcase

Reference Track Review

Core Idea Sketch

Today's Session

12 min • Build Your Arrangement

Start session

Progress Journal

Including everything you need to succeed:

playlist_add_check

A personalized roadmap from setup to export

keyboard_arrow_down

Whether you are learning Ableton from scratch, building more creative control as an artist or songwriter, or returning after getting stuck, the app places you from your real starting point and gives you the next clear step.

music_note

Audio-first production that teaches you how beats work

keyboard_arrow_down

Use strong musical material: samples, loops, stems, songstarters, and one-shots, to focus on selection, arrangement, and energy. You’ll also program drums by sight, by ear, and eventually from your own ideas, without needing to write melodies or chord progressions in V1.

graphic_eq

Top 40 arrangement mindset from a real record-maker

keyboard_arrow_down

Learn how Terence thinks through selection, groove, sections, contrast, energy, and movement so you understand why a beat starts to feel like a full record.

library_music

Daily tasks sized for real life

keyboard_arrow_down

Each day gives you one focused task, with room to continue heavier build steps across multiple sessions so you can make real progress without rushing the path.

school

Exports that prove your progress

keyboard_arrow_down

Rough counts. Short sessions count. The app reinforces the habit of exporting your work so you can hear your progress outside Ableton Live.

insights

Progress tracking for roadmap, time, exports, and skills

keyboard_arrow_down

See where you are in the roadmap, how much focused production time you are putting in, what you have exported, and which skills you have acquired.

feedback

A Coach that keeps you anchored to V1

keyboard_arrow_down

Ask questions when you’re stuck. The Coach can explain related ideas, but it will call out when something is outside the current Journey 1 scope.

auto_awesome

Beginner-friendly, pro-informed context

keyboard_arrow_down

You’re not just copying steps. You’re learning the decision-making behind Terence’s workflow, from listening choices to arrangement logic, so future tutorials and techniques have a clear place in your process.

repeat

A first win you can actually finish

keyboard_arrow_down

Finish one full modern instrumental you arranged front to back, then leave with a repeatable production process you can use for future tracks, whether you keep working with audio loops and songstarters or begin bringing MIDI into your workflow.

Created by Terence “polun” Lam

“I built First Beat for beginners who want to make music in Ableton Live—but don’t know where to start.”

Terence “polun” Lam

Terence “polun” Lam

Multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer.

I built First Beat so you never have to stare at a blank Ableton Live session wondering what to do next.

I’m Terence “polun” Lam: a Toronto-based, multi-platinum songwriter and producer, Ableton Certified Trainer, and educator. My work includes Billboard Hot 100 hits with artists such as Drake, Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor and Bella Poarch, alongside projects spanning pop, EDM, and K-pop.

First Beat is a focused, audio-first Ableton path for making and finishing your first full instrumental. You’ll develop a repeatable process for choosing material, building drums, shaping energy, arranging sections, and exporting work you’re proud to share.

Learn Terence’s producer mindset while making and finishing your first beat

Understand the basic language of music production without overwhelm
Set up Ableton Live and Splice for the Journey 1 workflow
Start from strong songstarters so you never face a blank session
Build simple musical ideas before moving into drums
Learn how a producer thinks through energy, contrast, and arrangement
Use Top 40-style reference thinking without copying blindly
Sequence drums by following the official Journey 1 path
Export rough ideas so progress becomes real and listenable
Arrange a full modern instrumental front to back
Build confidence through one repeatable finishing process
PERSONALIZED DAILY COACHING

A daily path that adapts to you and keeps you focused on finishing

First Beat personalizes your plan around your starting point, setup, available time, and preferred sound direction, then keeps you moving through Terence’s official Ableton Live, audio-first path at a pace you can sustain.

music_note

Make Your First Beat in Ableton Live

Personalized Lesson • 12 min
Learn the essentials of Ableton Live while building your first beat. This step-by-step session guides you through setting up your project, using a song starter, and crafting a drum groove—tailored to your genre and DAW experience.
What to do
assignment
Set Up Your Project
2 min
chevron_right
play_circle
Import the Song Starter
2 min
chevron_right
fitness_center
Build a Drum Groove
4 min
chevron_right
list
Arrange Your First Loop
3 min
chevron_right
How it works

From overwhelmed to finished in one clear path

First Beat gives you the process, realistic pacing, and pro context—one clear Ableton Live step at a time. Over about 12 weeks, you’ll build and export ideas, learn why the choices work, and complete a capstone instrumental with real arrangement, energy, and automation decisions.

Onboarding Quiz

What’s your biggest goal right now?

Finish my first full song
Release music that sounds pro
Level up my production skills
Build a catalog of original tracks
1

Take the quiz so the app knows where you’re starting

Share your experience, Ableton Live setup, gear, Splice status, sound direction, reference taste, struggle areas, and available time.

Your Plan

Week 1

Laying the Foundation

Find Your North Star
Sketch Core Song Idea
Reference Track Analysis
Basic Arrangement Practice
Week 2Upcoming

Building Your Song

2

Get your personalized roadmap

Your plan helps you build and export ideas while learning an audio-first, music-first process—then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental, paced around your starting point and available time.

Today, August 31

6
V

Reference Track Review

Lesson • 4 min

Core Idea Sketch

Activity • 6 min

Arrangement Session

Session • 12 min

Progress Journal

Reflection • 3 min

3

Follow the next daily step

Do one focused task at a time. Heavy build steps can span multiple sessions, so you can make real progress without racing through the journey.

Your Progress

Journey 1 Roadmap Progress

49.2 phases

as of Aug 28

MayAugust

Focused Production Time

32.7 hours

as of Aug 28

MayAugust
4

Export ideas, stack skills, and finish your capstone

Track your roadmap progress, focused production time, exports created, and the production skills you build as you develop multiple ideas and complete your final instrumental.

It only takes 2 minutes to get started

starstarstarstarstar

Real students. Real structure. Real progress.

Hear from students who’ve learned with Terence. Their experiences reflect the same structured, confidence-building approach inside First Beat.

Quote
Learning music production on my own was overwhelming. I went from zero experience to creating four different beats. Terence’s curated plan helped me cut through the noise.
Kim P.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Kim P.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I felt stuck. I had taken production and mixing courses, but I couldn’t finish songs or make anything I was happy with. Terence changed the way I approach music production. His feedback is detailed, honest, and easy to apply. My workflow, skills, and confidence have all grown.
Grace L.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Grace L.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I’d owned Ableton for almost 10 years, but I was never proud of what I made. After one month with Terence, I can already hear the difference in my tracks and I’m progressing faster than I ever did on my own. The program gave me the structure and tools I needed to improve.
Aaron G.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Aaron G.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I didn’t know how to get my songs to a high-quality level. Within a month, I had a finished song I was proud of. Terence has the experience to help producers at every level move forward.
Amanda's profile
starstarstarstarstar
Amanda
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
Before working with him I was aimless. I had learned my DAW inside and out and still had no idea how to actually make a song. Terence taught me a straightforward way to take creative ideas and turn them into solid, fleshed out songs.
Binny S.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Binny S.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I’d been making beats for a year and a half, but learning alone wasn’t enough. Terence taught me what to focus on in a project, and my ears and creativity improved day by day.
Manjot S.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Manjot S.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I would recommend this course for any upcoming producers that want to strengthen their skills and gain confidence in their craft. Once I had my ears trained to hear these things in my favorite songs, it became easier to do in my own tracks.
Makayla M.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Makayla M.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
Working with Terence helped my music sound so much better that I went viral on TikTok. That momentum led to more show bookings and songwriting and production opportunities.
Alex Kade's profile
starstarstarstarstar
Alex Kade
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
FAQ

Your questions, answered

Who is this app for?
expand_more
What will I learn in this app?
expand_more
How much time do I need to dedicate to this app?
expand_more
Is this app suitable for beginners?
expand_more
How personalized is the experience?
expand_more
What if I don’t know music theory, chords, or melodies?
expand_more
Is this just another beat-making course?
expand_more
Will AI make my beats for me?
expand_more
What’s included in First Beat?
expand_more
Ready to take creative control of your music?

Stop collecting tutorials. Start finishing your first full instrumental.

Get your personalized First Beat plan and start building inside Ableton Live with Terence’s step-by-step, audio-first process. Make your first beat, gain more control over your own music, and move beyond scattered tutorials with a clear place to start.

targetFirst Beat
6
V

Good evening!

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No activities available for today.
Today
Plan
Progress
Coach
Quick Activity Update
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What should I focus on today?
07:48 PM
Today, we'll focus on mastering Ableton Live basics and building your first beat. These skills are the foundation for every song you’ll finish—getting comfortable with your DAW unlocks creativity and speeds up your workflow.
07:48 PM
I'm traveling and only have 5 minutes today. Can you update my activities?
07:49 PM
Absolutely! I'll streamline today's session so you can quickly set up your project and lay down a basic drum groove. Even a short session keeps your momentum going and builds your DAW confidence.
07:49 PM
targetFirst Beat
6
V

Good evening!

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No activities available for today.
You're on a roll!
6 day streak
Today is August 31
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checkReview a progress update
checkFinish a lesson
checkComplete an activity or session
checkTrack a measurement
Today
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Your Plan

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No plan data available for this app.
Today
Plan
Progress
Coach

Your Progress

Today
Plan
Progress
Coach

Including everything you need to succeed:

playlist_add_check

A personalized roadmap from setup to export

keyboard_arrow_down

Whether you are learning Ableton from scratch, building more creative control as an artist or songwriter, or returning after getting stuck, the app places you from your real starting point and gives you the next clear step.

music_note

Audio-first production that teaches you how beats work

keyboard_arrow_down

Use strong musical material: samples, loops, stems, songstarters, and one-shots, to focus on selection, arrangement, and energy. You’ll also program drums by sight, by ear, and eventually from your own ideas, without needing to write melodies or chord progressions in V1.

graphic_eq

Top 40 arrangement mindset from a real record-maker

keyboard_arrow_down

Learn how Terence thinks through selection, groove, sections, contrast, energy, and movement so you understand why a beat starts to feel like a full record.

library_music

Daily tasks sized for real life

keyboard_arrow_down

Each day gives you one focused task, with room to continue heavier build steps across multiple sessions so you can make real progress without rushing the path.

school

Exports that prove your progress

keyboard_arrow_down

Rough counts. Short sessions count. The app reinforces the habit of exporting your work so you can hear your progress outside Ableton Live.

insights

Progress tracking for roadmap, time, exports, and skills

keyboard_arrow_down

See where you are in the roadmap, how much focused production time you are putting in, what you have exported, and which skills you have acquired.

feedback

A Coach that keeps you anchored to V1

keyboard_arrow_down

Ask questions when you’re stuck. The Coach can explain related ideas, but it will call out when something is outside the current Journey 1 scope.

auto_awesome

Beginner-friendly, pro-informed context

keyboard_arrow_down

You’re not just copying steps. You’re learning the decision-making behind Terence’s workflow, from listening choices to arrangement logic, so future tutorials and techniques have a clear place in your process.

repeat

A first win you can actually finish

keyboard_arrow_down

Finish one full modern instrumental you arranged front to back, then leave with a repeatable production process you can use for future tracks, whether you keep working with audio loops and songstarters or begin bringing MIDI into your workflow.

Created by Terence “polun” Lam

“I built First Beat for beginners who want to make music in Ableton Live—but don’t know where to start.”

Terence “polun” Lam

Terence “polun” Lam

Multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer.

I built First Beat so you never have to stare at a blank Ableton Live session wondering what to do next.

I’m Terence “polun” Lam: a Toronto-based, multi-platinum songwriter and producer, Ableton Certified Trainer, and educator. My work includes Billboard Hot 100 hits with artists such as Drake, Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor and Bella Poarch, alongside projects spanning pop, EDM, and K-pop.

First Beat is a focused, audio-first Ableton path for making and finishing your first full instrumental. You’ll develop a repeatable process for choosing material, building drums, shaping energy, arranging sections, and exporting work you’re proud to share.

Learn Terence’s producer mindset while making and finishing your first beat

Understand the basic language of music production without overwhelm
Set up Ableton Live and Splice for the Journey 1 workflow
Start from strong songstarters so you never face a blank session
Build simple musical ideas before moving into drums
Learn how a producer thinks through energy, contrast, and arrangement
Use Top 40-style reference thinking without copying blindly
Sequence drums by following the official Journey 1 path
Export rough ideas so progress becomes real and listenable
Arrange a full modern instrumental front to back
Build confidence through one repeatable finishing process
PERSONALIZED DAILY COACHING

A daily path that adapts to you and keeps you focused on finishing

First Beat personalizes your plan around your starting point, setup, available time, and preferred sound direction, then keeps you moving through Terence’s official Ableton Live, audio-first path at a pace you can sustain.

music_note

Make Your First Beat in Ableton Live

Personalized Lesson • 12 min
Learn the essentials of Ableton Live while building your first beat. This step-by-step session guides you through setting up your project, using a song starter, and crafting a drum groove—tailored to your genre and DAW experience.
What to do
assignment
Set Up Your Project
2 min
chevron_right
play_circle
Import the Song Starter
2 min
chevron_right
fitness_center
Build a Drum Groove
4 min
chevron_right
list
Arrange Your First Loop
3 min
chevron_right
How it works

From overwhelmed to finished in one clear path

First Beat gives you the process, realistic pacing, and pro context—one clear Ableton Live step at a time. Over about 12 weeks, you’ll build and export ideas, learn why the choices work, and complete a capstone instrumental with real arrangement, energy, and automation decisions.

Onboarding Quiz

What’s your biggest goal right now?

Finish my first full song
Release music that sounds pro
Level up my production skills
Build a catalog of original tracks
1

Take the quiz so the app knows where you’re starting

Share your experience, Ableton Live setup, gear, Splice status, sound direction, reference taste, struggle areas, and available time.

Your Plan

Week 1

Laying the Foundation

Find Your North Star
Sketch Core Song Idea
Reference Track Analysis
Basic Arrangement Practice
Week 2Upcoming

Building Your Song

2

Get your personalized roadmap

Your plan helps you build and export ideas while learning an audio-first, music-first process—then bring your strongest work into a complete modern instrumental, paced around your starting point and available time.

Today, August 31

6
V

Reference Track Review

Lesson • 4 min

Core Idea Sketch

Activity • 6 min

Arrangement Session

Session • 12 min

Progress Journal

Reflection • 3 min

3

Follow the next daily step

Do one focused task at a time. Heavy build steps can span multiple sessions, so you can make real progress without racing through the journey.

Your Progress

Journey 1 Roadmap Progress

49.2 phases

as of Aug 28

MayAugust

Focused Production Time

32.7 hours

as of Aug 28

MayAugust
4

Export ideas, stack skills, and finish your capstone

Track your roadmap progress, focused production time, exports created, and the production skills you build as you develop multiple ideas and complete your final instrumental.

It only takes 2 minutes to get started

starstarstarstarstar

Real students. Real structure. Real progress.

Hear from students who’ve learned with Terence. Their experiences reflect the same structured, confidence-building approach inside First Beat.

Quote
Learning music production on my own was overwhelming. I went from zero experience to creating four different beats. Terence’s curated plan helped me cut through the noise.
Kim P.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Kim P.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I felt stuck. I had taken production and mixing courses, but I couldn’t finish songs or make anything I was happy with. Terence changed the way I approach music production. His feedback is detailed, honest, and easy to apply. My workflow, skills, and confidence have all grown.
Grace L.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Grace L.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I’d owned Ableton for almost 10 years, but I was never proud of what I made. After one month with Terence, I can already hear the difference in my tracks and I’m progressing faster than I ever did on my own. The program gave me the structure and tools I needed to improve.
Aaron G.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Aaron G.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I didn’t know how to get my songs to a high-quality level. Within a month, I had a finished song I was proud of. Terence has the experience to help producers at every level move forward.
Amanda's profile
starstarstarstarstar
Amanda
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
Before working with him I was aimless. I had learned my DAW inside and out and still had no idea how to actually make a song. Terence taught me a straightforward way to take creative ideas and turn them into solid, fleshed out songs.
Binny S.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Binny S.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I’d been making beats for a year and a half, but learning alone wasn’t enough. Terence taught me what to focus on in a project, and my ears and creativity improved day by day.
Manjot S.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Manjot S.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
I would recommend this course for any upcoming producers that want to strengthen their skills and gain confidence in their craft. Once I had my ears trained to hear these things in my favorite songs, it became easier to do in my own tracks.
Makayla M.'s profile
starstarstarstarstar
Makayla M.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
Quote
Working with Terence helped my music sound so much better that I went viral on TikTok. That momentum led to more show bookings and songwriting and production opportunities.
Alex Kade's profile
starstarstarstarstar
Alex Kade
VERIFIED CUSTOMER
FAQ

Your questions, answered

Who is this app for?
expand_more
What will I learn in this app?
expand_more
How much time do I need to dedicate to this app?
expand_more
Is this app suitable for beginners?
expand_more
How personalized is the experience?
expand_more
What if I don’t know music theory, chords, or melodies?
expand_more
Is this just another beat-making course?
expand_more
Will AI make my beats for me?
expand_more
What’s included in First Beat?
expand_more
Ready to take creative control of your music?

Stop collecting tutorials. Start finishing your first full instrumental.

Get your personalized First Beat plan and start building inside Ableton Live with Terence’s step-by-step, audio-first process. Make your first beat, gain more control over your own music, and move beyond scattered tutorials with a clear place to start.