I have been doing some research on EDM song writing. I usually do rock, country, blues, and pop.
I read online that there is a general format for this genre.
Can anyone provide any hints, tips, etc. on how to write a modern EDM song so far as:
 
1. Standard BPM
2. Standard structure (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Break, Stop, Verse, Chorus, Break, outro...)
3. Recommendations for who to listen to.
 
All this will lead to an original EDM song which I will post here when it is done.
Thanks much for any feedback. 
 
Rimshot
 

Hey Rimshot!
 
This is very much subject to interpretation, as EDM is a pretty broad label.  It's like asking for a recipe to make a "Rock" song.  As you know, there are many kinds of Rock, including everything from Arena Rock to Speed Metal.  So, too, there are many subgenres of EDM.  According to wikipedia, EDM includes techno, house, trance, hardstyle, dubstep, drum and bass, trap, Jersey club and their respective subgenres.  Each of which has its own subtle tempo range, specific instrumentation preferences, arrangement styles, and more.
 
All that being said, I'd suggest finding some music that you like listening to, and start doing so.  I got started in electronic music after listening extensively to SomaFM's Groove Salad station.  They also have dozens of other stations there, with differing music focus.  But SomaFM is just one small corner of the internet, and there are many many ways to find music to listen to.  For example, I recently googled for a specific style of EDM called "Deep House", and decided I like it.  This led me to find some artists and playlists on SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/deep-house-amsterdam ), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSw9XC61Y24), which I've been playing in the background as I work.  But maybe you don't prefer Deep House.  So poke around and see which genres you like and start googling.
 
If you're just looking for a few blind recommendations, some of my personal favorites are Fila Brazillia, Aphex Twin, Dzihan & Kamien, Boards of Canada, Adham Shaikh.  I'd also suggest just streaming Groove Salad (see SomaFM above), and taking note of which artists you like most.  Or any other internet radio stations for that matter... there are a million of them.

 
Good luck. :)

If you work your way though Daft Punk work, you'll see they are really varied, with their first album being really raw.
 
Royksopp's Melody AM album was pretty interesting, and full of ideas.
 
 

Hi,
I will try to give some feed back on "Standard BPM" but first I want to define what "EDM" means to me.
 
Electronic dance music (also known as EDM, dance music, club music, or simply dance) is a set of percussive electronic music genres produced primarily for dance-based entertainment environments, such as nightclubs.
 
I assume that is what you mean by "EDM"
 
As there are many different way to "dance"  I do not think there is just one BPM that should be used for every genre. Having said that the question you need to ask yourself is can someone dance to this at this BPM for this genre.
 
Good DJ's and good live bands read the crowd and speed things up or slow things down as needed. So there is a need to have music at more than just one tempo.
 
The tempo is also directly related to the percussive structure of the song. Dancers are in general trying to move in time to some part of the drum or bass line. 
 
You also need to define who you want to listen and or dance to your stuff. Young kids, older people ect.
 
You can write music for yourself, for other musicians, or for the general public. If you do a good job at that you will find people to listen. If you are producing music for yourself then do what pleases you. If you are producing music for the general public then simple is generally better. If you are producing music to impress other musicians then good luck...lol and expect to receive wide ranging feedback from that group...lol
 
Cheers,
 
Billy

As Waltenstein said, EDM is a very broad label for a bunch of different styles of music. It would be difficult to make such generalizations. If you already produce rock and pop, there are some styles of EDM that can resemble those two.
 
I would suggest starting off with tracks that feature a vocalist: Zedd (e.g. Clarity, Stay the Night, Lost at Sea), Axwell (Center of the Universe), Swedish House Mafia (Don't You Worry Child, Save the World) etc... Coldplay has some tracks that borrow heavily from EDM, 'A Sky Full of Stars' for instance. 'Stellar' by Daddy's Groove is also a cool one. 'This is What it Feels Like' by Armin Van Buuren might interest you as well.I think if you have a songwriting background, then the aforementioned artists would be a sensible transition into the world of EDM.
 
If you have time, go searching for and listening to a lot of music as well. If you have any questions on a specific style, I might be able to provide more details.

And here I thought it always stood for erectile dysfunction medicine.

Waltenstein Studios
Hey Rimshot!
 
This is very much subject to interpretation, as EDM is a pretty broad label.  It's like asking for a recipe to make a "Rock" song.  As you know, there are many kinds of Rock, including everything from Arena Rock to Speed Metal.  So, too, there are many subgenres of EDM.  According to wikipedia, EDM includes techno, house, trance, hardstyle, dubstep, drum and bass, trap, Jersey club and their respective subgenres.  Each of which has its own subtle tempo range, specific instrumentation preferences, arrangement styles, and more.
 
All that being said, I'd suggest finding some music that you like listening to, and start doing so.  I got started in electronic music after listening extensively to SomaFM's Groove Salad station.  They also have dozens of other stations there, with differing music focus.  But SomaFM is just one small corner of the internet, and there are many many ways to find music to listen to.  For example, I recently googled for a specific style of EDM called "Deep House", and decided I like it.  This led me to find some artists and playlists on SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/deep-house-amsterdam ), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSw9XC61Y24), which I've been playing in the background as I work.  But maybe you don't prefer Deep House.  So poke around and see which genres you like and start googling.
 
If you're just looking for a few blind recommendations, some of my personal favorites are Fila Brazillia, Aphex Twin, Dzihan & Kamien, Boards of Canada, Adham Shaikh.  I'd also suggest just streaming Groove Salad (see SomaFM above), and taking note of which artists you like most.  Or any other internet radio stations for that matter... there are a million of them.
 
Good luck. :)

Thanks much Walt for the good info. I am checking it all out. 

Kamikaze
If you work your way though Daft Punk work, you'll see they are really varied, with their first album being really raw.
 
Royksopp's Melody AM album was pretty interesting, and full of ideas.
 
 

Thanks Kamikaze. I need to get into Daft Punk. Its time to catch up on a whole other side of commercial music.

Planobilly
Hi,
I will try to give some feed back on "Standard BPM" but first I want to define what "EDM" means to me.
 
Electronic dance music (also known as EDM, dance music, club music, or simply dance) is a set of percussive electronic music genres produced primarily for dance-based entertainment environments, such as nightclubs.
 
I assume that is what you mean by "EDM"
 
As there are many different way to "dance"  I do not think there is just one BPM that should be used for every genre. Having said that the question you need to ask yourself is can someone dance to this at this BPM for this genre.
 
Good DJ's and good live bands read the crowd and speed things up or slow things down as needed. So there is a need to have music at more than just one tempo.
 
The tempo is also directly related to the percussive structure of the song. Dancers are in general trying to move in time to some part of the drum or bass line. 
 
You also need to define who you want to listen and or dance to your stuff. Young kids, older people ect.
 
You can write music for yourself, for other musicians, or for the general public. If you do a good job at that you will find people to listen. If you are producing music for yourself then do what pleases you. If you are producing music for the general public then simple is generally better. If you are producing music to impress other musicians then good luck...lol and expect to receive wide ranging feedback from that group...lol
 
Cheers,
 
Billy

Thanks Billy. I am researching the main stream dance music that you would see on YouTube under EDM. Thousands of kids dancing, jumping, and looking like they are really having a good time. Great sound and visuals. DJ's driving a lot of the focus. I am now cataloging the most popular BPM. Guess what it is?

Amine Belkhouche
As Waltenstein said, EDM is a very broad label for a bunch of different styles of music. It would be difficult to make such generalizations. If you already produce rock and pop, there are some styles of EDM that can resemble those two.
 
I would suggest starting off with tracks that feature a vocalist: Zedd (e.g. Clarity, Stay the Night, Lost at Sea), Axwell (Center of the Universe), Swedish House Mafia (Don't You Worry Child, Save the World) etc... Coldplay has some tracks that borrow heavily from EDM, 'A Sky Full of Stars' for instance. 'Stellar' by Daddy's Groove is also a cool one. 'This is What it Feels Like' by Armin Van Buuren might interest you as well.I think if you have a songwriting background, then the aforementioned artists would be a sensible transition into the world of EDM.
 
If you have time, go searching for and listening to a lot of music as well. If you have any questions on a specific style, I might be able to provide more details.

Thank you Amine. I will check out those artists and songs you pointed out. I may take you up on asking out different styles once I get there.