The $2,000 Studio Mistake Artists Keep Making

Hey music makers!

I've been thinking about something that keeps happening to talented artists I know.

They’ll spend 30 hours in the studio at $65/hour (that’s $1,950, by the way), only to walk away with songs they’re not even sure they like.

The project spirals off track…blows past the budget…and leaves them creatively drained.

And you know what? It's rarely about talent or creativity. It's about skipping one crucial step that quietly shapes the entire outcome: Preproduction.

I'm not talking about just rehearsing or tightening your vocal takes.

Real preproduction is where you design the blueprint for your project and protect it from the silent killer of music momentum.

Key: Ab major
Progressions: ||:  Ab - Cmi7 | Bbmi7 - Db/Eb :||

Harmonic Function: I - iii - ii - V

This record feels effortless, but that’s the power of intentional harmony planning.

Commodores show how smart planning creates effortless-sounding music. The main progression above flows in a perfect circle, matching the song's relaxed Sunday morning vibe.

The progression uses the popular ii-V-I and that Db/Eb chord is actually an Eb11. It’s a great alternative to a plain V or V7 chord—you see this dominant color all over 70s progressions. It adds sophisticated richness while keeping things smooth and natural.

Decisions like this are mapped out long before tracking begins.

Want progressions that flow like this? It starts with planning, not guesswork.

Harmony isn't just about the notes you choose — it's about the clarity and decisions before the music begins.
This topic is at the heart of everything I teach inside Harmony GPS and how I plan my projects in Harmony OS Dashboard. More on that at the end.

This is when your project keeps expanding mid-process:
– Adding parts you didn’t plan for
– Rewriting sections last minute
– Realizing you forgot to budget for key details (gear, players, plugins)

Without a clear plan, even a simple demo can spiral into a thousand-dollar detour.

That 3-song EP turns into 6 tracks, then maybe a short film, and before you know it, you're back in the studio with no clear finish line.

3 planning mistakes that derail creative projects:

The result can easily be thousands down the drain before you even mix.

This isn't a guilt trip. It's just something I wish more creators understood.

It would make their creative process easier, improve their studio experience, and make my job as a producer easier by allowing me to amplify what the artist is truly looking for in a project.

Next Tuesday, I'll walk you through how to build a simple, powerful preproduction plan that actually protects your time, money, and creative energy.