Write More Songs

Writing music is an ongoing process that never really ends, but if you feel like you’ve been stuck in a rut, now’s the time to change that. Follow these tips and you’ll be penning great music in no time

Change your routine

Writer’s block? We’ve all been there. Sometimes you just can’t seem to come up with anything inspiring on your guitar. So change something; tuning, fingerstyle, guitar, plugged in or unplugged, … even your type of plectrum. Small changes can make the difference between hitting a brick wall and a new way forward. A guitar holds an incredible amount of potential, and sometimes it’s just about hearing or approaching it in a different way to untap it.

Give yourself limits

Sometimes, just getting started can be the difficult part – two hours later and you’re still flicking through amp modelling presets without even coming up with so much as an open chord. Try setting yourself challenges; write a riff using only three notes, come up with a single-chord groove, writing in a certain style or even a time limit. Once you start, it can quickly free up your creativity!

Manage your expectations

How often do you come up with a killer riff or chord progression, only to find that you can’t take it any further because you can’t think of where to go next? One of the biggest problems is setting standards too high. If you have a brilliant riff, let the next part resolve to something else. Not every part of a song needs to be a hook, and there’s nothing wrong with using a simple part. If anything, you’ll need space for other instruments and vocals.

Make decisions

If you’re writing parts regularly, chances are that you have a scratchpad of ideas kicking around, these could be written down, recorded on a phone or computer, or committed to memory. Choose one, and set aside some time to turn it into a fully-fledged song. Don’t sweat over the details, just aim to end up with the main sections of a tune (verse, chorus, bridge). This way you’ll feel like you’re getting somewhere, and can come back to the refinements after.

Collaboration is underrated

It’s quite amazing what can happen when two musicians with ideas get together; you might end up creating something bigger than your separate parts. If you’re in a band, try pairing off with a member who is keen to contribute and give yourself time for writing sessions. That’s not to say the band won’t write together in the rehearsal room but the dynamic is different. With less cooks in the kitchen you might feel more relaxed sitting down acoustically, presenting your ideas and trying different approaches.

Learn other people’s songs

There’s a difference between listening to a song you love (or even one you don’t) and learning to play it. You get inside the song and learn about chord progressions and transitions in a hands-on way that a book can never convey. Try some of the established classics; how are they strummed? How does the vocal interact with the chords? Where are they coming from lyrically? You can learn so much while adding to your repertoire.

Road-test

You don’t truly know how you feel about a song until you play it live – so try performing it at the local open-mic night acoustically. You might find certain parts need tweaking or the reaction to your song on the night might give you the confidence to pursue a new direction with your writing. Acoustic is also a great test of a song, of course if it’s grindcore that might not be the case, but stripping a song down to its essential layers shows its mettle. If it makes a connection with you as a performer and people in the audience, it will spur you on.

Keep writing

Sounds obvious but don’t forget this; you will only get better as a songwriter over time. Pursue the good, the bad and the ugly ideas and you’ll develop a filter. With time you’ll become more attuned to what ideas will end up becoming finished songs and which ones are just dead ends. More of your songs will become keepers And sometimes, even with ideas you’re initially uninspired by, going back to them the next day might change your perspective. Persist, because every step you take is progress.