As a musician, there are so many ways you can practice your craft and find the inspiration you’re looking for in songwriting. While it’s highly likely that at times in your creative journey the inspiration has come to you, there are plenty of other times when you may need to go out in search of it.
Everybody has their own methods of getting inspired — and yours will likely be unique just like your music is. While some techniques work better for certain people than they do for others, you can try out a variety of options to see which ones work best for you.
Whether you’re a brand new songwriter dipping your toes into the world of creating for the very first time or you’re a longtime musician who needs to get that spark of inspiration, the beauty of artistic creation is the vast range of possibilities both in creation and in the art itself. Here are seven songwriting techniques that you can test out to get the music flowing again!
1. Listen to Your Old Favorites
Sometimes, it can be extremely inspiring to take another look at some of the songs, artists and albums that inspired you to become a musician in the first place. Whether that music is music that you loved as a child, music that inspires you from your favorite artists or even music from other genres that gives you the kind of emotion and inspiration that pushes you to create, listening to music that you love can be a great way to feel inspired to make your own.
2. Journal
Sometimes, the music isn’t the hard part of the writing process. The lyrics can often be a source of difficulty, especially if you are used to writing the music first and filling in the blanks. That’s why journaling can be a fantastic way to express your feelings and get to the root of what you want to say. You can explore journaling prompts or you can choose to free write. It’s all up to you.
3. Search for Obscure Inspiration
Sometimes, going a bit off the beaten path is exactly what you need to do to find the inspiration to make your music unique. Exploring scary stories, folklore you have an emotional connection to, natural elements of the world and references to written material that you love can all be wonderful ways to start off your music.
4. Have a Routine
When it comes to getting inspired about anything, having a routine or a ritual that functions specifically to get you inspired can be a very reliable way to consistently write. Although creativity is often rooted in spontaneity, a lot can be said for the consistency of working on a study project, much like a song or even an album, every day until you are satisfied.
In order to start off your routine, it’s all about clearing your head and finding the activities that inspire you all the time. For some people, moving your body is a great way to do that. For others, it’s making a cup of tea. Simply find the sequence of events that works best for you.
5. Move Your Body
Speaking of moving your body, one of the best ways to engage in mindfulness and clear your head for the purpose of creativity is the practice of movement. While some people enjoy long and strenuous workouts, others prefer nature walks and yoga practices. You can even find a happy medium with a high intensity workout that only lasts for a few minutes.
6. Explore Another Artistic Medium
Although music is likely your primary medium of creativity, exploring other formats of art can be a great way to work out the other muscles of your brain and help you find the inspiration you’re looking for. Trying out visual art, crafts that make you work with your hands and even writing can be very freeing experiences that contribute to your overall creative expression.
7. Play Five Radios At Once
This one might sound a bit strange, but it’s actually a long-held secret that many famous songwriters have used to squeeze out a bit of inspiration. Yes, playing five radios at once is something that can get your brain moving in new ways by figuring out where things overlap and what your mind decides to focus on. Specifically, Tom Waits was a user of this method throughout his songwriting process.
Everybody has their own method of getting inspired, and even though each person is different, there are so many options out there for you to choose from when sitting down to write your next masterpiece. Which of these tips are you going to try out first?