Every songwriter knows the feeling of hitting a creative block, where ideas seem out of reach and inspiration fades. The good news is that creativity can be boosted with the right exercises. Here’s ten songwriting exercises that not only help you overcome writer’s block but also bring fresh, new ideas to your music.
1. The 9-Minute Songwriter Workout
This quick workout is designed to spark ideas by working in three-minute bursts:
- Minute 1: Free-write about anything that comes to mind.
- Minute 2: Write down as many song titles as you can think of.
- Minute 3: List words that rhyme with a word or theme from your titles.
This exercise helps bypass the inner critic by encouraging a fast-paced, subconscious response. It’s especially helpful when you need a starting point for lyrics and themes.
2. Timed Free-Writing
Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes, pick a topic, and start writing without stopping. Don’t worry about editing, grammar, or even rhyme. This stream-of-consciousness technique generates raw material that you can later refine into lyrics. Free-writing is a great way to capture unfiltered thoughts and emotions, revealing hidden ideas you might otherwise overlook.
3. Object-Inspired Writing
Choose an object around you, like a coffee mug or a pair of sunglasses, and describe it in sensory detail. Imagine the stories, memories, or emotions it might evoke, then weave these into a song. This exercise not only builds descriptive skills but also makes for intriguing lyrics. By starting with a simple item, you can craft songs that feel grounded yet unique.
4. Chord Progression Exploration
To break out of familiar patterns, experiment with innovative chord progressions that can infuse your songs with fresh harmonic depth. Here are some creative approaches:
- Chromatic Mediants: Move between chords a major or minor third apart, such as C to E-flat or C to E, while maintaining the chord quality (major or minor). This adds harmonic contrast that can evoke unusual emotions and colors in your song. Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Alien” uses chromatic shifts to create its ethereal, eerie quality.
- Modal Interchange: Borrow chords from a parallel mode or key, like moving from A major to A minor chords (A – Am – F – G – Am). This technique, used in songs like “Michelle” by The Beatles, gives your progressions a deeper, more complex mood by mixing major and minor tonalities.
- Secondary Dominants: Use dominant chords that lead into non-tonic chords to introduce tension. For example, in G major, play G – E – Em – C, where E major momentarily “tonicizes” Em. This approach, as heard in Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, enriches the harmonic landscape by creating movement and anticipation.
- Deceptive Cadences: Avoid resolving back to the tonic by substituting a minor chord at the end of your progression. For instance, try C – F – G – Am instead of returning to C. This technique, famously used in “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden, adds an unexpected twist that keeps the listener engaged.
5. One-Chord Songwriting
Try writing a song that uses only one chord throughout. While this may sound limiting, it forces you to experiment with rhythm, dynamics, and melody to maintain interest. Songs with a single chord can have a hypnotic effect, often ideal for reflective or meditative lyrics. This exercise encourages creativity within constraints, a valuable skill for any songwriter.
Coconut” by Harry Nilsson is based around a repeating C7 chord, making it a classic one-chord song.
6. Genre Switching
Choose a genre that’s different from your usual style and write a song in that genre. If you typically write folk songs, try your hand at blues, jazz, or electronic music. Shifting genres forces you to adapt to different structures, rhythms, and instrumentation, which can reveal exciting new directions for your music. Many artists, including Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift, have explored multiple genres, finding inspiration and growth through change.
7. Lyric Reversal Exercise
Take a line from one of your previous songs (or any song) and write its opposite. If your original line is “I feel alive in the light,” change it to “I feel numb in the dark.” This reversal can bring unexpected themes and depth to your lyrics, pushing you to explore contrasting emotions or perspectives.
8. Collaborative Word Association
Start with a simple word and write down every phrase or thought it brings to mind. If you’re working with others, pass the word to a collaborator to add their associations. Word association sparks new connections that may lead to song themes or unique lyrical ideas. Working collaboratively on this exercise is especially effective for finding words or phrases outside your usual vocabulary.
9. Picture Prompt
Select a photograph or a piece of artwork and use it as inspiration for a song. Focus on the emotions the image evokes or the story it suggests. Imagine yourself in the scene—what would you see, feel, and think? Using visual prompts can provide vivid, narrative-rich lyrics, offering listeners a strong sense of place and emotion.
10. The Pedal Point Exercise
A pedal point is a sustained note that plays continuously while the harmony changes around it. Start with a bass note (like D) and layer different chords above it, such as D – D/C – G/D – A/D. This technique creates harmonic tension and provides a cohesive feel to your song. It’s often used by bands like Pink Floyd, whose song “Breathe” features a pedal point to create its introspective, hypnotic vibe.
Closing Thoughts
These ten exercises are designed to help you break out of your usual patterns, unlock new ideas, and bring fresh energy to your songwriting. Whether you’re exploring unique chord structures or diving into a different genre, each exercise will deepen your creative abilities. Remember, the key to success is consistency—practice these exercises regularly to strengthen your songwriting muscles, and soon, creativity will flow more naturally.
