#Lyrical writing exercises free#

Then, reset the timer again and work on one of the ideas for the duration of the timer. Rather than trying to write one song from start to finish, try setting a timer for 3, 5, or 10 minutes and brainstorm a handful of new song ideas. You know how speed dating involves getting to know someone for just a few minutes and seeing if you hit it off? Then, it’s onto the next one? It works great as a songwriting warm-up exercise, too. The best part is you can keep the deck of cards for your next songwriting session and break them out whenever you need some sudden inspiration. If you’ve tried your best and still don’t like the combination you got, no sweat! Just flip over another three cards. With any luck, you’ll find some unexpected combinations and can fully pursue whatever ideas they spark. Then, transfer all those words to the flash cards. Try to think abstractly and not be limited to the physical things sitting in your room.

#Lyrical writing exercises free#

Not sure which words to use on the flash cards? First, do a free write session and write down anything that pops into your head. Then, flip over three cards and brainstorm a song topic that combines or incorporates all three.

Take 15 minutes to put words and phrases that seem interesting onto 99 index cards, divided across these three categories: Use flash cards to brainstorm a new songwriting topic. Piggybacking off of someone else’s song topics can open up fascinating new possibilities for a new idea of your own!ĥ. If there’s a song you love, there’s probably still untapped potential hidden between the lines. The idea here is to consider that there’s more than one way to explore any idea. You can simply have your protagonist be inspired by the events of another track.Īnother approach is to take a popular music track and choose a new narrator or POV. What if “Every Breath You Take” was written from the perspective of the girl being “watched?” For instance, if it’s a story song, you could write its “sequel.” What happens after Billy Joel’s “Piano Man?” You don’t have to make it literally a sequel to someone else’s song, either. You can do this with most types of songs. Or instead of a “response,” what would a continuation of that idea be, as a fellow New Yorker? Has New York City gotten even better or has it gone downhill since “Empire State of Mind” came out? There are LOTS of potential ways to get inspired by it if you think of your song as the next step in a larger conversation. Does “Empire State of Mind” appeal to you? What would response to this song be as a proud citizen of another locale? Could you make a song that tells Jay-Z and Alicia Keys what YOU think of their favorite state? Choose a favorite song and write your own response to it. This can help you discover the perfect sound to complete your next hit single.Ģ. The point is, you’re giving yourself the chance to hear new sounds and feel your way through an instrument that you don’t already have unconscious patterns of playing in. In fact, you don’t even need an instrument AT ALL – you could mess around inside of your DAW using loops or the piano roll to see what intriguing new sounds, rhythms, and hooks you can come up with. You don’t have to be an expert to come up with interesting new ideas on an unfamiliar instrument. If you’ve written great songs with conventional instruments, why not start writing new songs with something a little “out there,” like a flute, harmonica, xylophone, bongos, or kazoo? If you usually write songs on acoustic guitar, try piano. As an example, my brother Daniel used to only be able to write songs on guitar – now he’s comfortable with both piano and guitar, but he still finds guitar easier. Yep! The average songwriter typically has a go-to type of instrument for writing songs. Play a brand-new instrument (or none at all).