How To Find Inspiration To Write Music

Finding inspiration to write music is very important for any musician. Some days, our minds are full of musical ideas, while on other days, no matter how hard you cudgel your brain out for ideas, nothing comes to mind.

To help keep your creative juices flowing, we’ve put together a guide to finding inspiration to write music. So, let’s get right into it!

Never Wait For Inspiration To Arrive By Itself

Good songwriters never sit down waiting for inspiration to strike. Instead, they go out of their way to find inspiration for their next work. Things like going outside for a walk, conversing with people, traveling, or just going through books and magazines are all simple ways to find inspiration.

Do whatever works for you, in time you’ll learn how to use it to write your next masterpiece. Just be sure to actively make an effort to get inspired instead of sitting around and hoping for inspiration to strike by itself.

Always Write Notes When You’re Struck With Inspiration

While every musician should try to actively seek inspiration, it can also strike at random and odd moments. As a matter of fact, countless pieces of music have been produced because the inspiration for it came at the most random of times and was recorded at that exact moment.

The song “Somewhere over the rainbow” was recorded in a spur of the moment, 15-minute recording session by Israel Kamakawiwo at 3 am. Israel rushed to the recording studio to play the tune to avoid forgetting it.

That piece of music might have been lost if it was not recorded when it occurred, that’s why it’s important to record and write music when inspiration strikes.

Make Writing Music A Daily Habit

It is essential to develop a habit of writing music regularly, even if you aren’t inspired or can’t complete a song on the first day. Take 30-60 minutes from your daily routine and devote it entirely to writing.

Oftentimes, inspiration strikes after you actually sit down and start working. Experiment with chord progressions, drum beats, or a melody to try to come up with a good piece of music. And always have a recorder next to you when you’re producing music.

Remember to relax have fun and improvise. The more often you work, the more likely you are to think of ideas that will ignite your inspiration!

Draw Inspiration From Your Real Life

You must’ve noticed that some of the best music and lyrics often come from a musician’s most moving life experiences, such as the death of a close relative or an exciting start of a new chapter in their life.

At the end of the day, music is about conveying emotions and expressing your experiences through song, so why not take inspiration from your impactful experiences? Most of the time, if you have a powerful story and lyrics ready, the associated music will come naturally.

Start introspecting and consider your:

● Major life events

● Religious and other beliefs

● Passions

● Opinions

● Hobbies

What do you feel would be best expressed within music and what would be the most relatable to your audience? There’s unquestionably a reason why there are so many songs about failed relationships and breakups; everyone goes through them at least once in their life and they’re painful!

However, at the same time, it’s preferable to stay away from topics that are already too mainstream. Try and present your experiences in a unique way that hasn’t been done before, perhaps through a changed perspective or by using a metaphor.