Write More Songs

Tag: songwriting tricks

  • Breaking the Pattern: How Your Songwriting Habits Shape Your Music

    Breaking the Pattern: How Your Songwriting Habits Shape Your Music

    Are your songwriting sessions starting to feel like reruns? Do your songs all have a familiar ring to them? You might be caught in a loop of songwriting habits that are quietly shaping every note and lyric you create.

    The Hidden Forces Behind Your Songwriting Process

    We all have habits—the automatic behaviours that guide our daily lives without conscious thought. In songwriting, these habits can be your greatest strength or your biggest creative roadblock.

    The Nostalgia Effect: Your Musical DNA

    Research shows that the music we connect with between ages 12-22 creates what psychologists call the “Reminiscence Bump.” These formative influences become deeply wired into our musical identity and often unconsciously shape our songwriting approach decades later.

    Think about it: Can you hear echoes of your teenage playlist in your current compositions? There’s a reason for that! Our early musical loves aren’t just memories—they become templates for how we instinctively express emotions through music.

    The Skill Ceiling: Working Within Your Limitations

    The second major factor influencing your songwriting habits is simpler but equally powerful: your current skill set. These limitations include:

    • Your instrumental proficiency
    • Command of language and lyrical vocabulary
    • Understanding of music theory and chord relationships
    • Melodic instincts and rhythmic tendencies

    Unlike your nostalgia-based habits, these skill-based habits can—and should—evolve throughout your songwriting journey.

    Are Your Habits Working For or Against You?

    When Habits Hold You Back:

    • The Same-Song Syndrome: When unconscious habits dominate your process, your songs all start sounding like variations of the same
    • The Time Capsule Effect: Relying exclusively on dated influences can make your music feel out of touch with contemporary listeners
    • The False “Signature Style”: Mistaking limitations for a personal style can prevent growth and experimentation
    • The Confidence Killer: Repeating habits that produce disappointing results can feed your inner critic and damage creative confidence

    When Habits Help You Soar:

    • The Experimental Edge: Regularly introducing new elements keeps your songwriting fresh and exciting
    • The Contemporary Connection: Staying curious about new music broadens your palette of songwriting choices
    • The Authentic Voice: Developing more skills and habits actually reveals your true style through increased choices
    • The Flow State: Good habits help you silence your inner critic during creation and know when to shift into editing mode

    Evolving Your Songwriting Habits

    Here’s the good news: you don’t need to abandon your existing habits. Instead, focus on expanding your repertoire by adding new techniques to your toolkit.

    How to Build Better Songwriting Habits:

    1. Active Listening: Analyse contemporary songs, noting structural choices, production techniques, and lyrical approaches. Even if you don’t like the songs, a lot of people do, so try and find one thing that you could adapt into your own songwriting.
    2. Skill Development: Treat songwriting how athletes treat their training—break it down into components and use focussed practice of things like chord progressions, melody writing, and lyrical techniques
    3. Community Connection: Join songwriting communities where feedback and accountability help cement new habits. I co-host an amazing community of world-wide songwriters called ‘We Write Songs’ – click HERE to find out more
    4. Structured Exercises: Use writing prompts, technical practice, and analysis drills to build new neural pathways. Short, sharp and highly rewarding exercises are a sure fire way to build new habits that generate RESULTS!

    When Old Habits Fight Back

    Don’t be surprised if your established patterns resist change. When faced with the discomfort of trying something new, remind yourself that you’re not replacing your trusted methods—you’re simply adding new options to your creative arsenal.

    Take the pressure off by viewing each new technique as an experiment rather than a permanent change. The worst outcome? You discover something that doesn’t work for you. The best? You find a fresh approach that reinvigorates your entire songwriting process.

    Your Songwriting Evolution Starts Now

    Whether you’re feeling stuck in a creative rut or simply looking to expand your songwriting horizons, becoming aware of your habits is the first step toward growth. By consciously developing new techniques while honoring your unique influences, you’ll write songs that feel both authentically yours and creatively fresh.

    What songwriting habit will you experiment with this week? Share your experience in the comments below!

    Happy writing

    Celine x

  • Do All Your Songs Sound The Same?

    Do All Your Songs Sound The Same?

    As a songwriter, I’m a firm believer in writing a little bit every day. But when I’m in a groove, finishing several songs in quick succession, I sometimes notice they start sounding too similar. This is especially true when I focus on writing within a specific genre.

    While it’s important to develop your brand as an artist, writing songs that sound alike can be limiting. It’s not a bad thing if it aligns with a project’s direction, but stepping outside your comfort zone can bring fresh ideas. If you find your songs sounding repetitive, it might be time to push yourself creatively. Here are some tips to shake things up and bring more variety to your songwriting:

    Change Up Your Melodies

    Listen to a few of your recent songs. Are your melodies similar in structure—ascending, descending, or stagnant? Do you tend to rely on straight or syncopated rhythms? Challenge yourself by trying the opposite of your usual style. Experiment with different melodic movements or rhythms to create a fresh feel. I like to call this ‘auditioning new melodies’ take the progressions and lyrics you have and try and find a new melody.

    Try A New Song Structure

    It’s really easy to follow the same or similar song structures when writing without even noticing or putting it down to genre or your style. But I find that experimenting with AABA song structure, or using a one word chorus can really make me work harder in other areas of the song.

    Switch Up Your Time Signature or Tempo

    If you tend to stick with one tempo or time signature, try experimenting with something new. Write a song slower or faster than usual, or explore an unusual time signature. Using a metronome Or Click track in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) can help you maintain the new tempo and keep you on track. You can also alter the rhythm of your accompaniment by adding syncopation or changing the time signature. Experiment until it feels natural.

    Change Your Key or Adjust Your Capo

    Sticking to familiar keys might feel safe, but changing your key can offer a new emotional effect. Try shifting to a higher or lower key to see how it affects the mood of your song. You can also experiment with capo placement to explore different tonalities on your guitar. This is one of my favourite tips as it’s really easy to do, and lets you play open chords with fresh sound.

    Borrow Chord Progressions From An Existing Song

    Even simple pop songs don’t stay within the same set of chords. You can vary your chord progression choices by borrowing from existing songs. Don’t worry, chord progressions can’t be copyrighted – they are like the colours that painters use; fundamental to the process but inherently everyone can use as many or as few as they want to.

    Final Thoughts:

    Conscious songwriting can feel more like work than the free-flowing creativity we often crave. If you find it’s becoming a bit mechanical, separate the process into two phases. Write the structural parts of your song first, then revisit the emotional aspects in a later session. This way, you can experiment with new sounds without losing the emotional heart of your song. Experimenting should be a staple in your songwriting process to avoid these sticking points.

    By pushing yourself outside of your usual patterns, you can bring fresh creativity to your music and continue growing as a songwriter.