I’m going to show you how to supercharge your songwriting process by multiplying the number of ideas you have to work in your song by 2-5x!
In my experience writing over 100 songs and releasing over 50 of them on Spotify, I’ve found songwriting to be a process where your first idea does not always end up being your best idea.
This is why the more ideas you have to choose from when crafting your song, the greater your chances of striking gold will be.
Let’s break down the 3 essential steps for expanding upon your initial song idea that will take your creative process from ordinary to extraordinary, my friend. 🙂
Step 1: Create Your Song’s Core Idea
All songs start with that first spark of inspiration that creates your initial idea and this songwriting technique is all about expanding on the first core idea that you come up with.
Whether you start with vocals, drums, chord progressions, or a really cool sample: the very first step is to create a foundation upon which your masterpiece will be built.
In electronic music, this can look like an 8 or 16-bar loop, and in vocal music, this can look like having a verse or chorus written.
Step 2: Duplicate, Expand & Explore
Next, take the original idea you developed in Step 1 and duplicate it within your project.
It’s important that you duplicate your idea into a new place because you’ll be removing parts, adding parts, and ultimately trying to “remix” your original idea into something new.
Start by peeling back layers by removing elements that don’t quite fit, and adding new ones that resonate with your evolving vision.
Don’t hesitate to switch up melodies, and rhythms, or even try different instruments. This stage is all about exploration, pushing your boundaries, and uncovering hidden gems within your song.
Step 3: Mash Your Song’s Ideas All Together
As you’ve ventured into uncharted territories, you’ve amassed a treasure trove of diverse musical ideas.
Now, it’s time to recombine them into a cohesive, engaging composition by treating your expanded pool of ideas as if they were puzzle pieces that create a unique piece of art.
The more ideas that you’ve created, the more pieces that you have available to work with as you arrange them into your song’s final structure.
A Real-World Example Of Song Idea Expansion
Let’s put all of this theory into practice with a real-world example:
In this song I was working on, I started with a groovy but slightly laid-back idea. But rather than settling, we duplicated it, stripped away certain elements, and experimented with new sounds. Suddenly, our song took on a fresh energy, shedding its initial “chill” vibe.
Even better, our expanded exploration led me to an entirely new vocal hook and all of these new ideas allowed me to create a song composition that takes the listener on a journey where they stay engaged from start to finish.
Now It’s Your Turn To 2X Your Song Ideas
You now have a roadmap to unlocking your music’s full creative potential by embracing the power of expanding and exploring your initial ideas.
Remember, the more ideas you have at your fingertips, the higher the likelihood of stumbling upon that game-changing musical nugget.
You now have the power to craft songs that resonate, surprise, and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
