Contents
Are you feeling stuck in a creative rut, struggling to start a song in your DAW? Don’t worry! We’ve got 8 creativity hacks that will get you going.
From working with sound design to starting with melody, these tips will help you unlock your potential and make music you can be proud of.
So don’t be intimidated – let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- Starting with melody can create a memorable song and provide a strong emotional appeal.
- Starting with drums/percussion can drive the song forward, create a strong groove, and set the tone and energy of the track.
- Starting with harmony/chord progressions can make building melodies and rhythms easier, set the foundation for the entire song, and enhance the overall quality of the track.
- Various sources such as MIDI packs, movies/videos, moods, and sound design can fuel creativity and provide inspiration for starting a song in an empty DAW.
Starting With Melody
If you’re looking to create a memorable song, starting with a melody is a great way to begin. It can be challenging to find accompanying pieces for a melody, but with the right techniques, you can create a song that resonates with listeners.
Starting with melody restricts chord choice and rhythm options, so it’s important to explore different melody composition techniques. Once you have a strong melody in place, you can move forward and build the track around it.
This will require more work and restrict your creativity, but the end result will be a memorable song with variations in melody composition, strong emotional appeal, and a feeling of fullness.
Starting With Drums/Percussion
Kickstarting your song with drums and percussion can create a strong groove with any empty DAW. Exploring different drum patterns and finding unique percussion sounds can set the tone and energy of the track. This also helps define the rhythm section and allows for experimentation with different drum sounds.
You can also combine drums and percussion with other elements for a unique sound. Keep in mind that adding too much to the drum section early on can make the track sound messy. To get the most out of your drum section, focus on developing it before moving on to other elements. Doing this will ensure a full, complete, and memorable sound.
Starting With Harmony/Chord Progressions
Continuing on from drums and percussion, starting with harmony and chord progressions, can provide a strong emotional appeal to your track. Exploring chord voicings and utilizing chord inversions can help you craft a unique sound. Chords can be used to add fullness to your track and also serve to provide a rhythmic foundation.
It’s important to experiment with different chord progressions and voicings to find the ones that evoke the desired feeling. Using a combination of major and minor chords will add a dynamic range to your song. When using chord progressions, consider the overall key and the direction of the melody.
Fueling the Pillars
Building on the foundation of melody, drums, and harmony, kickstarting the pillars of your track, requires finding inspiration from a variety of sources.
Exploring different genres, manipulating sounds in software synths, and collaborating with other musicians can help spark ideas.
MIDI packs allow for playing chords and voicings, while sound design helps build a unique sonic landscape.
Movies and videos aid in creating music by collecting moments that evoke emotions.
Lastly, starting a song based on a mood can help assign traits to the sound and choose melodies that fit.
With these tools, developing a track can be a creative, resourceful, and technical experience.
Based on Sound Design
Picking up from the discussion of fueling the pillars, sound design is a great way to jumpstart the creative process and build a unique sonic landscape. Exploring synthesis possibilities can provide a wealth of sounds and textures to choose from.
Integrating sound design with melody composition can help create interesting and captivating music. Get creative with the sounds you have available and use them to craft new elements. Experiment with different parameters and settings and combine them with other elements to create a unique sound.
Try layering sounds to create a fuller and more complete track. Don’t be afraid to get creative and explore possibilities.
Incorporate sound design into your songwriting and take your music to the next level.
Based on MIDI Packs
Utilizing MIDI packs to jumpstart your creativity, you can combine and edit the MIDI content to create custom chord progressions and give your track a unique sound. By customizing MIDI progressions, you can make subtle changes in voicing and key that will give the track a professional feel.
Combining MIDI packs can also be used to create unique chord progressions and can be a great way to quickly come up with ideas. Experimentation is key when using MIDI packs, as it allows you to explore different voicings and progressions to create the desired sound.
Always strive for quality and clarity when using MIDI packs and remember that small touches can make a big difference.
Based on a Movie or Video
Using a movie or video as inspiration can be a great way to jumpstart your songwriting process. To create music inspired by cinematography, focus on the visuals and the emotions they evoke.
Analyze the plot and the characters’ journeys, then use visual storytelling in music composition. When starting a track, try to capture the emotions behind the scenes and capture those feelings in sound.
Incorporate synthetic textures, melodies, and chords to capture the mood of the movie or video. Experiment with different sounds and rhythms to bring your vision to life.
Once you have your ideas down, add instruments to flesh out the arrangement and create a complete song. With a little creativity and a bit of technical know-how, you can create a track that captures the essence of the movie or video.
Based on a Mood
Feeling the mood of your song can be a great way to get creative and jumpstart your songwriting. Choosing appropriate sounds and melodies that evoke the desired emotion is key. Justifying sound choices based on the mood is essential in creating the desired atmosphere. Experiment with different chords, voicings, and key changes to find the perfect fit. Subtle changes in voicing and key can make a huge difference.
Sound design is also important for setting the right tone and energy. Try manipulating sounds in software synths like Serum and Massive to spark new ideas. Keep in mind that finding the perfect mood is essential in creating an emotionally powerful track.
Conclusion
Don’t be intimidated by your DAW! With these 8 creativity hacks, you’ll be able to jumpstart your music production and make music you can be proud of.
Start with melody, drums, harmony, or sound design – there’s no wrong way to get your creative juices flowing.
Don’t forget to fuel your ideas with MIDI packs, movies, and moods too!
With these tips, you’ll be able to unlock your creative potential and make music that will make you proud.
So go ahead and get started – you won’t regret it!
I’m thrilled to be able to share my passion for music with others through this audio blog, and I can’t wait to connect with fellow music lovers from all around the world. Let’s rock on!