GET INSPIRED!
Seven tips to help you write your next song
1
Make melodies
from chords
This’ll make you think differently about the chords you play. Ditch those commonplace open- and barre-chord shapes in favour of partial chords. Simply target the highest note of each shape to outline a melody. Play through the shapes shown here – the melody runs down the second string and finishes on the third. It's an idea you can take much farther.
2
FX fans! Get loopy w ith your tone
If you’re the kind of player who’s most inspired when jamming with an effect-laden tone, then a looper pedal could be a useful songwriting tool for you.
Place it at the end of your signal chain (in your amp’s effect loop if it has one) and you can layer up parts on the fly, improvising with all the rich sounds your pedalboard can offer. It’s a great way to create parts that sit well together, without the need for a full vision of your song’s final structure.