Thanks, Deb. And let’s not forget perhaps the most important – persistence!
Best wishes,
Tony

I also suspect that if I could up my musicianship, I would inevitably come up with more interesting stuff……..There are just some chord combinations and rhythmic variations that make a song exciting no matter what the subject matter (just my opinion……….)

But on the issue of lyrics, most of mine are………well………depressing. So there’s something to think about!

Annie,
As always, thanks for writing. That’s another great idea – try a new genre!
Best wishes,
Tony

If we’re writing a song that tells a story (and most songs do), then our story is more likely to keep someone’s attention if we aren’t in our safe zone. That’s one reason I started writing R&B. Some of my technique will work in that genre, but it’s time fill up my bag of tricks with new stuff that works in new ways.

Ruth,
These are great jump-starts! Thanks for sharing them.
Best wishes,
Tony

Thanks, Doug. You can’t go wrong with Burt & Hal!
Best wishes,
Tony

1. I retune my guitar to an open tuning I’ve never played
2. Write with a new collaborator
3. Ask my 17 year old son what new song he thinks I’d like
4. Set up a game, e.g., write a song with only 1 chord, write a song without the word I, write a song from the perspective of an inanimate object, stop writing about love already ho hum, try a music app with a rhythm pattern
5. Go back and rewrite something — take the best parts of it and make the rest different and better
6. Ask people who like different genres, from different countries, who play different instruments who is interesting in their world…and then get inspired.
7. Reach for the Frustrated Songwriter book or do a 20-song breakneck in one day push
8. Write a song for a movie or TV show
9. Write about other people’s lives for a change
10. Write in a really awkward key to play and/or sing.
11. Write whatever somebody will pay me for…whatever subject and genre they want.

For starters…

Thank you, Sophia! I hope you’ll suggest some approaches too.
Best wishes,
Tony