The Mix-It-Up Mini-Challenge
Mar 16, 2020
Here’s an important thing to remember about originality: there are only 12 notes.
We’re all just using the same 12 notes in different combinations and patterns. With all the people that have composed music over the course of history, we can only imagine how many times a melody or chord progression has been recycled!
This is an important concept to wrap your brain around. When songwriters feel pressure to be completely original, we are actually shooting for something that is completely unattainable.
AND we are missing out on an incredible tool: copying, learning from, and repurposing other music.
This mini-challenge is designed to give you a launching pad for a new song, using an existing song.
It’s simple, effective and can be used over and over and over again for new inspiration. Let’s get to it!
The Mix-It-Up Mini Challenge
Step 1. Pick a song you love. Or a song you hate. It doesn’t matter. Just pick a song.
Ex. If the World Was Ending - JP Saxe & feat. Julia Michaels
Step 2. Figure out the chord progression from a verse or chorus and change the key. If you’re not sure how to do that, you can always capo your guitar or transpose your keyboard.
Ex. original chorus in C#: IV V I vi = F# G# C# A#m
changed to G: IV V I vi = C D G Em
Step 3. Change the tempo and/or time signature. If it’s slow, make it fast. If it’s fast, make it slow. Or if it’s in 4/4 make it in 6/8. If it’s in 6/8 make it in 4/4. You get the idea.
Ex. original is slow in 4/4. I made it faster and in 6/8.
Step 4. Take one word or phrase from the original and find a new context or meaning for it. Use that as a starting point for your new lyrics.
Ex. original lyrics: All our fears would be irrelevant.
new lyrics: Don’t tell me it’s irrelevant cause I’m not over it. No, I'm not over it.
If you’ve moved on then good for you. But, I'm not over it. No, I'm not over it.
Now you have a new song seed! You can either write more or try it again with a different song until you land on something you like.
If you try this, let us know in the comments below and share your lyrics or an mp3. Everyone who does will enter to win 10% on any future workshop or Song Hang.
Happy Writing,
Allie & Bess
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