Three Degrees of Separation Mini-Challenge

“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take; and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from that which it was torn.” - T.S. Eliot 

This is one of the many gems of artistic wisdom we’ve found in Austin Kleon’s incredible book, Steal Like an Artist. It’s truly required reading for every artist and you can purchase a copy of it right here. 

Plagiarism is no good. We all know that. But “stealing” elements from other art and re-forming it into something of your own is essential. It’s how we learn to write songs that are as meaningful to us as the ones we love. 

Music doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

There are only 12 notes, after all. Considering how many songs have been written over the course of history with various combinations of those 12 notes, it is nearly impossible to write something truly original.

But when you “steal” from the music you love, shape it into something new and filter it through your heart and your life experiences . . . well then you’ve made something completely unique. 

This 3 Degrees of Separation Mini-Challenge is designed to help you get a starting point for a new song using an existing song as the launch pad.

When you’re done with the exercise, you should have something that sounds uniquely you.

You may hear echoes of the original song in it, but we can’t think of any song that doesn’t contain echoes of the songs that inspired it! Just like you can see bits of a grandparent in your smile, that’s part of the beauty of music. 

“Art is theft.” - Pablo Picasso 

Three Degrees of Separation Mini-Challenge

Step 1. First, pick a verse from a song that you love. Write a new version of that verse copying the form, chords, rhyme scheme, phrasing and possibly even the subject matter! But try not to repeat any exact words from the original version.

Here is an example Bess did using verse 1 of “Naive Melody” by Talking Heads.
(listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon)

Original-

Home is where I wanna be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel numb, burn with a weak heart
Guess I must be having fun

Version 1-
(imitating chords, rhyme scheme, phrasing and rhythm, with new lyrics)

Love is all I want to know
Close my eyes and plug my ears
I give up, float above the noise
Maybe this is all there is

Step 2. Write a new version based on your copy of the original. Try changing up the phrasing, rhyme scheme and the melody. Vary the lyrics and subject matter a little more so it starts to feel like your own creation.

Version 2-
(kept some of the new lyric ideas, changed phrasing, rhythm and melody)

All I want to hear is your heartbeat
So I shut my eyes and I cover my ears
Cause I keep getting lost in the white noise
If I hold you tight will it all disappear

Step 3. Change it up even more by switching instruments, changing the chord progression underneath, singing it in a new key, changing the tempo or trying a new groove or feel underneath it. 

Listen to Bess’s example here. 

And there you have it!

Not only is this a great way to get an idea for a new song, it’s also an excellent learning experience.

By altering a song that you love, you’re really taking a deep dive into the original and understanding how it works from the inside out.

So even if this doesn’t result in a new song, it’s a valuable exercise and that can be repeated over and over when you need some inspiration!

We hope you enjoy this one and please share your results with us if you do it!
Comment below with your lyrics and you’ll enter to win 10% off on a future workshop with us. 

Happy writing,
Allie & Bess