Where can I get inspiration for writing songs?

Hey everyone. I hope you had a great weekend. There’s been quite a few students asking about where to get inspiration from for writing songs and lyrics. This is something for everyone, because we all stumble into the proverbial writer’s block from time to time. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just start writing about how you don’t know what to write about. Then, if that fails you, pick something that happened in your day and write about that.

I’m a stickler for using my signal lights when driving and get very irked when others decide to keep secrets and not tell others where they’re going. This sparked a topic for me to write a song about that’s pretty simple, relatable, and a is combination of fiction and reality.

For this song, we’re going to use the building blocks of a blues progression, sticking only to the 1(I)-4(IV)-and 5(V) chords in the key of E major. We’re going to be putting a b7 on these from time to time, so let’s spell them out:

• E7 – E G# B D
• A7 – A C# E G
• B7 – B D# F# A

Now that we have our topic and our chords to use, let’s put together some lyrics and play through a 12 bar blues a few times to see what we can come up with.

Lyrics

People keepin’ secrets every day
Hidin’ truths not doin’ what they say
Not actin’ like they’re supposed to anywhere
I guess it’s true some people really do not care

About them signal lights, they’re turnin’ right, when they say they’re goin’ straight
Simple signal lights, when they turn them on, it’s always far too late
Oh them signal lights, all the night, not doing what they say
Who am I kiddin’? They won’t use them in the day

Waitin’ to pull out and you’re waitin’ all day long and
When they finally come up near they’re turnin’ right there all along
You rip up into traffic and to your dismay
You didn’t use your signal light and ended someone’s day

Signal lights, they’re turnin’ right, when they say they’re goin’ straight
Simple signal lights, when they turn them on, it’s always far too late
Oh them signal lights, all the night, not doing what they say
Who am I kiddin’? They won’t use them in the day

Signal lights, they’re turnin’ right, when they say they’re goin’ straight
Simple signal lights, when they turn them on, it’s always far too late
Oh them signal lights, all the night, not doing what they say
Who am I kiddin’? They won’t use them in the day

Signal lights, they’re turnin’ right, when they say they’re goin’ straight
Simple signal lights, when they turn them on, it’s always far too late
Oh them signal lights, all the night, not doing what they say
Who am I kiddin’? They won’t use them anyways

Let’s give a listen:

I ended up breaking off from the traditional 12 bar blues framework but decided to keep the same chords. The progression goes like this:

Verse: E – A – E – A – B
Chorus: A – E – A – B
Verse 2: A – E – A – B

This is a very basic track with examples of simple songwriting techniques as well as blues song variations. The vocals have a small harmony pretty much the whole way through which is used to add a little colour to the overall sound. It’s also a good example showing that you don’t need any kinds of advanced techniques or anything to put out a little song. The solo is just simply playing some chords rhythmically with a touch of distortion. This is just a fun song about people not using their signal lights.

If you’re struggling with anything from finding topics to write about to constructing progressions and melodies, feel free to contact me with questions or to book a package of lessons, or book your own single lesson to get some help over a hurdle or plateau. Everything is always better and easier when we get a little help. Even if that help is just being kind to ourselves and allowing ourselves some patience and understanding.

Thank you so much for your time and I hope you learned a thing or two and had a little chuckle or even one of those little laughs where you subtly exhale out of your nose.

All the best and take care,

– Matt