Exercise

Step 1: Choose an app that is convenient for recording new ideas, e.g. [untitled], a voice recorder. Whenever a melody, chord progression, harmonic movement, rhythm, or musical phrase comes to you, capture it immediately. It might happen while you’re writing, listening to music, walking, driving, waking up, or simply going about your day.​

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​Step 2: Don’t worry about whether the idea is complete or whether you know exactly where it belongs in a song. Record yourself humming, singing, playing the chords, or describing the idea in your own words. If you can’t record it, write down whatever you can remember about it.

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Step 3: Make a habit of capturing these ideas as they appear. Even a short melodic phrase or a simple chord progression can become the foundation for an entire song later on. Whenever you feel stuck or need inspiration, return to your collection and explore the ideas you’ve gathered. Think of it as your personal library of musical building blocks: a place to return to whenever you need a melody, chord progression, or new direction to explore.

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Source

Blume, J. (2008) Six Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs. 3rd edn. New York: Billboard Books.