- Listen to a variety of music - not just your favourite band. Observe how different genres arrange and develop musical ideas. - Write away from your instrument. This means that a limited understanding of an instrument won’t restrict melodies. Walk around and sing out whatever comes. It’s often a great place to start a song. - Find new chord shapes - often inspires fresh melodies. Buying a chord book will help. - Try new tunings on a guitar - DADGAD, Drop the bottom E to D. - Try a cut capo. - Play along with a recording - don’t copy it, but often it’s a great starting point to find inspiration. - Write along to a grove - get some loops and sing along to them. - Try writing in new keys - if stuck on a song try changing the key. - Take some time out - song writing comes in seasons. Sometimes we need to take a break and chill. Get inspired - read, pray, walk, watch films etc - Pray for inspiration Handy Tools For Song Writing - Rhyming Dictionary - Great way of finding lyrics that rhyme. E.G. Praise - daze, phase, gaze, haze, maize, raze, blaze, craze, stays, amaze, erase, sideways, mayonnaise, Bolognese!! The possibilities are endless. - Dictionary - Important to know what the words mean. Might inspire other ideas. - Thesaurus - A great way to find different and interesting words. Can keep things fresh. - Bible Concordance - Can open up other lyrical ideas. Adds more fuel to the fire. - Different biblical translations - The Message, NIV, KJV, RSV - Recording device - (mini-disc, mobile phone, laptop, Dictaphone etc…) Make sure you have some way of storing song ideas. Can be very annoying when you forget a great melody. - Journal - to note down any lyrical ideas, any pictures, concepts, images. Carry it around with you at all times