Writer’s block is a common issue for musicians, and it’s like pressing “pause.” This slight issue can hit at any point in the creative process, whether you’re a musician or not. Getting over it may be a long process, but we’re here to help you through it.

In this article, we’ll give you a few tips on how to get past writer’s block and start making music!

Check Your Gear

Here’s a situation you might be familiar with: You’ve decided to skip the lyrics and try some chords first. So you pick up your guitar, set up your audio interface, and get strumming. You record a few measures, then listen to the playback. But there’s too much interference in the recording to make something workable.

One look at your trusty audio interface shows you the problem: It’s old and worn-out! Not to worry, because an audio interface upgrade is completely normal. Your audio interface and other tools are essential for making music, so it would be ideal to check them for any age-related problems. Functional gear is essential to make something worth listening to!

Slow Changes

One of the more insidious issues of writer’s block is how long it can take to pass. The longer it lasts, the more time you have to start questioning your own musical abilities. But before getting to that point, try revisiting your main musical inspirations.

Any musician will take inspiration from somewhere, and it’s advisable to write what you know. So try this exercise out: Take one of your favorite pieces from your favorite artists, and break it down. Chords, melody, verse, bridge. Change something small from one of the parts, then play the song again.

Maybe you changed the chords earlier. This time try changing the speed of the tempo, and add that to your new chords. As you keep going, the song will eventually become unrecognizable from its original form, and you’ve made a sort of homage to your favorite artist. Now you’ve made the song your own!

Work Piecemeal

One thing that holds songwriters back is the idea of creating a song entirely from scratch. It feels like trying to take on a mountain. But no one says you have to start and finish a song in the same sitting, so don’t look at it like that!

Break up your creative process a bit. Instead of setting aside a few hours to write a few verses, write a line or two in a few minutes. Then you can get back to it the next time you’re free. Working on your song piece-by-piece will let you tweak it as you go along and give yourself time to look at it from a more objective point of view. With more time to think and time away from the song, you might find yourself better able to write and finish the process.

Keep At It

Just like any other skill, writer’s block can be overcome with consistent practice. One of the root causes of writer’s block is the pressure you subject yourself to in order to sound incredible. However, no one’s going to start out as a virtuoso. Even masters of the craft have off days, so why can’t you?

If you feel as if you’re not making progress for today, stop for now. Don’t force yourself if nothing’s happening. Revisit your projects at a later time with fresh eyes, and maybe you’ll be able to make something with a new perspective.

Get Some Distance

Some songwriters hedge their bets on a single song and refuse to let go, even when it’s slowing down their process. You don’t have to stay with a song if it’s not going anywhere. Drop your half-finished chorus first and take a walk. Start another song while you’re at it.

Don’t let the idea of a single song consume all your waking hours, because you’ll end up prolonging your writer’s block. Try to get away from that one beastly song and create something else that’s small in the meantime. After spending some time on a different project, come back to your first song. Hopefully you’ll have the inspiration and clarity you need to finish it.

Change Spots

This tip is specifically for when you have most of a song but can’t quite seem to finish it. You’ve got every verse written down and the melody worked out, but the arrangement has you in a bind. Try moving what you’ve designated as the “chorus” into where the “verse” should be.

You might find that the song just flows better this new way. Of course, these different parts will be different lengths, so you might have to do some cutting down after the moving. But the song will change one way or another, and you might prefer the new arrangement!

Write Free of Judgment

There’s a concept from literature that’s applicable here: “The Author is Dead.” Instead of reading a work and trying to find a great meaning that the author has sprinkled in, look at it through your own interpretation as the reader.

Now we can take this idea and move it to music. Instead of scrutinizing everything about your song as you write it, get the chords down first, or the melody, or the first few lines. Once it sounds good to you as a listener first and a writer second, then you can continue to build on it.

The main idea here is to let yourself put some pen to paper first instead of judging everything as it comes. Your writer’s block might be caused by how you look at your own work. So try not to judge yourself too harshly.

It may be difficult, but try to look at your writer’s block separately from your creative ability, and don’t let the struggles you’re having with this song get you down. Writer’s block isn’t a sign that you’re incompetent; It just means you’re going through a slight rough patch. You’ll get through it eventually.

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