How to Get New Ideas For Your Next Song

How long has it been since you last listened to music?

When was the last moment you listened to music with intension? The fact is that the majority of us listen to music in a passive manner. We conceive of it as entertainment, a background music to our life while we concentrate on something. Listening to music, on the other hand, may be a fantastic source of information and inspiration for artists. All of this, though, is only possible if we practice active listening.

What is the definition of active listening?

The definition of active listening is simple: it is what happens when you only listen. Consider it like going to a university class: you go at a specific time, take your laptop to write notes, and plan on spending the next hour or so learning. Music that is actively being listened to should be regarded in the same way.

Active listening recommendations everyone's style of learning and interests are different, the speaker recalls may be useful to remember when you try out active listening for the very first time.

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Minimize all possible sources of distraction:

The aim is to block out as much background noise as possible so that you can concentrate on the music. Give other people advance notice so they don't rush into your room in the middle of your listening session. Turn off your laptop, lower the brightness, and close your eyes if necessary.

Use high-resolution music:

Most streaming providers reduce audio, making it difficult to differentiate between separate parts.

Use microphones or headphones:

 Use a good set of sound headphones or microphones will allow you to focus entirely on the music.

Play music that you enjoy:

Starting by replicating your favorites is the greatest approach to develop your own unique sound, so listen to the music you already know and love.

Listen to a variety of music:

Fans of those styles will definitely take notice when you purposefully find aspects from multiple genres and blend them in creative ways.

 Pay attention to one aspect at a time:

Pick only one element or equipment to study and listen to the entire song with that aspect as your only focus.

Listen as if you're a reviewer:

The songs you chose for this exercise are likely to be some of your favorites, you must think like a critic in order to truly improve your active listening abilities.

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Make a list:

Each song you actively listen to has a wealth of information, but if you don't write it down, you'll forget a lot of it. You can put down your analysis of each aspect, thoughts for what you'd like to add in your own music, or a combination of the two. 

What and how to Pay Attention:

This is mostly decided by what you want to get out of your active listening session, what you think you're already excellent at, and what you want to improve. However, if you aren't as skilled at creating musical transitions, you might want to pay closer attention to the song's sounds to see what you can take. If you're unsure where to begin, take the following suggestions:

The general environment:

Consider whether a particular instrument, chord progression, or rhythm is responsible for the mood, and what you may do to generate a similar impact with your own song. Consider the tone or atmosphere of the music.

Rhythm

Consider where the rhythm switches during the song, how it is done, and what influence it has on the music. Determine which instruments contribute the most to the rhythm—are they common or unusual?

Chords and key:

If you like, you may name the chords and the key. Listen to the chords in the song to see if there are any unusual or pinched chords. Take note of any changes in the chord sequence or the songs key.

Instrumentation:

Make an effort to recognize each instrument and listen to their unique lines. Are there any instruments that you think you might employ in your own production?

Mix:

If you can't think of anything to compare it to, try listening to music for a few seconds. You'll probably notice how different they're blended. What role does the mix have in the song's mood and energy? 

Song structure:

If the song's structure isn't very distinctive, consider what you could do to make it more fascinating. Consider the song's structure. What role does it play in the song's narrative?

Melody:

Consider why the tune gets stuck in your mind in the first place—what makes it attractive or enjoyable? Pay attention to the melody sung by the singer if the song has one. 

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Technique:

If the song includes live instruments, pay attention to how they're performed. Can you use this as motivation to practice your own instrument in the future?

Harmonies:

Consider how the harmonies, whether instrumental or vocal, add to the song's attractiveness.

Lyrics:

What narrative are the lyrics telling if the music has lyrics? If you can't think of anything exceptional in the lyrics, choose a line and consider how you may improve it.

Take everything you've learnt into practice:

Active listening is only half of the fight when it comes to analyzing music. Put down the headphones and take up your instrument once you've listened to a song with a critical ear and taken notes.