Stuck with a blank page and nothing is really inspiring you? Use the ghost song process. Start with a song you like and build a new one!
Ghost song writing is a type of songwriting exercise that can move you into a new song, and sometimes a new sound that’s very different from the songs you normally write.
The main idea is that you start with a known song and start changing it incrementally, using the original as the template to get your writing in motion.
The key here is changing it. You cannot keep any of the lyric or the melody line. That would be copyright infringement.
Ghost song writing is meant to be a jump starter to create something new.
Once you’re finished, the two shouldn’t sound anything alike.
Two Ways To Write A Ghost Song
Ghost Song – Lyric First
Good song starter if you’ve got nothing.
- Pick a song you like
- Write a new lyric for the entire song (each verse, chorus, bridge) as is
- Now take the new lyric and write new music (e.g., choose tempo, chords from a diff. song)
- Take the new song and focus on it, rewriting as necessary
Ghost Song – Music First
Also a good song starter if you’ve got nothing.
- Pick a song you like
- Write new music for the entire song lyric (all parts)
- Now take the new music and write new lyrics
- Take the new song and focus on it, rewriting as necessary
Take It Outside Your Normal Groove
A singer-songwriter and melody master formerly residing in Houston, Ken Gaines, has a terrific technique to start adding some variety to your melodies: grooves.
He has a regular goal of adding “X new grooves” to his song repertoire each year. This forces him to write melodies in a different way.
Combine some of the below grooves or rhythms with the exercises to really push yourself:
- Samba
- Waltz
- Bossa Nova
- Delta Blues
- Jazz
- Mambo
- Tango
- Classic Country (early 50’s)
- Folk (early 50’s)
Example Of How To Use The Method
(DISCLAIMER: This is a completely made up scenario. I’m not saying anyone actually did this!)
Imagine you’re a couple of songwriters sitting in a room trying to come up with a ballad. You’ve got most of it lyrically, but the chorus is just not popping enough. You’re looking for a catchy chorus that has enough contrast from the verse, has a little pace to it but stays in the pocket when it comes to the “ballad” moniker.
You start with a catchy tune you’ve all been listening to, and layer your lyrics over it. You then decide to go low where it goes high, go high where it goes low, slow it down a lot and remove some of the choppiness in the original melody line – smooth it out.