Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
What’s better than a song prompts list of “more things” to get your brain working and go somewhere you didn’t imagine?
These prompts can help generate some song or poem starters you can relate to quickly and easily. You’ll spend less time trying to manufacture a scene, characters or circumstances, and get right into the writing!
Best for: writing lyrics development.
Tips To Get You Started:
Next Step:
It can be something as simple as verse/chorus/verse/chorus/chorus or verse/verse/verse. You don’t have to stick with it – but it will give you a framework so you can focus on the lyrics.
The Music:
Choose some chords you’re comfortable with to start. You can always change them later as you work through the melody and create variations.
Try not using an instrument and simply sing into a voice memo app. You’ll find the chords later. This will allow you to create something that is not restricted to what you know how to play.
Eleven More Things Song Prompts – Select and Write:
Find a quiet spot and focus!
| 1 | Things that make you late |
| 2 | Things in detective novel |
| 3 | Things that happen early |
| 4 | Things that come come in cans or boxes |
| 5 | Things that come in 3s or pairs |
| 6 | Things you can see from a car or bus window |
| 7 | Things you do not deserve / or conversely deserve |
| 8 | Things in the glove box |
| 9 | Things you’ll never get right |
| 10 | Things at a camp site |
| 11 | Things that make you smile / or conversely cry |
Song Prompt Example: Things That Work
OK, so Guy Clark changed “things” to “stuff” and never actually used a prompt – but, this is a great example of how a “thing” or “stuff” prompt could turn into a great song. There’s no better song about an old blue shirt.
Here’s my favorite version of Guy Clark’s “Stuff That Works” from Texas singer-songwriter Jack Ingram: