Let’s face it, starting a song can feel like trying to open a locked door without knowing where the key is, or even what kind of key you need. You sit with your instrument, notebook, or DAW open, hoping that inspiration will show up and say something profound.
Sometimes it does. Most times, it doesn’t. At least not right away.
The blank page can be intimidating, but the truth is: you don’t need to know where the song is going to start writing it. You just need a starting point, any starting point. The rest tends to reveal itself along the way.
So if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I even begin a song?” Then this post is for you.
Start with a Title or Concept
Sometimes, all it takes is a compelling phrase or idea that lights something up inside you. A good title is like a lighthouse in the fog, it helps you see where you’re headed. Titles can create a whole world in just a few words.
What to do:
Keep a running list of titles or ideas that strike you, conversations, signs, dreams, anything. When you sit down to write, browse that list. Ask yourself: What kind of story or feeling lives in this phrase?
Examples:
- “Every Day Is a New Day” → Learning to find beauty in the ordinary
- “This Beautiful Mess Called Life” → Embracing chaos as part of the deal
- “The Walking Wounded” → Emotional survival in a disconnected world
Start with Chords or a Riff
If words aren’t flowing, try playing. Let your fingers wander across your instrument with no expectation. Some of the best songs come from just looping a few chords until a mood or melody shows up.
What to do:
Pick a simple chord progression, three or four chords max. Play it repeatedly. Hum along. Make sounds. Sing nonsense. Don’t worry about lyrics yet. Let the emotion lead.
Pro tip: Always record your jams, even the “throwaway” stuff. Sometimes the hook is hiding in that half-mumbled take you didn’t think was anything.
Start with a Melody
Some people hear melody before anything else. That little tune you hum in the shower? That’s gold. A strong melody can carry a song even before the lyrics are solid.
What to do:
Sing freely. Play with pitch, rhythm, and phrasing. Focus on repetition with variation, make it catchy, but not predictable. If it feels like it wants to be repeated, you’re probably onto something.
Start with Lyrics or a Journal Entry
Writers who lean heavily on words can start by treating songwriting like journaling. Don’t worry about rhyme or structure yet. Just write what you’re feeling. Then go back and see what lines stand out.
What to do:
Write a paragraph about something that’s weighing on you. Highlight the most powerful phrases. Can you turn one of those into a chorus? Can you expand the thought into a verse?
This is often where raw honesty comes through. Songs that connect often start with something true.
Start with a Beat or Groove
Especially for rhythm-driven genres like funk, hip-hop, or dance music, the groove can be the heart of the song. It’s what makes people move before they even know what the song is about.
What to do:
Use a beat-making app, drum loop, or even just clap/tap out a rhythm. Let that loop for a while. Then try freestyling melodies or lyrics over the top. Often the rhythm will dictate the phrasing and feel of the whole song.
Start with a Feeling or Story
This is where songwriting turns into storytelling. Sometimes it helps to zoom in on a single moment in time, like a movie scene. You don’t need the whole story yet, just a strong emotional snapshot.
What to do:
Ask: What do I want this song to feel like? Or, What moment do I want to freeze in time? Then write as if you’re painting a picture with words and sound.
Start with a Constraint
Weirdly enough, limits can boost creativity. When there’s too much freedom, it’s easy to stall. Setting boundaries can force you to focus.
Ideas:
- Write a song with only two chords
- Write a chorus first, then write the verses as a backstory
- Write from someone else’s perspective
- Write a song that never uses the word “love,” even if it’s about love
Constraints like this can turn songwriting into a creative puzzle, way less pressure and a lot more fun.
Start with Someone Else’s Song (As a Springboard)
Let’s be very clear here, this isn’t about copying. It’s about learning through imitation and transformation. Taking inspiration from an existing song can help you find your footing, especially when your own ideas feel stuck.
What to do:
- Take the chord progression from a song you like and write a completely different melody or lyric over it.
- Flip the emotional perspective of a song: if theirs is a breakup song, make yours about reconciliation.
- Use the same structure (verse, chorus, bridge) but fill it with your own content.
Think of it as borrowing the scaffolding so you can build your own house.
The Real Trick: Just Start Messy
Here’s the thing: there is no perfect place to start a song. And honestly, that’s the beauty of it.
You don’t have to be clever. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to show up and start. Write something bad. Play something silly. Sing something awkward. Do that enough times, and suddenly, you’re writing something real.
“You can’t edit a blank page.” – Jodi Picoult
“You can’t finish a song that never gets started.” – Every frustrated songwriter ever (me included)
Want to Try It? Here’s a Simple Starter Exercise:
- Pick a title from your notebook (or make one up).
- Write a quick journal-style paragraph about what the title means to you.
- Pick 3 chords and loop them.
- Hum or sing freely over the progression.
- Record the result, even if it’s rough.
Do that a few times a week and you’ll be amazed at how often a song begins to form.
Starting a song isn’t about waiting for divine inspiration, it’s about creating the conditions for it to show up. The more doors you open (emotionally, creatively, musically), the more likely one of them will lead to something worth following.
So however you choose to begin… just begin. That’s the only part you truly control.
