When we think about creativity, we often imagine wide-open spaces. Limitless possibilities. The freedom to go anywhere, try anything, write whatever we feel. But here’s the catch—too much freedom can paralyze you.
In the world of songwriting, that blank page can feel like a vast desert. And without some kind of signpost or path to follow, we end up going in circles… or worse, going nowhere at all.
That’s where limitations come in—and rather than confining you, they can be your biggest ally.
Focus Breeds Firepower
Let’s face it: there’s an endless number of chords, words, melodies, and song structures out there. But when you deliberately narrow your field of view, you force your creativity to thrive within the boundaries you’ve set.
Imagine trying to write a song in just 30 minutes. No time for second-guessing. No time to fall down the rabbit hole of “Is this any good?” You just create. That urgency strips away the noise and lets you focus on the essentials.
Freedom Through Constraints
Austin Kleon put it beautifully:
“The way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself. It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creative work, limitations mean freedom. Write a song on your lunch break. Paint a painting with only one color. Start a business without any start-up capital. Shoot a movie with your iPhone and a few of your friends. Build a machine out of spare parts. Don’t make excuses for not working — make things with the time, space, and materials you have, right now.”
That quote should be pinned to every songwriter’s wall. The truth is, creativity isn’t about having everything—it’s about doing something with what you’ve got.
Limitations Build Creative Muscles
Working within boundaries isn’t a shortcut—it’s a workout. When you set rules like “no chorus allowed” or “only use major chords,” you’re actually putting your creative muscles through their paces.
It challenges your songwriting brain to innovate within a smaller sandbox. And more often than not, the results surprise you.
Think of it like a puzzle—without the edges, you wouldn’t know where to start.
Productivity Over Perfection
Too many options often lead to endless tweaking. But when you know you’ve got 20 minutes and three chords to write something? You write something. You might not end up with a masterpiece, but you’ll have something to refine, revisit, or even record.
And that’s the difference between talking about writing songs and actually writing them.
A Few Powerful Songwriting Constraints to Try
Need a creative nudge? Try one of these limitations next time you write:
- Use only three chords throughout the whole song.
- Set a timer for 15 minutes and finish a full verse and chorus.
- Write lyrics based on a random image you find online.
- Only write using questions.
- Write a melody using just two intervals.
- Only allow yourself five lines per verse.
- Write a song from someone else’s perspective.
Each constraint is a doorway to a new idea.
From Constraint to Consistency
If you’re building a collection of songs or planning an album, creative constraints can also help build cohesion. Using the same instrumentation, lyrical themes, or production style across multiple tracks can create a unified body of work that feels intentional, not scattered.
In short, limitations don’t limit you—they limit distraction.
Final Thoughts
Songwriting doesn’t always need a wide canvas. Sometimes, the best art is made in a small box. Boundaries aren’t there to hold you back—they’re there to set you free.
So go ahead, draw a line in the creative sand and see what you can make inside it. You might just surprise yourself.
Because as Austin Kleon reminds us: “Don’t make excuses for not working—make things with the time, space, and materials you have, right now.”
