November Songwriting Challenges
Is Thanksgiving so uninspiring as to have nearly 0 notable songs written about it? Its surprising that in this era of capitalist music making no one has come through with a smash hit about Turkey’s that we feel compelled to stream every year. Write something that’ll change Thanksgiving….and the world.
Subvert a cliché. Using a cliché as a title, attempt to pen verses and melodies that will use this cliché in a new or interesting way.
Jack Harlow’s “Glamorous” repurposes a melody from Fergie’s “Glamorous.” Retool the melody of one of your favorite songs to use as the chorus of a new song.
Pick one of the following literary tools to use in one of your songs today: symbolism, irony, alliteration, simile, or metaphor.
Scroll randomly through the photos in your camera roll. Select one to use as inspiration for the song you’ll write today.
Write a song in D Major. Or A Minor. Just pick a specific key before you even get the ball rolling.
Grab a metronome and set a clear and defined tempo. Do not stray from this tempo as you’re writing your song. What happens when you’re locked into a specific tempo?
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” was produced with dynamics in mind. There are moments of loudness as well as moments of quiet. Construct a song that pulls you in with its dynamic changes.
What was the last concert you attended? Write a song for that artist.
Use a blues form to write a song.
