Can’t find new songwriting inspiration? Don’t have any new music material to work on? I know how it feels. It happened to me all the time. But now I found a songwriting technique that always delivers fresh inspiration and good results. Let’s dive into the songwriting technique you’ve never heard of!
What do you get when you combine elements from Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night, System of a Down’s Chop Suey, Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know, and The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights? The answer might surprise you.
The Songwriting Technique In Action
This songwriting technique is inspired by a section from The Songwriter’s Workshop: Harmony by Jimmy Kachulis — a book I highly recommend. Early on in the book, Kachulis introduces the concept of starting a song by combining a chord groove (the rhythm or strumming pattern) from one piece with the chords of another.
This sparked an idea: If you can mix chord grooves and chords from different songs, why not extend the concept to melody notes and rhythmic patterns? And, as a cherry on top, what if you pull these elements from songs that are drastically different in style?
The Experiment
In preparation for a session for my Today, Tomorrow, Everyday Creative program, I decided to test this idea using four wildly different tracks:
- Chord groove: Last Friday Night by Katy Perry
- Chords: Chop Suey by System of a Down
- Melody rhythm: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye
- Melody notes: Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
Here’s how it all came together:
Step 1: Chord Groove from Last Friday Night
I started by transcribing the chord progression and rhythm from Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night.
Step 2: Chords from Chop Suey
Next, I analyzed the intro chord progression from Chop Suey. Combining these two elements gave me a solid harmonic foundation.
Step 3: Melody Rhythm from Somebody That I Used to Know
For the melodic rhythm, I turned to the iconic xylophone intro of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know. It’s instantly recognizable and straightforward.
Step 4: Melody Notes from Blinding Lights
Finally, I transcribed the melody pitches from the chorus of Blinding Lights. Serendipitously, this choice proved to be a lucky one, as the melody fit the chord progression perfectly, being in the same key.
The Result
When I layered everything together, this is what it sounded like:
It’s not the next mega-hit (yet), but it’s a great starting point. The extreme differences between the songs meant some adjustments were needed, which is to be expected.
Why Choosing Simpler Elements Works Best
Using simpler musical elements has a big advantage: they’re easier to change and adjust. If something doesn’t fit right away, you can:
- Change note durations
- Add tone repetitions
- Repeat rhythmic patterns
- Adjust chord durations and rhythms
This flexibility allows you to transform the material into something unique and original.
Ready to Take Your Creativity Further?
As a musician and educator, I’ve been helping people unlock their creative potential for years. If you want to finish your compositions, grow as a musician, or explore exercises like this, book a session. I’ve recently opened new time slots in my teaching schedule.
Also, consider joining my Today, Tomorrow, Everyday Creative program, where I’ll guide you through creative exercises like this one and more. Together, we’ll enhance your skills and spark new ideas.