6 Ways to be a More Creative Musician in 2017
As a musician, few things are more important than developing our own creativity. Our ability to write meaningful songs, to construct inspiring instrumentals, or to find innovative ways of adding post-production nuances depends on our ability to think outside the box and find new, unique sounds. Here are 6 ways you can up your musical creativity this year.
1. Write on an instrument that you don’t usually play.
We often get into musical ruts, as we depend on the muscle memory that we’ve formed on our instruments. Many of our songs, many of our solos, and many of our mixes end up sounding the same (for better or for worse), because we keep going back to what we know. Try mixing it up! If you’re a guitarist, try writing your next song on piano. If you’re a songwriter, try writing an instrumental that still conveys a story. If you’re a producer, try a new sound library that you haven’t used before. Putting yourself into a new situation will force you to be a creative problem solver.
2. Get better at what you do play.
One of the most memorable master-classes I’ve ever attended was by jazz pianist Benny Green. Benny is one of the hardest-swinging, most burning pianists out there. He was asked during this master class what the next step is in his musical journey, and his answer amazed me. He wanted to be a greater technician on his instrument. He said that he has all sorts of ideas in his head that he can’t get out, because his hands and muscle memory can’t keep up. Woah! So, don’t let your lack of technical ability on your instrument or knowledge of your DAW hold you back!
3. Listen to music that is new to you.
This is a simple one — get out of your comfort zone! Listen to a genre of music that doesn’t naturally appeal to you, but listen to it with open ears. Listen for nuances, the grooves, the musical phrasing, the chord progression, the instrumentation…whatever catches your ear. Take the best ideas of the genre and brainstorm how you can apply it to your own music.
4. Have a jam session — but listen to another band mate more than you listen to yourself.
Hold a no-agenda jam session with some of your friends…but don’t focus on yourself! Let your ear wander around the room and try to lock in with new things:
* What sort of range is the keyboard playing in his or her right hand?
* How might you change what you’re playing based off of the rhythm pattern of the bass guitar?
* How might you change what you’re playing based off of the rhythm pattern of the bass guitar?
* What is the drummer’s non-dominant foot doing?
* When is the vocalist breathing?
* What is the picking pattern of the guitarist?
5. Pseudo-transcribe your favorite artist.
One of my favorite things to do is pseudo-transcribe. Let me explain. Imagine you just went to a concert to hear your favorite guitarist of all time. The venue, however, was very strict about not allowing recording devices. Mid-concert, your favorite guitarist plays the most incredible, creative, inspiring riff you’ve ever heard…but you have no way of recording that exact moment. So, you try to burn it to your memory. You listen intently, focus on every note, and you hum the riff to internalize it.
Then, when you get home two hours later, you pull out your guitar and start trying to figure out what you heard. But, unless you have a photographic memory, chances are good you won’t be able to recall that riff exactly, note-per-note. Instead, you end of up transcribing the impression that this riff had on you. You recall the general idea without the specifics, and in turn you end up personalizing the riff. It’s now a part of your own musical vocabulary!
6. Learn music theory and develop your ear.
The more you know about musical concepts, and the more quickly and accurately you can connect your ear to your brain, the more creative you can be. Think about being a poet — the more words you know, the more innovative and intricate your rhymes and stanzas become. Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can do with a limited vocabulary.
When it comes to music, the more tools you have in your toolbox, the better. You can learn about which chords tend to go together, so you know when to break that tendency for maximum impact. You can apply less-often used scales to form inventive melodies. You can dive into chord structures that broaden the harmonic landscape of your music. There are endless possibilities!
I created a website called Corridor, and I believe it is an incredible way to gain musical knowledge and skills! You’ll learn and develop your knowledge about music theory, learn how to play by ear, and how to visualize music on a keyboard. I would love for you to make Corridor a part of your musical journey this year. I believe that using our program will help you become a more creative and skilled musician. And at just $8.99 a month, Corridor is an extraordinarily affordable and cost-effective way of investing in yourself and your musical creativity. I honestly believe you will love it.
We have a free 7-day trial, so there’s no risk if you don’t like it. Click here to give it try!
Invest in yourself and try new things this year! Think outside the box, hone your craft, and here’s to a creative 2017!
About the author
Dan Musselman is a co-creator of Corridor, has earned a ph.d. in music composition, and is a professional keyboardist. He has written five music textbooks, is the music director for The Voice finalist Kat Perkins, and has released four albums under his name.
