Music — The creative process.

Making music is the ultimate creative process. It’s like writing stories without words, directing movies without a camera, or painting pictures without paint. And the best part is that anybody can use music as a creative tool in the creative process.

It’s not about having talent, knowing music theory, or mastering the technique of playing an instrument. It’s simply about listening carefully and getting inspired by certain elements of music to express or communicate an idea in a more powerful, interesting, or memorable way.

The main question in this process is not only what you want to hear but what you want to see.

Play a song, close your eyes, and you will automatically start to visualize.
Ideas will start popping, and your mind will start solving your creative “problem.”

Quentin Tarantino uses this technique when he writes movies. He gets into his audio room, puts on a record, and starts a listening session. The moment he hears music, he starts having visions of his future movie. In other words, the muse speaks to him.

Musical elements in the creative process.

Not everybody has the same creative process. But every creative process shares some elements of music that can enhance it. If we listen closely, we can apply the following elements of music to any creative process.

1. Tempo

Let’s start with tempo. Ludwig van Beethoven was very strict about tempo in his compositions. He insisted that all of his music is performed in the exact tempo he wrote because the tempo affects the overall feeling, and even a slight change of tempo can completely change the mood of a song.

So try defining the tempo of your composition, video, painting, book, or whatever creative output you are working on.

Tempo is more than just pace. It also defines the way something is performed. For example, “Allegro” does not just mean fast; it also means lively. “Largo” doesn’t mean just slow; it also means broad. Which is a more abstract term, and can lead you through the rest of your creative process.

Is it possible to set the tempo of a painting? Not really. But we can use tempo as a sort of creative question, starting point, guide, or inspiration.

2. Rhythm

Every form of art has rhythm. A pattern of sounds, movements, visuals, or words that create a certain flow. So when you’re looking for inspiration, look for rhythms that fit the tempo you’ve chosen.

Try listening to different styles of rhythm. Experiment with African, Indian, or Latin rhythms, hip-hop, jazz, or electronic music, and see where your mind goes. Listen to the accents and try to translate them to your subject. Pay attention to “ghost notes”. The ones played softly and quietly, see how they relate to the main ones and try using them in your work.

Ask yourself which part is “played” long, and which short. What is accented, and what is not?

Rhythm may also refer to visuals as “timed movement through space.” It unites rhythm with geometry. For example, architects often speak of the rhythm of a building, referring to patterns in the spacing of windows, columns, and other elements of the facade.

3. Silence

One of the most important and powerful elements of music is silence. Which can also be used in all art forms. Static visuals or motion graphics need silence as much as music does. To emphasize the main motive and create a contrast.

Legendary drummer Steve Gadd, one of the most influential drummers of all time, says that music is not just about making sounds. It’s about — making space.

As much as we need time to think, incubate, and sit on our ideas during our creative process, the notes need silence. Here’s a good example that helped me understand the power of silence.

Imagine standing above the Grand Canyon. No traffic, no people. Just air.

Then an eagle flies over you and makes a sound that cuts across that beautiful space.

If you think about it more carefully, it’s the silence that made the eagle’s squawk seem loud.

So let your ideas breathe, reduce the “noise,” and let them stand out.

4. Dynamics

Notes need dynamics to create a stronger emotional link. Gradual or sudden changes in the volume, building and releasing the tension, articulating the tones, and making accents. These tricks can also be applied to the creative process. Try using “crescendo,” “decrescendo,” “piano,” and “forte” as tools to make your artwork more compelling.

In motion graphics, dynamics can be compared to the ease technique. Which makes the animation feel more natural and authentic. Less generic.

Your work can start slowly and suddenly accelerate. Or vice versa. The point is to break the linearity of the creative process and try to produce something unexpected.

Or as Sting put it, music is all about surprise. Which makes his music special and uncopyable.

5. Melody

At the end of the process, it all comes down to melody. In music, it usually conveys the main message and adds color to the piece.

Classical music is probably the best example of how a melody can tell a story without words. It creates an immediate connection between music and visuals. It defines the setting and the vibe. Whether it’s simple or complex, happy or sad, the melody has to be in balance with all the other elements to create harmony. And creating harmony means we are creating beauty.

Miles Davis once made a soundtrack for a movie, playing live in front of a movie screen. He improvised and played a melody inspired by the film sequences projected in the background.

So try finding a soundtrack for your work. A melody that perfectly portrays your concept. Use different tones to inspire your process, just as you would use words to write your story.

Conclusion

Music is inside all people. It is our creative power and creative tool. It can get you in the flow, lead you through your process, serve as a powerful inspiration, and sometimes do all the work for you. You don’t have to be a musician to understand it. Just take a different approach when listening, and pay attention to certain elements of music to enhance your creative process.