I wanted to share something that’s been a game-changer for me lately. I’m no expert – very far from it – but I’ve gathered this advice from many sources in the songwriting universe, and it’s actually helped me finish more songs.
You know how it goes. You’re scrolling through forums, asking about the best gear, which DAW to use, or hunting for that perfect VST. I’ve been there, paralyzed by all the choices. But then I heard this simple idea (can’t remember where, probably a mix of advice from all over): just make a decision and move on.
Sounds too easy, right? But it’s been huge for me. Instead of agonizing over chord progressions or spending hours on synth presets, I’ve been trying to just pick something and keep going.
The cool thing is, it’s not just about making one decision. It’s about making lots of them, over and over. I’ve started to notice that, like anything else, this decision-making muscle gets stronger with practice. It’s kind of like how playing golf every day makes you better at golf, or how consistent bench pressing leads to lifting more weight.
Your ability to make quick, confident decisions in songwriting is no different. By repeatedly flexing your music composition decision-making skills, you’re bound to improve over time. I’m not churning out mega hits or anything, but I can feel myself getting a bit faster and more confident with each song I work on. I’m sure men and women much more accomplished than me in the world of music have said the same thing.
I’m still learning, still making plenty of mistakes. But I thought I’d share this in case anyone else is feeling stuck like I was. Maybe give it a try? Challenge yourself to make quick decisions, and keep at it. Who knows, you might surprise yourself with how much you improve.
Remember, when you go to the gym and do your first sets of bench press, you’re not going to magically have huge muscles, it takes time. If you decide (which would be your first decision in this quest) to do this, remember that and work through your natural instinct to nit-pick and demand perfection. Just like building muscle, building your decision-making skills in songwriting is a process. You might not see results immediately, but stick with it, and over time, you’ll likely notice improvement and more completed songs.
So lately, I’ve been pushing myself: when I sit down to write, I make quick decisions. Any chord, any drum pattern, whatever lyric pops up first. It’s not always great, but it’s something. And each time, it gets a little easier.