Creative Constraints - Instructions for becoming creative (not only) in songwriting

This page provides an overview of creative constraints. These are rules that musicians can impose on themselves in order to become more creative. Creative constraints can also be applied to other creative contexts besides songwriting.

Writing song lyrics

Inventing melodies and developing them motivically

Shaping sounds

Develop chord progressions

Working with soundscapes and samples

Further limitations (DeSantis, 2015)

Working with a DAW

Sources & further reading

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The development and delivery of this training course by the Freiburg University of Music and the Freiburg University of Education in cooperation with educators from the ZSL Freiburg is part of the KuMuS-ProNeD project.

The development and creation of the original version of these materials is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth. Further information can be found at lernen.digital. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the European Commission or the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth. Neither the European Union, the European Commission nor the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth can be held responsible for the content.

The logos shown are excluded from the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

This learning offer has been tested and translated by TEAM . Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.