Inspiration for Composition
 

If you write music, what do you use for inspiration? I have been learning a little about music theory, and while I feel I've grown in my knowledge, I can't seem to find anything to inspire me.

Same approach when I need inspiration for both the music I make or the games I make:

Just stop working on your material for a while. Spend time playing interesting games/listening to good music. Explore and don't worry about inspiration. Then it will come on it's own. You can't force a genuine feeling of being inspired to create.

Just go and explore music instead. Maybe even for several weeks.

If you're looking for something more "about" the art of music, then I highly recommend Rick Beato's Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/pegzch

Do you mean for lyrics, or for the music itself? Or, both?

Thank you. This reminds me a quote by Thoreau: "How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live." I have been neglecting to really get out and happen to life lately, so that could be where I'm stuck.

I have run across Rick's channel before, though at the time I was looking for something else, so I'll go back and give him another look. Thank you.

I tend to focus more on strictly instrumental music, but for the purposes of discussion and benefiting the forum, we could certainly talk about inspiration for lyrics as well. Poetry comes easier to me than music.

I second Mic's suggestion, when I try and force myself to come up with music it doesn't end up as good. Listening to a variety of music helps, and eventually I'm sure something will inspire you to come up with something of your own.

Usually the kinds of riffs I come up with vary upon what kind of music I've been listening to lately. When I'm in a creative funk and just can't come up with anything worth keeping while jamming, I usually just take a break or play other songs just to keep in practice. I like having go-to songs to play when I just can't come up with anything, the main one for me being Anthrax's "Caught in a Mosh" with how fun it is on bass.

That Thoreau quote really hits the nail on its head. Creativity is a response to experiences. All sorts of wonderful things might be brewing in the back of your mind without you even knowing, but that's only if you let yourself take in new impressions.
I find that if I don't try to squeeze my brain for ideas, I get all sorts of good ideas at the most random times. I like to keep paper and pen next to my bed, because I sometimes get ideas just before I'm falling asleep.

If you're stuck on what to write, how about doing something like, "OK I'm going to write a jazz-inspired song." And then pick a jazz artist and try to imitate him/her. Or any other genre, or artist. If you can't think of what you want to write, try to imitate something or somebody else, just for the heck of it. Who knows, maybe it'll take you somewhere you never thought you'd go. ;)

:beer:

I do this in examining concepts in music theory, and have tried saying, "I'll write a tango bit like..." or "I'll take that bit from that Billy Joel song and..." While I haven't produced a full composition doing that kind of thing, it does help me understand music, and get a feel for how certain musicians or composers write.

Thank you for the suggestion. It tells me I'm headed down the right track.