A♣ Jam it out

A♣ Ace of Clubs in The Rock Songwriter’s Deck: 52 Ways to Write a Song

The Ace of Clubs reminds us of a time-honored way to write a new song: just come up with something while you're jamming! Improvise with an instrument, while singing out loud, and if you're lucky the beginnings of a new song will emerge.

Nonsense lyrics are fine while you're jamming — the sillier the better. Just keep trying things until something grabs you. At any point the chords, notes, and rhythms could suddenly click into place and emerge as the chorus of your newest song.

Keep the tape recorder running, to make sure your ideas don't slip away before you have a chance to write them down.

For extra fun, jam with your whole band. If a song emerges while the band is jamming together, it's sure to be a strong number for your live shows, because it's an authentic expression of the band's natural style.

Jam-inspired songs often have strong, appealing energy, but they might start out a bit lacking in details. Don't worry — you can add those details as you revise and refine the song. If the spirit is right from the start, everything else can be worked out.