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Writer's pictureRobert Daglish

INTENTIONAL LIMITATIONS

 Medium Restriction

  1. Write a song using only acoustic instruments (guitar, piano, etc.).

  2. Create a piece using only percussion instruments.

  3. Compose a song with only vocal sounds (beatboxing, humming, etc.).

  4. Use only string instruments (violin, cello, guitar, etc.) for a song.

  5. Write a song using only wind instruments (flute, saxophone, etc.).

  6. Create a song with only electronic sounds from a single synthesizer.

  7. Use only found sounds and objects around your house to create a song.

  8. Write lyrics using only words found in a specific book or article.

  9. Record a song using only analog equipment (tape recorders, vinyl, etc.).

  10. Create a song using only sampled sounds from nature (birds, water, etc.).

2. Time Constraints

  1. Write and record a complete song in one hour.

  2. Compose a melody within 10 minutes, using only the first ideas that come to mind.

  3. Finish writing lyrics for a song in 15 minutes.

  4. Create a full arrangement for a song in one day.

  5. Write and produce a song in a 24-hour period.

  6. Write a new chorus or bridge for an existing song in 20 minutes.

  7. Compose a song during a single lunch break.

  8. Create a rough demo of a song in 30 minutes.

  9. Write a song in real-time while performing it live.

  10. Create a 1-minute song for social media within 30 minutes.

3. Resource Constraints

  1. Produce a song using only a smartphone and free apps.

  2. Write a song using only three chords.

  3. Record a song with a maximum of four tracks.

  4. Create a song using only one microphone.

  5. Write a song with just a guitar and your voice.

  6. Produce a song using only free or open-source software and virtual instruments.

  7. Write a song using only one instrument and one vocal line.

  8. Create a song using only a single drum machine.

  9. Write a song using only your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller.

  10. Produce a song using only sound effects and no musical instruments.

4. Conceptual Constraints

  1. Write a song based on a specific theme, such as "freedom" or "change."

  2. Compose a song from the perspective of an inanimate object, like a tree or a clock.

  3. Write a song inspired by a specific historical event.

  4. Create a song that tells a story in reverse chronological order.

  5. Write a song using only questions in the lyrics.

  6. Compose a song based on a dream you had.

  7. Write a song that describes a painting or photograph.

  8. Create a song that takes place in a fictional world or universe.

  9. Write a song that uses a specific metaphor throughout.

  10. Compose a song that reflects a particular mood or emotion (joy, sorrow, anger).

5. Technological Constraints

  1. Create a song using only one synthesizer plugin.

  2. Record a song with a maximum of eight tracks.

  3. Use only the built-in sounds and effects of a single DAW.

  4. Produce a song using only a single software plugin for all sounds.

  5. Write and record a song without using any digital editing tools.

  6. Create a song using only a drum machine and a synthesizer.

  7. Record a song using only the built-in microphone of your laptop.

  8. Produce a song using only samples from a single sample pack.

  9. Write a song using only MIDI instruments, no audio recording.

  10. Create a song using only vintage or lo-fi recording techniques.

6. Collaboration Constraints

  1. Collaborate with another musician where one writes the lyrics and the other composes the music, without discussing each other's work until it's done.

  2. Create a song where each collaborator contributes only 8 bars at a time.

  3. Write a song with a group, where each person adds one line of lyrics at a time.

  4. Produce a song where each collaborator can only use one instrument or sound source.

  5. Collaborate on a song where each person works on it for a set amount of time before passing it on.

  6. Write a song with a partner, alternating writing verses and choruses.

  7. Create a song where each collaborator has to use a different genre or style.

  8. Write a song with someone from a different cultural background, incorporating elements from both cultures.

  9. Collaborate with a visual artist to write a song inspired by their artwork.

  10. Create a song where the lyrics are written by one person and the melody by another, without consulting each other.

7. Structural Constraints

  1. Write a song that follows an unusual structure, such as starting with the chorus or having no repeating sections.

  2. Compose a song that is exactly 2 minutes long.

  3. Create a song with a structure that mirrors a specific form (e.g., sonnet, haiku).

  4. Write a song with alternating time signatures in each section.

  5. Compose a song that builds up layer by layer, adding one new element each time.

  6. Create a song that has a "call and response" structure throughout.

  7. Write a song where the verses and chorus are in different keys.

  8. Compose a song with a specific rhyme scheme or syllable count.

  9. Create a song with a "round" or "canon" structure, where parts overlap.

  10. Write a song that ends with the same line or musical phrase it starts with.

8. Stylistic Constraints

  1. Write a song in a genre you’re not familiar with, like jazz if you usually write pop.

  2. Create a song that blends two different genres, like country and hip-hop.

  3. Compose a song that mimics the style of a specific artist or band.

  4. Write a song that incorporates elements of traditional music from another culture.

  5. Create a song that uses only major chords for a happy, upbeat feel.

  6. Write a song in a minor key for a darker, more somber tone.

  7. Compose a song that includes a specific type of musical ornamentation (e.g., trills, grace notes).

  8. Create a song that switches between two very different styles within the same piece.

  9. Write a song that heavily features a specific musical technique, like fingerpicking or slap bass.

  10. Compose a song that uses a specific scale or mode throughout.

9. Environmental Constraints

  1. Write and record a song in a unique location, like a park or a bathroom, using the sounds available there.

  2. Compose a song that must be performed live in one take, without any overdubs or edits.

  3. Write a song inspired by the sounds and atmosphere of a specific place.

  4. Create a song that incorporates field recordings from your environment.

  5. Compose a song using only instruments or objects found in a specific room or area.

  6. Write a song that reflects the mood or weather of the day you’re writing it.

  7. Create a song that can be performed acoustically in a small space.

  8. Record a song using only natural reverb from the environment (e.g., a large hall, a cave).

  9. Write a song that is influenced by the natural sounds around you (birds, wind, traffic).

  10. Compose a song that is designed to be performed in a specific setting, like a campfire or a rooftop.

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Rob Daglish - Mixing Engineer

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