Medium Restriction
Write a song using only acoustic instruments (guitar, piano, etc.).
Create a piece using only percussion instruments.
Compose a song with only vocal sounds (beatboxing, humming, etc.).
Use only string instruments (violin, cello, guitar, etc.) for a song.
Write a song using only wind instruments (flute, saxophone, etc.).
Create a song with only electronic sounds from a single synthesizer.
Use only found sounds and objects around your house to create a song.
Write lyrics using only words found in a specific book or article.
Record a song using only analog equipment (tape recorders, vinyl, etc.).
Create a song using only sampled sounds from nature (birds, water, etc.).
2. Time Constraints
Write and record a complete song in one hour.
Compose a melody within 10 minutes, using only the first ideas that come to mind.
Finish writing lyrics for a song in 15 minutes.
Create a full arrangement for a song in one day.
Write and produce a song in a 24-hour period.
Write a new chorus or bridge for an existing song in 20 minutes.
Compose a song during a single lunch break.
Create a rough demo of a song in 30 minutes.
Write a song in real-time while performing it live.
Create a 1-minute song for social media within 30 minutes.
3. Resource Constraints
Produce a song using only a smartphone and free apps.
Write a song using only three chords.
Record a song with a maximum of four tracks.
Create a song using only one microphone.
Write a song with just a guitar and your voice.
Produce a song using only free or open-source software and virtual instruments.
Write a song using only one instrument and one vocal line.
Create a song using only a single drum machine.
Write a song using only your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller.
Produce a song using only sound effects and no musical instruments.
4. Conceptual Constraints
Write a song based on a specific theme, such as "freedom" or "change."
Compose a song from the perspective of an inanimate object, like a tree or a clock.
Write a song inspired by a specific historical event.
Create a song that tells a story in reverse chronological order.
Write a song using only questions in the lyrics.
Compose a song based on a dream you had.
Write a song that describes a painting or photograph.
Create a song that takes place in a fictional world or universe.
Write a song that uses a specific metaphor throughout.
Compose a song that reflects a particular mood or emotion (joy, sorrow, anger).
5. Technological Constraints
Create a song using only one synthesizer plugin.
Record a song with a maximum of eight tracks.
Use only the built-in sounds and effects of a single DAW.
Produce a song using only a single software plugin for all sounds.
Write and record a song without using any digital editing tools.
Create a song using only a drum machine and a synthesizer.
Record a song using only the built-in microphone of your laptop.
Produce a song using only samples from a single sample pack.
Write a song using only MIDI instruments, no audio recording.
Create a song using only vintage or lo-fi recording techniques.
6. Collaboration Constraints
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.
Create a song where each collaborator contributes only 8 bars at a time.
Write a song with a group, where each person adds one line of lyrics at a time.
Produce a song where each collaborator can only use one instrument or sound source.
Collaborate on a song where each person works on it for a set amount of time before passing it on.
Write a song with a partner, alternating writing verses and choruses.
Create a song where each collaborator has to use a different genre or style.
Write a song with someone from a different cultural background, incorporating elements from both cultures.
Collaborate with a visual artist to write a song inspired by their artwork.
Create a song where the lyrics are written by one person and the melody by another, without consulting each other.
7. Structural Constraints
Write a song that follows an unusual structure, such as starting with the chorus or having no repeating sections.
Compose a song that is exactly 2 minutes long.
Create a song with a structure that mirrors a specific form (e.g., sonnet, haiku).
Write a song with alternating time signatures in each section.
Compose a song that builds up layer by layer, adding one new element each time.
Create a song that has a "call and response" structure throughout.
Write a song where the verses and chorus are in different keys.
Compose a song with a specific rhyme scheme or syllable count.
Create a song with a "round" or "canon" structure, where parts overlap.
Write a song that ends with the same line or musical phrase it starts with.
8. Stylistic Constraints
Write a song in a genre you’re not familiar with, like jazz if you usually write pop.
Create a song that blends two different genres, like country and hip-hop.
Compose a song that mimics the style of a specific artist or band.
Write a song that incorporates elements of traditional music from another culture.
Create a song that uses only major chords for a happy, upbeat feel.
Write a song in a minor key for a darker, more somber tone.
Compose a song that includes a specific type of musical ornamentation (e.g., trills, grace notes).
Create a song that switches between two very different styles within the same piece.
Write a song that heavily features a specific musical technique, like fingerpicking or slap bass.
Compose a song that uses a specific scale or mode throughout.
9. Environmental Constraints
Write and record a song in a unique location, like a park or a bathroom, using the sounds available there.
Compose a song that must be performed live in one take, without any overdubs or edits.
Write a song inspired by the sounds and atmosphere of a specific place.
Create a song that incorporates field recordings from your environment.
Compose a song using only instruments or objects found in a specific room or area.
Write a song that reflects the mood or weather of the day you’re writing it.
Create a song that can be performed acoustically in a small space.
Record a song using only natural reverb from the environment (e.g., a large hall, a cave).
Write a song that is influenced by the natural sounds around you (birds, wind, traffic).
Compose a song that is designed to be performed in a specific setting, like a campfire or a rooftop.
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