Write on Something New: How a Different Instrument Can Transform Your Songwriting

Photo Credit: Carlos Barquero Perez (iStock)

Many of us fall into familiar patterns because we reach for the same instrument every time we sit down to write. The chords fall under our fingers, the melodies move in predictable directions, and before long, we’ve written yet another song that sounds like the last one.

Switching things up—even just for one session—can completely change your creative perspective. Whether you’re a guitarist trying piano, a pianist exploring ukulele, or you’re experimenting with virtual instruments, writing on a new instrument can spark ideas you’d never have found otherwise.

🎵 In We Write Songs this month, our community challenge is to write a song on a new instrument. If you’re a member, click here and go check it out — and see what fresh ideas it unlocks for you.✨

Break Your Habits (and Your Go-To Chords)

Every instrument has its own logic—its own shapes, voicings, and ways of encouraging you to move. The chords you naturally gravitate towards on guitar might feel totally different on piano. A ukulele, with its smaller range and open tunings, invites you to think in simpler, more melodic ways.

When you try writing on a new instrument, you interrupt your habits. You stop relying on the same finger patterns or strumming rhythms and start responding instinctively to what feels and sounds good. And here’s the secret: even if you can barely play it, that’s often when the magic happens. A bit of awkwardness leads to happy accidents—fresh chord progressions, unexpected melodies, and new emotional textures.

Hear the Song Differently

The tone and texture of an instrument can transform how a song feels. The same lyric can feel intimate on an acoustic guitar, cinematic on piano, or playful on ukulele.

Each instrument brings its own personality:

• Piano opens up harmonic possibilities and lush chord colours.

• Guitar invites rhythmic interplay and percussive energy.

• Ukulele suggests lightness, space, and simplicity.

Sometimes the “wrong” instrument for a song turns out to be exactly what it needs. You might uncover a hidden groove or find the emotional tone that finally makes the lyric click.

Shift the Writing Process

Writing on a new instrument naturally slows you down—in the best possible way. Because you’re less confident, you listen more closely. You make deliberate choices. Each note, chord, and lyric becomes intentional rather than automatic.

It also creates natural limitations, which can be surprisingly freeing. When you don’t have endless options at your fingertips, you focus on what really matters—the emotion, the melody, the story. Those boundaries help quiet the noise and reduce the overwhelm that can sometimes creep in when you write.

This slower, more mindful process can be a powerful way to break through creative blocks. It reconnects you with curiosity—the joy of discovery that often gets lost when you’ve been writing for years. It can also help you write more instinctively, letting the music lead rather than overthinking the next line.

Practical Ways to Try It

You don’t have to go out and buy a new instrument to shake things up.

Try one of these ideas:

• Borrow or rent an instrument from a friend or music shop.

• Explore digital versions in Logic, GarageBand, or BandLab.

• Change tunings or use a capo to create new chord shapes.

• Re-write an old song using a different instrument and see how it changes.

• Swap instruments with a co-writer or student just for fun—you might both learn something new.

  
  

The goal isn’t to master the instrument, but to rediscover the sense of play that fuels creativity.

Final Thoughts on Writing on a New Instrument

Writing on a new instrument isn’t just about learning fresh chord shapes or tones—it’s about rekindling curiosity. When you set aside perfection and lean into play, you open the door to real discovery.

I see this every day when I teach children. Even when they only know a few notes, they dive straight into creating. They don’t question whether it’s “right” or “good”—they just explore. As adults, we can learn a lot from that. When we stop trying to get everything right, we open the door to genuine discovery—and often find our most authentic ideas waiting there.

💬 Over to you!

Have you ever tried writing on a new instrument? How did it change your songwriting process—or the kind of songs you ended up creating? Tell us in the comments below — we’d love to hear what you discovered.

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