Guide · Songwriting

Songwriting prompts: 36 ways to start a song

A songwriting prompt is a small push that gets you writing: a first line, an object, a rule. Pick one, set a ten minute timer, and write without stopping. You are looking for one line you want to keep, not a finished song.

Updated 20 Oct 2026

First lines

1. "The last time I saw you..."
2. "Nobody told me..."
3. "I still have your..."
4. "It was already too late when..."
5. "Everyone says..."
6. "If I could go back to..."

Objects and places

1. Write about an object in your pocket.
2. Describe a room you grew up in.
3. Write from the point of view of a street at night.
4. Pick a place you will never go back to.
5. Write about a song on the radio in a car.
6. Describe the view from your window right now.

Constraints

1. Write a verse with no rhymes.
2. Write a chorus of only five words.
3. Use only three chords.
4. Write the song in one take.
5. Write a verse where every line starts with the same word.
6. Write a song in under ten minutes.

Points of view

1. Write as someone saying goodbye.
2. Write as the person who left.
3. Write to your younger self.
4. Write as a friend watching from the side.
5. Write as someone who has not told anyone yet.
6. Write to someone you cannot reach.

Games

1. Open a book at random and use the first line.
2. Take a phrase you overheard today.
3. Write a title, then the song that goes with it.
4. Change one word in a famous phrase.
5. Take a chord progression you know and write a new melody.
6. Pick two unrelated words and connect them.

How to use a prompt

• Set a timer. Ten minutes, no editing.
• Keep the best line. Throw the rest away.
• Build around it. Make that line the title or the chorus. See song title ideas.
• Record it. Sing the line to see if it has a melody.

Common questions

How do I get started if I have writer's block?

Use a prompt and a timer. Write badly for ten minutes and keep one good line.

How often should I use prompts?

As often as you like. Some writers find a short daily habit useful.

Can a prompt become a real song?

Yes. Many songs start as a line from a prompt.

Should I use all the prompts?

No. Pick the one that sparks something.

Where can I find more ideas?

See the 100 song ideas guide.