How To Find Inspiration

This week on Tunehoney, we'll be discussing how to find inspiration for a chiptune composition.

Composing a chiptune is no different from writing a story or painting a picture. In each case, an artist starts with an idea and a blank canvas. Any artist's goal, really, is to find a way to translate their idea into their medium of choice as effectively as possible. 

In that case, there are a two equally critical steps to the creative process: creating an idea, and translating the idea.

We'll learn more about translating an idea using our artists' tools (chiptune trackers and some knowledge of music theory) in future posts. For now, let's start with the basics and find some ways to create an idea or, in other words, learn how to find inspiration.

Method 1: Watch, Look, and Listen

This one's easy. Observe what other people have created.

To find inspiration, simply watch your favorite movies, play your favorite games, and listen to your favorite music. You'll know when inspiration hits.

As beginners, don't be afraid to borrow ideas from your favorite artists, and don't fret over originality too much. 

Take this tune.

It's a cover of Stars of Track and Field by Belle and Sebastian, and an early FamiTracker project of mine. 

Every time I listened to the original song, I imagined it would make a great overworld theme for an NES platformer. It's wholly unoriginal, but I had fun making it and learned a little more about chiptunes in the process.

So cover songs, remix songs, sample movies, look at art, and do whatever it takes to get you creating.

Remember: if you're writing down music, you're making progress.

Method 2: Find a Concept

This one's a bit more abstract than the last, but can also lead to more original compositions.

Another way to find inspiration is to take a concept and use it as inspiration.

"A concept?" you say. "But that sounds terribly vague. A 'concept' could be anything."

And to that, I answer: Yes, a concept can be anything.

Let's look at some examples:

• Happiness
• A clumsy polar bear cub
• Rude waitstaff
• The ever-expanding, infinitely-unknowable cosmos
• Jerry Seinfeld's white tennies
• A Sunday's trip to grandmummy's

Of course, the list is potentially endless.

As an inspiration exercise, open your text editor of choice and start jotting down some concepts. Run with the first one that makes you feel something -- a chuckle, a whiff of nostalgia, a tinge of sadness, a hint of arousal.

And if you can't do that, feel free to leave a Tunehoney comment and I'll shoot you back a sweet concept. 

Remember: if it makes you feel something, you're making progress.

Method 3: Try Something New

This is the last one, and likely the most difficult.

If you're having trouble finding inspiration and the above methods haven't worked, try doing something new.

Inspiration can come from a change of environment -- whether physical, social, or mental. 

• Take a walk to somewhere you don't usually go 
• Talk to someone new 
• Message an old friend on Facebook 
• Look through a highschool yearbook 
• Take it one step further and go on a vacation

At the end of the day, inspiration comes from living life and having experiences. Don't get hung up on the 'idea' itself; live life and let the idea come to you.

Remember: if you're living life, you're making progress.

Works Cited

Murdoch, Stuart (1996 Nov 18). Stars of Track and Field [Belle and Sebastian]. On If You're Feeling Sinister [Audio CD]. Ca Va Studios, Glasgow: Jeepster Records.