You don’t need a breakthrough to become a better songwriter.
You just need to get 1% better every day.
The problem? Most songwriters chase big wins. They wait for inspiration to strike, hoping for that one perfect song. But real progress isn’t about sudden flashes of genius. It’s about stacking small improvements consistently—every single day.
The 1% Improvement Rule is simple: Focus on tiny, incremental upgrades to your songwriting process. Over time, these small changes compound into massive results.
Let’s break it down.
1. Write 1% More Every Day
Most songwriters struggle with consistency. They write in bursts, then go weeks (or months) without finishing anything. The solution? Make writing a daily habit.
Here’s how: Set a low bar. Instead of aiming to write an entire song, commit to one line, one rhyme, or one melody. Just a little more than yesterday.
For example, if you write one line today, write two tomorrow. If you write for 10 minutes today, aim for 11 minutes tomorrow. Small wins build momentum, and momentum turns into mastery.
The best part? Over time, this compounding effort makes writer’s block a thing of the past. You won’t need to “find inspiration” because you’ll already be in the habit of creating.
Try this: Open a notebook or voice memo app and write one new line every day for the next week. See what happens.
2. Improve 1% of Your Lyrics Every Edit
Most songwriters think the first draft should be perfect. That’s a mistake.
Great songs aren’t written—they’re rewritten. And the best way to rewrite effectively is to focus on improving just 1% at a time.
Instead of trying to overhaul an entire verse, zoom in on one weak line. Can you make it more vivid? More emotional? More concise?
Action step: Take a song you’ve written and improve just one line today. Tomorrow, pick another. Repeat.
3. Strengthen Your Melodies by 1%
A forgettable melody is a wasted opportunity. You don’t need to rewrite entire songs—just tweak small parts of your melodies to make them stronger.
Start by analyzing your chorus. Does it peak at the right moment? Does it contrast enough with the verse? A 1% change—like extending a note, adjusting a rhythm, or shifting the highest note—can make all the difference.
For example, listen to your melody and ask:
- Does the first note grab attention?
- Can I add a surprising note or pause to make it more engaging?
- Would this line sound stronger if I moved one note up or down?
Small shifts lead to catchier, more memorable melodies.
Try this: Take one song you’ve written and tweak just one note in the melody today. See how it changes the feel of the song.
4. Expand Your Songwriting Vocabulary by 1%
Most songwriters rely on the same words and phrases. That makes songs sound repetitive and predictable.
Fix this by adding just one new word, phrase, or image to your songwriting toolbox every day.
One new word or phrase per day means 365 new songwriting tools in a year. That’s how you go from predictable to poetic.
Here’s what to do: Every day, write down one interesting word or phrase you hear in conversation, a book, or a movie. Challenge yourself to use it in a song.
5. Improve Your Chord Progressions by 1%
Most songwriters stick to the same predictable chords. The problem? Predictable chords = forgettable songs.
The fix: Expand your chord choices by just 1%.
Instead of always playing G - C - D, try adding a minor chord. Or swap in a borrowed chord from another key. Tiny tweaks create fresh, unexpected sounds.
For example, instead of:
G - C - D (Standard progression)
Try:
G - Cmaj7 - Dsus4 (Adds subtle complexity)
Or:
G - Em - C - D (A minor chord for emotional depth)
These small variations make your music stand out.
Action step: Take a song you’ve written and swap out one chord for a variation today. Play around with different voicings. See what happens.
6. Strengthen Your Rhymes by 1%
Weak rhymes kill great songs. If your rhymes are predictable (love/above, heart/apart), your lyrics will feel cliché.
But you don’t need to overhaul everything—just upgrade one rhyme at a time.
A small shift in word choice makes the line more original and emotionally rich.
Try this: Take one song you’ve written and replace just one predictable rhyme with something fresher today.
The Compound Effect: How 1% Adds Up
1% improvement may seem small. But here’s the reality:
- If you improve 1% every day, that’s a 37x improvement in a year (thanks to compound growth).
- If you write just one line a day, you’ll have 365 lines by the end of the year—easily an album’s worth of lyrics.
- If you learn one new chord every week, you’ll know 52 new chords in a year.
That’s how you go from average to exceptional.
Small improvements don’t feel like much in the moment, but they add up to something massive over time.
How to Start Today
- Pick one area to improve—lyrics, melodies, rhymes, chord progressions, etc.
- Make a tiny change today—one line, one chord, one new word.
- Repeat tomorrow—and the next day, and the next.
That’s it.
No waiting for inspiration. No overwhelming goals. Just 1% better, every single day.
Do this, and one day, you’ll look back and realize you’ve written your best songs yet.
