Ask a Different Question

I've touched upon this in my audio podcast in the past, but this morning I was composing and reached a bit of a problem. I wondered whether the chord I had was harmonically "correct" or "the best chord" to use.

But I quickly changed the question to "what kind of texture do I want here?" And that helped immensely.

Sometimes, when you get stuck, try asking a different question. Do I want more rhythm? More color? Do I want a thicker texture or a lighter one? Am I building toward something or am I coming back down?

Asking a different question gives you a fresh perspective on your piece. Try it now and then.