How to Fight Writer’s Block in Music Production

If you’ve ever sat staring at your DAW with zero ideas, you’re not alone. Writer’s block hits every producer at some point, whether you’re making lo-fi beats in your bedroom or working on a polished hip-hop. The good news? You can get through it and keep your sanity.

Here's the formula I've used to get out of the rut.

1. Start with Inspiration

We all started writing music because of an artist we look up to. For me, I started writing music because of early pop, rock, and r&b groups. Pick one of your favorite songs — the kind that makes you wish you’d written it. Listen actively. Pay attention to the vibe, the chords, and even the way the track makes you feel. Sometimes just reconnecting with music you love can reset your creative energy and spark an idea you wouldn’t have found staring at a blank session. When you get stuck, turn that favorite song on, enjoy it, and then ask yourself, "why do I enjoy this so much?" This leads us into step two. 👇🏼

2. Steal the Formula

Now that you’ve got a track in mind, don’t just listen — analyze. What’s the structure? Verse–chorus–verse? Does it use a four-chord loop the whole way through, or does it switch up in the bridge? Break it down and then, as Austin Kleon puts it, "steal like an artist." You’re not copying the song, you’re learning from its blueprint. Producers have been borrowing structures, rhythms, and progressions for decades — it’s how genres are built. When you take what works and apply it to your own sound, you end up with something original but still grounded in what makes music connect.

3. Use Samples to Fill the Gaps

Here’s the reality: you don’t always have the time (or skill set) to track every instrument. I sure as hell do not, and I don’t need to. That’s where samples come in. If you’re not a guitarist, why spend hours fighting with MIDI guitar VSTs when you could drop in a real recorded loop? A great guitarist has already done the heavy lifting, and their samples are ready for you to shape into your own track. Using high-quality loops doesn’t make your music less authentic — it makes your process faster and your final product stronger. Besides, some of the greatest hits are some combo of iconic samples mixed with great vibes from talented musicians. Talk about stealing the formula.

Final Thoughts

Writer’s block doesn’t have to kill your momentum. Start with inspiration, borrow proven formulas, and lean on samples when you need them. The goal is to get the ideas flowing again, not to sit in silence waiting for lightning to strike. If you sit around and wait for momentum, you'll never succeed. You have to manufacture momentum and let it breed inspiration.

Of course, to help you kickstart your creativity, I put together a free sample pack you can download right now. It’s filled with ready-to-use guitar loops that work perfectly for indie pop, lo-fi, and all sorts of production. If it doesn't strike your fancy, you can take a look around at our other super affordable options. There's something for everyone here!