"Streamlining your musical creation: Eliminate two components ruthlessly"

In the world of music creation, time is often a luxury. With work, school, relationships, and general life admin vying for attention, finding the time to make music can be challenging. However, music innovator Brian Eno, best known for his work with Roxy Music and as a solo artist, believes that self-imposed rules can help streamline the process and even push creators out of their comfort zones.

Eno, together with his friend, the painter Peter Schmidt, invented the Oblique Strategy cards in 1975. These cards, designed to spur musicians to think outside of their orthodoxies, provide triggering, open-to-interpretation instructions. Examples include "Cut a vital connection," "Turn it upside down," "Don't be afraid of things because they're easy to do," and "Do we need holes?"

One self-imposed rule that can be beneficial is limiting the number of tracks in a project to no more than 10. This constraint can help focus the music creation process and push creators out of their comfort zones. Similarly, limiting the number of melodies to no more than three can help create a more cohesive sound.

Another useful rule is to complete the song in one day or one session if time is limited. This approach can help avoid overthinking and perfectionism, which can often lead to self-doubt. Winging it during the music creation process can indeed be risky, but it can also lead to unexpected and innovative results.

When sessions are infrequent, it's common to feel frustrated, anxious, and eager to return to music-making. In such cases, it can be helpful to impose a rule such as keeping the bassline repetitive throughout every part of the song. This consistency can provide a solid foundation for the rest of the composition.

For those who prefer a more experimental approach, self-imposed limitations can be useful for finishing abstract pieces. A rule such as trying to keep a one-chord tone/strum throughout the song, or going completely drum/beat-free, can force the creator to think outside the box and explore new sonic territories.

The process of creating music and mixing tracks can be overwhelming due to the vast number of options available. To combat this, some creators impose rules such as using only the DAW's provided instruments and tools, or using only one software synth for making every track element. Additionally, using only one mixing tool per mixing aspect (one EQ, one compressor, one limiter, etc.) can help maintain a consistent sound.

In some cases, it can be helpful to remove elements from the arrangement after finishing it. A twelfth rule suggests removing two elements from the arrangement, which can help simplify the sound and focus the listener's attention on the most important elements.

Using only guitars, or banning the use of guitars, can also be a useful self-imposed rule. This constraint can help push the creator to explore new sounds and techniques, and can lead to unique and interesting results.

Creating music provides purpose, satisfaction, and life-affirmation for many people. By imposing self-imposed rules, creators can streamline their process, avoid overthinking, and push themselves to explore new sonic territories. So, the next time you find yourself struggling to make music, consider emulating Eno's Oblique Strategies and imposing a few self-imposed rules to help you along the way.