Anyone that’s been following the news closely has likely been hearing a lot about artificial intelligence (AI). ChatGPT launched late in 2022 and the platform already has over 100 million users. The platform allows you to ask questions and can provide you almost any information you’d like.
We started experimenting with the platform and it’s a rabbit hole anyone could spend hours on, but what place does AI have in the future of music? Will AI actually write songs for musicians? Will songwriters no longer be needed?
We decided to put ChatGPT to the test and have it write us a blues song. We asked ChatGPT, “Write a blues song with heartfelt lyrics and emotion.” This is what it came up with in less than a minute.
The Lyrics
Verse 1:
I’ve been walking down this road for so long
Hoping for a light to guide me home
But every turn I take just leads me to the same old song
And I’m left here all alone
Chorus:
Cause these hard times, they come and go
And they leave me feeling so low
But I keep on searching for the light to guide me home
Through these blues and all my sorrows
Verse 2:
I’ve been searching for a love that’s true
Something to take these blues away
But every time I find it, it just slips right through
And I’m left here feeling blue
Chorus:
Cause these hard times, they come and go
And they leave me feeling so low
But I keep on searching for the light to guide me home
Through these blues and all my sorrows
Bridge:
And I don’t know where this road will lead
Or what the future may hold
But I’ll keep on searching for a love that’s true
And I’ll keep on carrying this heavy load
Chorus:
Cause these hard times, they come and go
And they leave me feeling so low
But I keep on searching for the light to guide me home
Through these blues and all my sorrows
Outro:
And though these hard times may never end
And though the road may be long
I’ll keep on searching for a love that’s true
And I’ll keep on singing this blues song.
Naming the Song
Next up, we needed a song title, so we asked ChatGPT, “What’s a good title for the song?” It came up with “Guided by the Blues.”
So, now we’ve got lyrics and a song title but what about the actual music to go along with it? We asked ChatGPT to “write a chord progression that matches the lyrics for “Guided by the Blues” and it quickly provided this response.
Chord Progression
Verse:
C – F – C – G – Am – F
G – C – G – F – C – G
Chorus:
C – G – Am – F
C – G – F – C
Bridge:
Am – F – C – G
Am – F – G – C
Outro:
C – G – Am – F
C – G – F – C
This progression uses basic chords in the key of C and incorporates the I, IV, V, and vi chords, which are common in blues music. The chords provide a strong foundation for the lyrics, and the changes between the verses, chorus, and bridge help to create a sense of progression and movement in the song.
What Do You Think About Writing Songs Using AI?
So there you have it. In a matter of minutes, ChatGPT has written a blues song using AI. Is it any good? Grab your guitar and give it a whirl. If nothing else, it could provide a spark when going through writer’s block.
What are your thoughts on musicians using AI to write songs?
Blues is obviously a genre that is about soul and raw emotion, which is hard for artificial intelligence to emulate.
Do you see AI as a pathway to the future of songwriting? Do you see it as an aid to help songwriters or do you feel it’s just another way technology is destroying musicians’ ability to generate income in the music business?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
