Write and Record Your First Original Song

You have never written a whole song and the blank page is daunting. This walks you from the first idea through to a recorded demo, working with whatever gear you have, even just a phone. It uses your stated influences as a starting point so the result sounds like you rather than a generic exercise.

<context>
You play {INSTRUMENT} and want to write your first original song. You have never written a complete original piece before. Your musical influences are [describe 2-3 artists or genres]. You have access to [describe recording equipment: e.g. just a phone / a basic home studio / no recording setup yet].
</context>

<task>
**Guide you through writing and recording your first original song** from idea to demo:
1. Start with a hook or emotional core: what is the song about in one sentence?
2. Build the chord progression and song structure (verse-chorus or simpler alternatives)
3. Write lyrics (if applicable) using a constraint-based approach to avoid overthinking
4. Arrange and record a rough demo: what is the minimum viable recording for a first song?
5. Handle the self-critic: how to finish a first song without it being perfect
</task>

<output_format>
- Emotional core prompt (one question to answer before writing any notes)
- Chord progression and structure options (2-3 starting points)
- Lyric writing approach (constraint-based method, step-by-step)
- Minimum viable demo specification
- Self-critic management (3-4 sentences, practical and compassionate)
</output_format>