28 TikTok Ideas for Musicians That You Can Make Today
Sick of posting "Out Now" on TikTok and getting... crickets? Yeah, no one cares about those. But guess what? You can do better. This guide is here to shake things up with 28 out-of-the-box TikTok ideas designed just for musicians. And the best part? Majority of them will work even if you’re starting from zero. So, grab your phone and let's shoot some TikToks!
What makes a great TikTok video?
Before we jump into the ideas, here’s something vital you need to know. A good TikTok follows this magic formula:
- Hook: You’ve got just 1,5 seconds to capture a viewer’s attention—no pressure! Spark curiosity, be controversial, or lead with a bold statement. (Think: "I got ghosted by who I thought was my best friend and wrote this to cope..."). We know that’s easier said than done, so check out our latest blog where we break down the 3 main types of social media hooks you can use to stand out.
- Retention-friendly content: Retention is everything if you want your content to reach more people. Why? Because the algorithm doesn’t lie—longer watch times mean TikTok keeps users hooked on their platform (so they have more time to play ads), and in return, TikTok rewards you by pushing your videos even further. Want better retention? Step it up. Focus on keeping your videos fast-paced, engaging, and visually appealing. Techniques like jump cuts, text overlays, and dynamic edits can make a huge difference in holding your audience’s attention. Also, keep in mind that shorter videos (15-30 seconds) tend to perform better.
- Your brand connection: Every post you share should connect back to you and your music. To attract followers who genuinely care about your next release, you need to show them who you are as an artist. Sure, creating skits might help you grow a large audience more quickly—but will those followers stream your next song? Unless your skits are directly tied to your music, the answer is probably no.
- Consistency is key: Finally, stay consistent. TikTok is like a workout plan—you won’t see gains unless you stick with it. Post regularly, experiment often, and most importantly, have fun with it.
Need help staying consistent?
CRESQA (aka your new BFF) can help you plan content that works. From generating music-specific video ideas to auto-posting at the perfect time, this AI-powered assistant keeps you creating without the burnout.
1. "First song vs. now" comparison
Show how far you’ve come by putting your first cringeworthy track up against a snippet of your latest banger. Feeling adventurous? Add some commentary on what you thought was “revolutionary” songwriting back then. Bonus points for roasting your younger self.
2. Dig up an old clip of you performing
Go deep into the archives. It could be your high school talent show, a basement gig, or that time you mumbled through an open mic. Relive the chaos, point out the kid in the front row clearly regretting being there, and add “been there done that” (shoutout to Mr. Worldwide) to keep it relatable.
3. "Guess the genre" challenge
Post an audio teaser of your latest track and ask, “What genre do you think this is?” Then sit back and enjoy the hilariously incorrect guesses. You can also mix it up by coming up with fake genres like “haunted disco” or “dark underwater jazzcore.”
4. Show your DIY recording setup
Got a mic balanced on a stack of books and a closet full of mismatched clothes doubling as soundproofing? Perfect. Lean into the chaos. Show the quirkiest parts of your setup—like the cereal box serving as a cable organizer. Top it off with, “What’s the weirdest part of your home studio?”
5. Before-and-after clips of your music
Play an old demo and how it evolved into your polished track. Layer the “before” over the “after” for a side-by-side comparison and encourage your audience to comment which version has more charm. (Spoiler alert—it’s probably the finished one, but they’ll appreciate the transformation.)
6. "Pick my chorus!"
Stuck between choruses? Post two versions and ask your audience to pick their favorite. People love to feel like their opinion matters. Make it fun—frame it like a dramatic reality show moment: “Only ONE can survive…”.
7. "Who would listen to this?"
Play your song and take a stab at describing it in the most wildly specific way. “If Harry Styles played bass in a band with Paramore and Kendrick Lamar, this would be their lovechild.” Lean in—you’re building intrigue (and maybe outright confusing people, which works too).
8. Ask for audience input
Make a post with a question that grabs attention. “What’s ONE word you’d use to describe the feeling of eating ramen at 3am while reading old texts?” Frame these quirky answers as what inspires your songwriting—they’ll feel invested in what you create.
9. "What if [artist] wrote this?"
Pick a trending song and rewrite it “how you would’ve done it from your perspective." Throw in your style and twists. Caption it with something fun or oddly specific like “What if Katy Perry didn't like that one kiss at the party so much? Here's what I'd imagine”. Milk the absurdity, social media is about having fun after all.
10. Challenge yourself to something absurd
Constraints spark creativity (and laughs). Write a song in an hour. Use only household items as instruments. Turn off your headphones while recording every layer of the vocal harmony. If you’re feeling extra brave, post the blooper reel.
11. Mash up two genres
Take your original track and mix in a completely unexpected genre. Turn your sad acoustic ballad into an emo-metal anthem or your electro-pop hit into a bluegrass jam. Film your (or your friend's) reaction hearing it for the first time.
12. Post an alternate version
It may seem like a very basic idea unless you play with strong contrasts—acoustic renditions of rock songs, jazzed-up ballads, or a version of your track remixed in 8-bit.
13. Answer another artist’s song
Got an opinion about a song’s unspoken subtext? Write a response track. For example, “This is my reply to Adele’s Hello, from the person she was calling.” Creative twists guaranteed to spark engagement.
14. Collaborate with a fellow musician
Duet or stitch someone else’s video to create a fun and engaging collaboration. Use the captions to hype them up and show your support—after all, positivity and energy are contagious! For an extra boost, consider featuring a local artist or creator. Not only does this let you cross-promote to two different audiences, but it also helps build connections and strengthen community vibes. Two audiences, one stone, and a bigger impact for everyone involved!
15. Perform your song in nature
Head to a nearby forest or take a day trip to those waterfalls you’ve been wanting to check out, and don’t forget to bring your guitar to record some content!
Bonus! Don’t have a forest or beach nearby? Use your industrial neighborhood as an ironic backdrop. "Here’s my emo anthem against the sweet sounds of garbage trucks and leaf blowers." Raw and relatable always wins.
16. Host a public songwriting session
Take your creativity outside! Head to the park, grab your guitar, and play for strangers (or your friends if you want to stage it—no shame in that). Capture their reactions—whether it’s awkward, funny, or heartwarming—it’s content gold. Just make sure everyone’s cool with it!
17. "My song in a movie scene"
Overlay your song on an iconic movie moment—maybe it works, maybe it’s hilariously bad. Example? “Here’s my breakup anthem on Titanic’s ‘I’ll never let go’ scene. Too soon?”
18. Build a beat from household items
Start stomping, slamming cabinet doors, and shaking rice in a jar to create a beat. Film the process and show off your final Frankenstein creation. Caption it, “Proving you can make a beat with literally anything.”
19. Show off your funky instruments
I know how this title sounds but trust that it's a very innocent idea. Got a $3 kazoo or a spooky broken theremin lying around? Play your song on it. If it sounds terrible, that’s even better—call it “modern art, you wouldn’t get it.”
20. Post your fails & outtakes
Everyone loves a bit of chaos. Share your gig mess-ups, recording bloopers, or that time you hit an accidental Mariah Carey whistle note while trying to yawn (if that ever happened then you should maybe even consider putting it in a track).
21. Gig horror stories
Have a meltdown moment from the stage? Share it. Make it suspenseful, funny, or brutally honest. “That time I broke both strings AND lost my dignity mid-performance.”
22. The everlasting "POV" trend
Go oddly specific. “POV: Standing in the rain outside your dream date’s window and serenading them on violin way too aggressively”. And don't tell me that this isn't funnier than "POV: I wrote this song".
23. Tell your origin story
Why do you make music? Share the weird memory, the random spark, the highs and lows. Keep it raw—people connect to your humanity.
24. Turn hate comments into art
“Somebody said I sound like beans being microwaved. Here’s a track I wrote called Beans in the Microwave.”
25. Celebrate milestones with fans
Share that Spotify screenshot—whether it’s 1.000 streams or 1 million. Give your audience a shoutout that makes them feel like they’re part of the win. Bonus: if your audience is engaged, turn it into a fun challenge to hit the next milestone. Promise a livestream, drop a new song, or run a giveaway.
26. Use a seasonal theme
Drop a spooky instrumental for Halloween or show your love for heartbreak heroes on Valentine’s Day. Bonus points for holiday-themed costumes or vibes.
27. Your wildest fan theories
If someone says your latest song sounds like it’s secretly about your ex—or better yet, being a flat-earther—just roll with it. Play along and make a joke out of it. Or throw in a totally random, made-up theory to keep things fun (“like, yes, I’m definitely representing San Marino in the next ESC”).
28. Host a Q&A session
Get face-to-face (virtually or IRL) with your audience. Open the floor to anything—questions about your songs, your quirks, or even what your go-to pizza order says about your soul. Connection is priceless, and so are the laughs.
Final tip
Stop overthinking it and start creating. Your TikTok today could lead to a loyal fan base tomorrow. Which of these ideas will you try first? Grab your phone, press record, and get ready to show the world what you’ve got.
Need help staying consistent? Check out CRESQA—the AI social media assistant that generates tailor-made ideas for YOUR music. Sign up today and start creating TikToks that resonate with your true artistic brand!