I had a guest staying over night so out of courtesy I went to bed at the same time even though it was way early for me. I was certain I would not get much sleep but I managed to get some pretty soon I think. Then at about 2 am I woke up the first time with a simple tune playing in my head. I quickly hummed it in my phone and went back to sleep. This happened many times and I just counted that I had made 11 recordings during the night (of course not all of the recordings will actually be usable). This never happened to me before. It seems that the strange sleeping time somehow triggered this unusual creativity in me. Now I would like to hear if the same has happened to you in this or in some other way so I could possibly use that unusual method to boost my creativity.

Never happened to me. I heard about this guy recently, who paints and draws in his sleep, but is unable to do it while awake.
 
http://www.dailymail.co.u...m-solo-exhibition.html

I've done that a few times over the years. Most aggravating when I can't record it or forget it as soon as I wake up.
 
Most tunes come when I'm driving or working since both are mindless activities for me. I've mostly worked night shifts and think the mind must be a bit more relaxed those hours. I don't think it matters when you sleep as much as the state of mind you're in when you sleep.

Thanks for the comments guys. James, the guy's ability sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Soens, you could well be right there. State of mind probably is key. Also I read somewhere that being bored can trigger creative forces.

I play guitar FAR better in my dreams... 

Funny but in my dreams I play much worse guitar than in real life although I am no virtuoso.

 
I was out jogging at 2 o'clock this morning.
 
A friend of mine happened to see me and said, "It's a bit late for you Strummy isn't it?"
 
"I couldn't sleep" I explained.
 
"That's not what I meant, you fat git" he replied.

I found that the best way to stop joggers from running past my house early in the morning is to open the window and yell "Stop!  Thief!"
 
 

I once dreamed the entire guitar solo from Zappa's "Inca Roads" as if it were a tape playing in my brain. 
 
I haven't woken up with melodies, but I used to keep a dream diary next to my bed and would scribble in it as soon as I woke up. I stopped doing it after realizing that I couldn't even decipher my own handwriting.