One of the tricks I learned (LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME AGO)...I listen to classical music, mostly the well rocongized (Ode to joy, stuff by Mozart and Bach) and play variations of them... my favortie is Ode to Joy and I just really play it kinda slow and lilting and play witht he chords a little. Find what you're comfortable with and experiment. Talking music doesn't always have to be original - Take it from an old man, when it comes to background music, you don't always have to have a bed, sometimes all you need is a stool!
Rev. Cee