blackba
Well-known member
Just curious how everyone else does it. I usually write the music first, then the lyrics soon after. But lately I have been starting with the lyrics and writing the music later.
srinivassa
New member
I do the standard thing of using garbage lyrics over a chord progression I like. That usually forms the melody. Then, I have to go back and work on the lyrics. Sometimes, it makes the lyrics a little forced because they have to fit a certain melody. But it does work as far as coming up with a good melody.
moltenmetalburn
Active member
I smoke weed first, lol.
Can go either way for me really, however the inspiration strikes.
Can go either way for me really, however the inspiration strikes.
H
HeimBrent
New member
Uhm... I come up with something, record it and start figuring out if I got something laying around that fits with it. I tend to have numerous guitarparts recorded, and lyrics written down, at any given time that I don't really have any use for, so it just becomes a big puzzle after a while... It's like... I know I have something here that will fit into whatever I'm doing at the moment, but I just can't seem to find it.
Should catalog it better.
Never written music for a piece of lyrics, though. I've had lyrics laying around that has fitted something written later, but it has never been intentional.
Should catalog it better.
Never written music for a piece of lyrics, though. I've had lyrics laying around that has fitted something written later, but it has never been intentional.
Death by Uberschall
Active member
You gotta separate writing riffs and writing songs, they are not the same.
I like having the lyrics first because they tell the "story" of the song, the music is the vehicle to carry that theme. I've got tons of riffs that I've written over the years, but I do much better after reading the lyrics, especially if somebody else wrote them, because I get feel of what those lyrics are trying to convey. Then I write what gives the feeling those lyrics work best with.
I like having the lyrics first because they tell the "story" of the song, the music is the vehicle to carry that theme. I've got tons of riffs that I've written over the years, but I do much better after reading the lyrics, especially if somebody else wrote them, because I get feel of what those lyrics are trying to convey. Then I write what gives the feeling those lyrics work best with.
rupe
Active member
I come up with a melody line and/or lyric and add music for the most part. Sometimes I develop a riff first but when I do I usually try to think of the melody line at that time. Fitting lyrics into a completed piece of music usually sounds forced to me...not sure why.
some dude
Active member
I don't write lyrics... kind of narrows my options.
Ventura
Well-known member
All the above for me... I chose 'Other' as sometimes I'll get on with a very hot little riff, and decide, hey, that needs to be showcased in a particular musical schema. Sometimes I just do chord progressions with fillers and it comes out to something I'll throw around down the road. But for the most part, it's all about the lyrics and what I'm feeling at the time I'm writing them - I often animate little doodling on the sides of my songbook, in efforts to remind me the 'mood' I was trying to evoke or felt when writing the lyrics. Anger, rage, love, hurt, sorrow, elation, psychadelic bizzarro, and the list goes on.
Since I write the lyrics, as well as play the ax, and sometimes do the singing - it's all about the emotions, the music and the lyrics have to work as one in order to convey the message I'm trying to share.
I also find this entire process highly therapeutic in general
V.
Since I write the lyrics, as well as play the ax, and sometimes do the singing - it's all about the emotions, the music and the lyrics have to work as one in order to convey the message I'm trying to share.
I also find this entire process highly therapeutic in general
V.
crankyrayhanky
Well-known member
I have done all of the above, but these days, due to circumstances, I write the music in a vocal friendly format then give it to my vocalist. Sometimes he'll rework the organization/sequence...at first it always rubs me wrong, then I realize "whatever", play it that way and usually learn to embrace the changes
The Hoff
Active member
Write the music first by playing it on an instrument. Apparently I'm with the majority 
B
berklee
New member
I usually aim for the hook first - a riff or catchy chorus - whether that's a lick or a vocal part.
That's always the tough part, but once I nail that then I can write all sorts of supportive stuff around it.
That's always the tough part, but once I nail that then I can write all sorts of supportive stuff around it.
johnnyjellybean
Well-known member
All of the above
craftm1
New member
Melody and or Music first 
irondeth21
Member
I come up with some riffs, pitch it to the guys in the band, see what they come up with to bounce off with, we all arrange our ideas together and jam over everything while our singer starts singing melodies with bs lyrics over it. He usually comes back with lyrics and we work on the final draft of lyrics together. I change lead ideas at the end sometimes based on what the vocals are doing too.