Order of Songwriting?

[Freeko]

for my band the songwriting goes like this

1) Basic Melody on Guitar
2) Riffs/Solo For Rhythm/Lead
3) Drum Beat
4) Bassline
5) Lyrics

is it the same for all of u? i haven't been ready enough to write a song with bass as the melody so thats why i'm like the last few parts and i am the bass and the lyricist of the band..

 

[hub37]

The song melody need not be in the form of guitar mah. It can bass, keyboard or even just hum with vocal.

We usually have the song writer write an arrangement that he visualize (with guitar, bass and drums and vocals). Then we jam out. The dummer and bassist then improve their lines accordingly since they are obviously better in their equipment than the song writer.

And this process just repeats with more changes in the arrangment until everyone is happy

Rock on,
CK

 

[Freeko]

interesting pretty much the same as my band just that for my band only 2 people write melodies i can't write melodies yet..i hope

 

[XLayaR]

Whichever inspiratoin comes first

I mean, if you get inspired with a new lyrical melody or phrase( or any other intrument for that matter), you'd wanna make a song outta it right?

 

[ShredCow]

songwriting is a varied thing, but one thing would be really good to follow, is to not follow.

Notice, if 1 person always writes the melodies, usually, the melodies start sounding similiar?

Same if you were to always follow the order above.

Or if you always took a guitar to start the songwriting process.

etc etc

Good or bad? Its up to you. Consistancy is good but at what "artistic" cost?
Btw, I can't listen to too much of the same thing, if you get what i mean.

 

[Cheez]

Shredcow has got a point. That's why songs that really touches people with an "X" factor usually have lyrics first. Then melody - purpose of melody is to bring the lyrics to life. Then comes the rest. That's how melody composition is taught and I believe for a very good reason.

Otherwise, lyrics and music usually goes against each other and it becomes just "another song".

So it's always good to have a person just write lyrics and gifted in that area. One of my friends (songwriter) only knows how to write lyrics. Of course, some lyrics need to be changed after I got the melody out (just to fit the form of the music and phrasing - nothing dramatic). But the end result is a touching song that speaks deeply. I always feel the music should accompany the words - but many songs go the other way round.

 

[Gr3y]

yeah i wrote my song like how cheez mentioned. but again.. if you are writing instrumental pieces,its a whole different story! lol! i love shredcows's work!

 

[crozzfire]

aiya everyone has their own different and unique style of writing songs..i use all instruments to write a song at the same time..only lyrics i leave for the last..sometimes i dun even like lyrics in my songs. :lol:

 

[Chang]

Hmm interesting thread.

For me there are usually 2 approaches:
1. i manage to get a good guitar riff, then i build the entire song around. Usually works for my rock n roll and metal songs. Instrumentals as well.

2. A very catchy vocal melody line + lyrics pops into head (usually the chorus of the song), and then i build the entire song around it.

I believe a song has to have tt hook to keep the listener interested. Be it a vocal hook like You're Beautiful from James Blunt, or a guitar hook from Sweet Child O Mine. It's just a very important ingredient in most songs, subtle or not.

 

[gutturalpiss]

lyrics first. meaning, planning first. further meaning, story first. a good song has a good story behind it. or if u had already planned what the song'd b about, mayb can start on the riffs. But always try to finish the body first before adding the clothing & accessories.

 

[ShredCow]

yeah, good story = story telling.

I want to come away from the song, learning something, realising something, finding out something, about the writer.

Today's music has drifted away from that. Its pure fluff.

 

[Cheez]

Well, looks like another confusion with words! OK. Songs means music with words and lyrics. Songwriting means writing songs (with lyrics). Music withouit words are not actually called "songs".

 

[bluepowder]

go with the groove my child :lol:

 

[BloodSolo]

hmm for me ... i do lyrics first ... find simple chord , make it into music then improvise the guitar fill in riff and solo for lead , rhytm guitar and bass... still then make it into a songs ... thats what i ussually do

 

[Z3r0_G]

the lyrics and music must blend into one. that is, the melody and feel of the song must accompany each oher emotionally. great music brings forth intense emotion. be it sad or angry or just feeling cool and relaxed. if a song can bring about an emotion in the listener then it is a great song.

 

[BF-Rocker]

woa...man..This thread is good!!
i love songwriting, but i think i'm not very good at it yet hahah...
but do u guys practise songwriting? how u do it?

 

[AEnimic]

B.B King tells the best stories.

usually to write a song effectively,is to fuse the rhythm section with guitar rite in the beginning. i mean after a complete song is done,then from there can make changes,but yeah,each individual has a different way of songwriting,and not all songwriting comes like a routine,sometime's its caused by an event,so it doesnt always start from guitar

 

[Freeko]

actually events trigger the best songs...the latest song my band wrote is cause my bandmate is migrating and i think that this is our best song yet because of such an event.

Thinking too hard to write songs sometimes just spells disaster i even write lyrics in the toilet and bus.. :lol:

 

[daryl]

well most importantly the song must have meaning... if it's fiction you wont feel much about it.

for me i'll get a guitar riff first followed by a vocal melody. then i'll add in lyrics. if the band likes it, we go into the studio and add in bass drums and more guitar parts.

 

[daryl]

oh yeah and when i write a song, i'll visualise the bass and drum parts already in my head and let the band know. but most of the time they come up with better stuff haha