for the most part do u lay the music down first then add lyrics?

[takanick]

hey guys, i was just wondering how most of you craft your songs. for the most part do u lay the music down first then add lyrics? do u record a track then add lyrics? or do u finish everything first before recording? thanks.

i'm just tryin to explore other methods and just see outta curiosity your unique stances on building.

[wwwjd]

My way has two basic parts: music OR lyrics. sometimes the music comes first and THEN I create the story in the words, sometimes the words come first and then the music. RARELY is it both at once for me. And I don't think there is a wrong answer here.

[takanick]

And I don't think there is a wrong answer here.

 

right. i just wanted to see how others do it. maybe get some ideas and appreciate the unique constructiveness.

[DeveryHarper]

I don't write songs with words anymore, so. . .

I am sure that there are people that do this. I am sure there are people that write music around words. I am sure there are people that write words and music and end up editing the words if something fits a little better. If I had to write a song with lyrics I would most likely write the lyrics first and write the music around those words. It really comes down to doing whatever it takes to make the song, right?

[blue2blue]

I often write music around words -- but then I'm pretty much a roots writer.

 

But there are times when a particular way of playing something suggests something and I'll roll the feeling around while I'm playing to see if any words/ideas stick to it.

[Chicken Monkey]

I write words and music as completely separate activities. When I want to "write a song", I find one of each that fit together relatively well, and modify one or both until it sounds right.

[kurdy]

I've come to prefer doing lyrics first, then music. For some reason, I've conditioned myself to do it that way. It's to the point now where writing music first without some lyrics to guide me along sounds like a lot of work, which may not actually be the case, but at this point, I just prefer the lyrics first approach. But whatever works.

[KennethNishimot]

I dig jamming, and coming up with both on the spot.

[thepalpitations]

Trying to fit music to words never works out well for me, because the syllables of the lines never fall on the right spot so I have to rewrite or stretch out words unnaturally.

 

I write a chord progression/song structure simultaneously with the vocal melody - which, at the time, is usually just me whistling or humming. Once the rhythm and timing of the progression and melody is set, then I add lyrics. That way I know my options in terms of making the lyrics fit the line.