Songwriters - When writing a song do you start with Lyrics or Music first?

Question

Also would you make up a melody on your instrument for the vocal pattern before you come up with a chord structure?

Answer 1

i personally start wit tha lyrics then add the music based on the flow of the words.

Answer 2

Dude listen to me and keith richards there is no method- sometimes you have snippet of a riff or a sentence and then you make something out of it!

Answer 3

Lyric then I could add a cool twisting beat that fits perfect. Unless u have a awesome beat the write it down and try to make up words to it.

Answer 4

The lyrics. So after words you can kind of have the tune of what you want inside your head. And if you don't get that, you have to pick the music out last so it can go with the lyrics.  If you did music first you would constantly have to change your lyrics

Answer 5

Notes. I need to know it if it a minor, or not, because you can't sing about sunshine and bufferflys in a minor chord. And you can't sing about death, grieve and imperfection in a major. I put the notes for my cello', then the notes for my vocals, and then I add the lyrics.

Answer 6

Most often, I start with lyrics.  But I have also had inspiration arrive in the form of melody, a groove, or a chordal structure.

In terms of method, the focus is on being intentional with any of the elements, and above all to have them support and improve one another.

Answer 7

you really need a beat atleast to make some lyrics

Answer 8

Lyrics.

Answer 9

It varies from person to person