Which comes first, the music or the lyrics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Senor Cactus
  • Start date Start date

Which comes first, the lyrics or the music?

  • write the lyrics first

    Votes: 35 19.8%

  • write the music first

    Votes: 142 80.2%
  • Total voters
    177
D. Lundy said:
I always start out every composition with a chord progression or keyboard motif. From there I develop a melody and then eventually lyrics.

Music first.
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Have you ever tried it another way ? You might get a different kind of song.
 
I've written songs both ways, but 90% of the time, it's music first. I am constantly playing guitar or piano, so I have riffs or progressions that come, and then I hear a melody in my head, then lyrics. Often times though, I can hear the entire song in my head: music, lyrics, everything...then it just comes to working it out on paper, which isn't as easy as it sounds lol.
 
I always come up with a chord progression first then I add lyrics to it, I kind of find that the lyrics flow out of the music nicer than if you just sit down and write them without it.
 
It really depends on what Im doing at the time for which comes first. Most of the time though it is the music that comes first for me and then while Im playing the song words will start to come out without thought. Then sometimes I could just be sitting when I hear a phrase or something and it inspires the lyrics that I write and Ill sit down and put the music to them later.
 
Follow the muse

I do both but I usually come up with melodies first. I'll pick up my guitar and start strumming some chords and try to get in the spirit. My songs sound most natural when I follow the muse: let the song form itself. I have also had success beginning with lyrics, or a lyrical idea. The first drafts are fun but the rewrites are usually hard work.
 
Mix it up

Callum said:
I always come up with a chord progression first then I add lyrics to it, I kind of find that the lyrics flow out of the music nicer than if you just sit down and write them without it.
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Good point. For this very reason it's nice to try lyrics first occasionaly, to give a different feel to what's being written. It's easy to fall into a certain cadence being dictated by the melody when the music comes first, but lyric-first writing can break up that monotony.
 
I would sure say the Music comes first... As I play a bit of guitar myself, its sure easier writing something to an instrumental. Than building a song and fitting an instrumental around it :) x
 
I need a "both at the same time" option.
I usually start with a line or two of lyrics and have in idea of the melody and find the basic guitar chords that fit accordingly. It grows from there.
There have been times when I have a complete guitar part and add the lyrics, but I usually end up changing the guitar a lot in that case.
There's really no wrong way about it.
 
I think it's most natural to start with some music, but a lot of times I go back and change the music after I write some lyrics and know what the song is going to be about.

grimtraveller said:
Have you ever tried it another way ? You might get a different kind of song.
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I agree with this. Often, habits -> boring music.
 
Looks like I'm in the majority :) I write my music first then the lyrics, all with one exception.

I concentrate on the musical aspect and I usually end up with an song that sounds good both as an instrumental and as a vocal.
 
I often start with the backing track! from acoustic guitar I usually work out the bass line and verse/ chorus and then write words.
Although sometimes I write words like poetry and then at some point those words will just fit over some track I am writing
 
It seems to be different each time, but I usually start with a title, or a hook, whether it's a vocal melody, a word/phrase, a guitar/bass/synth vamp or drum fill.
 
At one time or another, I've used every technique stated here. It just happens how it happens. :cool:
 
I think that it all depends on the person. For me, it is the lyrics then the melody, and beats (or instrumental). Some may wake up and have it in their heads to start writing and or start making beats (using instruments or software). Anyway, (skipping off the subject a little..) I wrote a song that I'm dying to make an excellent melody (got it together somewhat) and beats for. I never made any beats of my own and very new in doing so, but I'm willing try to learn with software.
 
Does anyone even read any of these posts or actually care about what other people do?
 
I have a notebook full of scrawlings and clever wordings, thoughts, rants and wit and babble like that. I write guitar riffs just by playing them. I have a storehouse of little musical segments I have noodling around in my head.

When it is time to put together a 'song' I just start with one of those riffy hooks, add something else that kind of compliments it as a 'change' part. So the two are not related except the end result.
 
Most of the time my lyrics are first. For me, songs are about stories and/or points. So I start there. Then a lot of times I'll be noodling on guitar and think "hey this is a good fit for this one set of lyrics." If they work together cool. If not, then I scrap that combination and move forward. Sometimes I'll have a song finished and then realize that it just doesn't work and I'll completely re-write the lyrics.

I have had some success at writing melody/chords first then writing lyrics, but that was more for a one-off project and it worked there, but not as much for my personal stuff. But I do agree that breaking your routine often results in the best work you can do.
 
I would say that it is important to be proficient at both. Most of the time music does come before the lyrics. It is like the foundation to a house. It helps to have a chord arrangement, an ideal of what kind of tempo you will use and some idea of your melody in mind.
But this should never be in stone..
Lyrics can come first and many songs have been written this way.
I recently received just lyrics and a recorded vocal part from a collaborator. It was a challenge to set to music and I had not done it in a long time. Ultimately it came out great and it was a great exercise. So do both and challenge yourself. It makes you a better songwriter in the end.
 
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