[sp4585]

This question is to everyone out there who has any song writing responsibility within their group or who writes everything on their own. I'm interested in hearing different groups'/artists' approaches to song writing.

I personally have been in a few different groups that have all taken different approaches to song writing. I also write songs for pleasure on my own.

My first band's songs were basically crafted 80% by our lead guitarist. He wrote songs and brought them to the band, dictating the various parts. Our drummer basically just followed the pre crafted rhythm as did the bass player. We wrote harmonies after the majority of the song was done.

My next band took a completely democratic approach where whoever had any type of idea would just throw it out there and the song was built and written together.

My third band was a little more like the first one except it was a three piece and the song ideas were a lot looser when they were brought to the band. Actually each member except for the drummer wrote several songs - at least as a basic chord structure and idea.

The band I am in now is very much a democracy where the two guitarists bring their song ideas to be built and finished by the whole band.

Through each of these groups, I've seen three distinctly different approaches to the writing of guitar and vocal melody in the beginning stages.

1) A very distinctive guitar piece is grown and basically dictates what the whole song will do outside of arrangement. Whenever the root note is hit (which is usually at very defined and specific times), the rhythm sections must follow suit. I hope that makes sense.

2) A rough idea for a guitar piece, with some vocal melody in mind, grows and gains some rhythmic distinction as the idea is hashed out before putting together rough arrangement and full melody (or vice versa).

3) A basic chord structure is arranged with minimal detail while an accompanying vocal melody pulls the unwritten guitar parts in certain directions. The vocal melody perpetuates the guitar part onward so that the pieces work together well.

I know personally, on my own I lean most toward the 3rd description but have written things more like the second and even first at times.

Thanks in advance.