[wavey]

I feel that the essence of a song is the vocal melody. The song usually starts with one of the members (usually the singer) coming up with a simple verse melody and chord progression, when the idea peters out i find it useful to encourage the vocalist to sing the song without any instuments at all and then when he reaches the point at which the chord progression would end to see where the melody leads him, this can be at a rehearsal or more usually when he is alone . It is suprisingly easy to let a vocal melody soar to new areas and ideas when freed from instrumental constraints. When and if something tasty emerges he either records the vocal on a tape machine or similair for the band to work out the backing later, or we do it there and then if he is in the studio.

Bridges and riffs etc seem just to happen when jamming the new idea.