What do you first write down the lyrics or make tunes?

[Stela Irwin]

hi everyone.....

I'm just a beginner and wanna know that how should i go for making a song. Should i write the lyrics first or should compose the music first? Do need suggestions. Further which is the most easy genre of musical style to start composing with.Please help


Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
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[gg.gamble]

Hi there Stela,
Songwriting is pretty subjective and you just have to find a writing style that works for you.
Read through this thread it should help. and generallly read through the past threads i've found alot of my questions have been answered previous

How do you write your songs??

[Stela Irwin]

thanks a lot.
I didn't find it as i'm new to this site. I hope it'll work practically also. i'll try it today itself..


Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
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[bradzoot]

Originally Posted by Stela Irwin

hi everyone.....

I'm just a beginner and wanna know that how should i go for making a song. Should i write the lyrics first or should compose the music first? Do need suggestions. Further which is the most easy genre of musical style to start composing with.Please help


Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
Free Download Songs: free songs, information and resources

Hi Stela and welcome to the site.
For me songwriting is mostly something that 'Happens'. It can be a melody first or a rhythm first, it can even sometimes be a line inspired by something someone said, or something I've seen. For me there are no hard and fast rules. I guess this makes me kinda lucky in a way, but then again I seldom set out to write a particular song in a particular genre. Most of the songs I write tend to come from sitting in a quite place strumming my guitar. I have written songs in a rock style, reggae style, blues style, country style, the list goes on, in fact there are few styles I haven't written in at some point. Having said that, I would say that the best of them are probably in the rock, country, blues categories. It all comes down to why you are writing them. I write for my own pleasure, although I do perform my songs to an audience regularly; but I am past chasing the dream of 'Making it'. If however you want to attemp songwriting to make money, then you may not find my input helpful and there will be others here who can point you in the right direction.
Good luck with your quest
Neil

[tristenrh]

I carry a tiny notepad everywhere, for any lyrical ideas that might come to me -- I can't force it or plan it. I've got lots of lyrics and so far just a couple are being written into songs. Next I'll start to formulate a melody around some lyrics. Alternately, a melody might come along first and then I might just play it on an instrument or sing nonsense. Once a vague melodic concept forms, it must be attached to meter. Once the melody is anchored to the time signature, then I can start writing/arranging individual instruments & voices. (I'm not much of a song writer -- maybe two or three songs worth keeping... maybe a dozen throw-aways)

[crooked09]

Well the genre of music has got to be what you like and want to make. You can do it whichever way feels more natural, which will probably depend on if you are mainly a guitar player or mainly a singer, for example.

I play guitar and make metal songs, and I'll usually come up with "hook riff" I like and build the rest of the song around it. I'll have an idea of where the vocals will go and the delivery style as I make it, but I don't deal with lyric specifics until the instrumental parts are done.

[Stela Irwin]

Originally Posted by bradzoot

Hi Stela and welcome to the site.
For me songwriting is mostly something that 'Happens'. It can be a melody first or a rhythm first, it can even sometimes be a line inspired by something someone said, or something I've seen. For me there are no hard and fast rules. I guess this makes me kinda lucky in a way, but then again I seldom set out to write a particular song in a particular genre. Most of the songs I write tend to come from sitting in a quite place strumming my guitar. I have written songs in a rock style, reggae style, blues style, country style, the list goes on, in fact there are few styles I haven't written in at some point. Having said that, I would say that the best of them are probably in the rock, country, blues categories. It all comes down to why you are writing them. I write for my own pleasure, although I do perform my songs to an audience regularly; but I am past chasing the dream of 'Making it'. If however you want to attemp songwriting to make money, then you may not find my input helpful and there will be others here who can point you in the right direction.
Good luck with your quest
Neil

hi there...
Music for me is worship and not just a means to get fame or money. your post really worked and i have tried out following more of the intuitive and moody tones after writing lyrics.
thanks a lot

Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
Free Download Songs: free songs, information and resources

[Stela Irwin]

Originally Posted by crooked09

Well the genre of music has got to be what you like and want to make. You can do it whichever way feels more natural, which will probably depend on if you are mainly a guitar player or mainly a singer, for example.

I play guitar and make metal songs, and I'll usually come up with "hook riff" I like and build the rest of the song around it. I'll have an idea of where the vocals will go and the delivery style as I make it, but I don't deal with lyric specifics until the instrumental parts are done.

thanks for your post but can you please tell me the right approach to start with the lyrics if i have to write a romantic song.


Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
Free Download Songs: free songs, information and resources

[crooked09]

Originally Posted by Stela Irwin

thanks for your post but can you please tell me the right approach to start with the lyrics if i have to write a romantic song.


Stela Irwin
Music Reviewer
Free Download Songs: free songs, information and resources

Haha not too much experience with that, but I'd say you basically just try to either capture what you imagine going with the vocal melody, or just coming up with a progression that fits the mood. And then once you get one piece just try to build from that.

[justabob]

first you have to be inspired..
otherwise it's mechanical. do what comes natural. I learned to play the guitar so i could write what was in my head . for me sometimes the lyrics come first and sometimes the music comes first but most of the time no matter which comes first its give and take between the two. just do it and do it and sooner or later if you are ment to you find what works for you.