Anytime I sit down with other musicians, the conversation eventually turns to the exact same old debate: do you write the lyrics or music first , or do you just let it all take place at once? It's one of those chicken-or-the-egg scenarios that doesn't really have the right reply. Every songwriter you talk to is going to give you another explanation for how they get from the blank page in order to a finished track. Some people swear by starting with the chord progression, whilst others wouldn't wish of touching a musical instrument until they possess a notebook complete of verses.
Honestly, the "best" way is usually what ever way gets the song finished. Yet if you're feeling stuck or you're just starting out, it helps to look at the pros and cons of each approaches. It's not just about the technical side of things; it's regarding how your brain handles an innovative spark.
Starting with the Music: Finding the Character
A lot of producers plus instrumentalists naturally go toward the music-first approach. There's something really satisfying about finding a chord progression or another container loop that just feels right before you even understand what the song is all about. When you start with the music, you're essentially setting the emotional stage.
Let the Chords Speak
If you take a seat at a violin and play a minor ninth blend, it immediately informs a story. It might feel nostalgic, or maybe a bit lonely. You don't need words however because the audio does the weighty lifting. Many individuals find it simpler to "scat" melodies more than a loop—just making nonsense sounds or humming—until a catchy phrase sticks. This method often results within songs which are even more rhythmically interesting or "catchy" because the melody isn't becoming forced to suit in to a pre-written rhyme scheme.
The Problem with Music First
The danger the following is that you can end upward with what I call "filler lyrics. " If the music is currently perfect, you may feel pressured in order to just shove terms into the spaces. We've all noticed songs where the beat is incredible but the lyrics feel like an afterthought. If you aren't careful, you will dsicover yourself rhyming "car" with "star" simply because the melody requires an one-syllable word that ends in an "ar" sound.
Beginning with the Lyrics: Telling the Tale
On the flip side, lots of folk singers, rappers, and poets-turned-songwriters wouldn't dream of beginning somewhere else but the page. When you ask them, " do you write the lyrics or music first ? " they'll appearance at you such as you're crazy for even asking. For people designers, the message is the point of the song. The music is simply the vehicle to provide that will message.
Composing from the Heart
When you start with lyrics, the song is commonly more narrative-driven. You have the freedom to play along with metaphors, complex storytelling, and specific imagery without having to be boxed in by a 4/4 time signature or the specific tempo. You can really get into the "why" of the song. Once the tale is told on paper, you can then figure out if it needs to be a quick, angry stone song or a slow, stripped-back traditional ballad.
The Challenge of Lyric-First Writing
The tricky part about writing words first is the fact that language offers its very own natural rhythm. Sometimes, a gorgeous poem is in fact actually hard to established to music. You will dsicover that your favorite verse provides way too numerous syllables to fit into a standard chorus, or the meter is so irregular that it feels clunky whenever you attempt to sing it. You often have to go back and modify your "perfect" lyrics just to get them to "singable. "
The "Everything All at Once" Method
Then you will find the lucky occasions where the music and the words and phrases seem to drop out of the sky at the same time. This usually happens when you're just playing around upon your instrument and a line of text pops into your head that flawlessly fits the riff you're playing.
Many professional songwriters say these are their greatest songs. There's a certain cohesion that happens when the melody and the meaning are born together. It seems more organic. It's less like developing a house and more like developing a tree. You don't have in order to worry about the "fit" because these people were never independent to begin with.
Precisely why You Should Try Switching It Up
If you've constantly been a "music first" person, you might find that your songs are starting to tone a bit the same. Maybe your melodies are obtaining predictable because you're always using the same three acoustic guitar chords. If that's the case, consider writing a page associated with lyrics before you even get your own instrument. It pushes your brain to think about structure and feelings in a totally different way.
Conversely, if you're a lyricist which struggles to make your songs sound modern or "groovy, " try starting with the beat. Go find a free carol loop online or play with a synth plugin. Discover how a particular rhythm changes the way you want to deliver your lines. You might find that the line you thought was a somber ballad actually functions way better because a fast-paced spoken-word piece over a heavy bassline.
Famous Examples in order to Consider
It's fun to check out exactly how the greats do it. Take Bernie Taupin and Elton John, such as. That's one of the most famous songwriting partnerships in history. Bernie would write the lyrics within a completely independent room (or a different country), and then Elton would sit down at the violin and "find" the music within these words. It's an extremely strict "lyrics first" workflow, and this clearly worked out there pretty well to them.
On the other hand, you have bands like Queen or The Beatles, where often a melody or a guitar riff emerged first. Paul McCartney famously used the placeholder lyrics "Scrambled Eggs" for the melody that eventually became "Yesterday. " He had the tune, he knew the rhythm, but the actual heart of the song—the lyrics—came later.
Does the Genre Matter?
Relatively, the genre you're working within might influence whether or not do you write the lyrics or music first . * Hip Hop: Usually starts with the beat. The producer creates the sonic landscape, plus the rapper discovers the flow and the rhyme plan within that room. * Folk/Americana: Frequently starts with a story or a specific sense expressed through terms. * EDM/Dance: Almost always starts with the music. The "top-line" (the vocal melody plus lyrics) is frequently added with a totally different person after the track is mainly finished.
But even within these genres, there are usually no hard rules. A rapper may have a notebook computer full of "bars" they've been waiting around to use, or a DJ might have a singing hook stuck in their head that they build a whole drop around.
Finding Your Personal Flow
At the end associated with the day, there's no secret method. The only "wrong" way to write a song would be to not write it at all since you're worried regarding the process. When you possess a killer line in your head whilst you're at the grocery store, write it down. When you find the cool synth audio while you're procrastinating, record it.
The most essential thing would be to stay open to the "spark, " wherever it comes from. Some days you'll be a poet, and some days you'll be a writer. The magic occurs when those two versions of you finally meet within the middle.
So, the next time someone demands you, " do you write the lyrics or music first ? " you may honestly tell them: "Whichever one shows up first. " Don't overthink it. Just keep producing, keep experimenting, plus eventually, the tunes will start composing themselves. There's the lot of independence in realizing that the "rules" associated with songwriting are mainly just suggestions. Simply because long as the finished product moves someone—including yourself—it doesn't matter one little bit how you got there.