An infamous question..and I want an answer!!

[Johnny25]

Ok, so who knows how many times people have asked this question, and yes it is being asked yet again...which comes first...the music, or the lyrics?? I've been having a lot of trouble getting a really good sounding tune going, but I just cant ever get things to fit together. Please, hit me with your best songwriting tips, tricks, advice, theories, metaphors, adjectives and verbs .... Really though, just help me out with my question and any other tips you have on writing and putting it together.
Thanks in advance,

Johnny

[juineaux]

Well I ussualy write music first, but I have written a few songs with my lyrics first. My advice is to keep the music simple at first, and find a story, memory of yours, or main idea to write your lyrics about.

[2StepGranny]

I agree with juineax. I use to write poetry, and tried to put it to music, and it hasn't really worked. But when I sat down to write lyrics to a song I would start writing, and then I would hear a rhythm(sp) to what I'm writing, I don't know if that happens to anyone else. At first it was kind of annoying, but it can be rather useful once you know what it is your hearing, DER! But yeah, true stories, g/f, childhood, anything that you can put lyrically, and then just put some simple music with it.

But if you're writing in rythym, then I couldn't imagine why anyone would have problems with music, hmmm, oh well. Well that's my advise on it. Hope it helps!

[rochsuperstar]

It's like beating a dead horse but I agree with both of them.. I find it easier to have music first then write but sometimes i switch.. I find what really works if that you have to be in THAT mood.. Let your mood decide what kind of music to make then fill it with what your feeling or felt before.. Stuff like that.. Also i find it helps to keep playing whatever your music is repeatedly till you develop a nice rythm to sing with.. What i said probably made no sense to you but good luck..

[fatjack]

music. i dont write lyrics, so that was a simple question

[Johnny25]

I like fatjack's response Thanks to everybody who answered, you helped me out with this a lot, in fact I'm like almost halfway through a song with lyrics (after only a few hours ) But anyway thanks again

[DustyDave]

The good thing about writing the music first rather than the lyrics , is that when you got a tune build up , you can hum to it , and start getting your voice to fit in , its a bit more difficult ( in my opinion ) to write lyrics first and then have to try working out a tune without no real vocal ideas