what comes first?

Mybikeisblack · #1 08-25-2011, 01:26 AM

My current band is having trouble writing new material. Id like to know how you guys do it? Lyrics first? Drums, guitar or bass first? Have the drummer start jamming something and let the guitarist follow?

I just joined the band a month ago. This band has had its own original songs before I joined and the old singer kinda dictated how they wrote their songs.
Just curious how you guys do it

Bonerific · #2 08-25-2011, 01:38 AM

In my band it's usually stuff we make up on our own time. Then the next time we get together we put our ideas on the table. Another thing is that sometimes have three different songs but not all finished, then we figured out two songs match and can make one whole song; so if your band has some unfinished projects try mixing them - maybe changing a few notes so they match.

Mybikeisblack · #3 08-25-2011, 01:45 AM

Good idea. They've got a few songs that they've put on the back burner. So maybe we'll get those going.

bassbully · #4 08-25-2011, 07:10 AM

Some do it by jamming but I never liked that idea. Most songs are written and arranged by a band member or members using lyrics and a chord progression. This is simple music and it give's you a roadmap of the song and a rough Idea of how it should go. The band can then jam out the song now knowing the chords and change or add to the song.

My band gets the song from whoever wrote it and we play it out and build on it from there.

bolophonic · #5 08-25-2011, 07:14 AM

I have only ever had good experiences with bands where one person writes a song and presents it to the group to work on. A band needs to be extremely cohesive and creative to just "jam" a good song into being.

HeadyVan Halen · #6 08-25-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonerific

In my band it's usually stuff we make up on our own time. Then the next time we get together we put our ideas on the table. Another thing is that sometimes have three different songs but not all finished, then we figured out two songs match and can make one whole song; so if your band has some unfinished projects try mixing them - maybe changing a few notes so they match.

Melody 1st!!!
Someone usually says "hey I got this.."..then we will usually hum a melody to it 1st...Melodies sell more records than lyrics

But it also is VERY helpful to have lyrics at hand..I have a book of them that we use like a dictionary. We'll take parts of one and blend them with another or what was supposed to be the chorus of one and use it as a bridge etc..

Biggest thing is to START WRITING...People usually think "well, it's not as good as so and so or it doesn't sound like so and so.."
Remember, it's not supposed to, that's why it's called 'Original'..

cheapbasslovin · #7 08-25-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbully

My band gets the song from whoever wrote it and we play it out and build on it from there.

Most songs I've participated in writing come from this. Usually multiple sources of input before the tune is done.

Sometimes it just comes from a jam, but then the screws are really put down to tighten it up from there.

Except in my jam band. That was pretty much a couple of chords and a whole lot of wankery.

clutebass · #8 08-25-2011, 07:50 AM

I'm not sure any one else does it the way my band does, but to each his own. Our singer and rhythm guitarist either has a riff and I write a bass line to it, or vice versa. We write all our songs just me and him on acoustic guitar and acoustic bass and then bring it to the rest of the band. The drummer locks into my groove and the lead guitarist goes to town leading or doubling the rhythms. This method has worked like a charm for us. But like I said you kind of have to figure out what works best for your band because they are all different.

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 08-25-2011, 08:57 AM

Like Sting, I keep a book of song ideas and lyrics on me at all times. If I ever get an idea in gets put in the book for a later retooling or for use in a new song.

As far as writing goes, I prefer to have just me and a drummer in a room jamming out to different beats for about 30 minutes to an hour with a recording and then going back and listening to the recording a week later for anything that was good. If there was something worth using, I'd then expand on it, create new basslines, add guitars and keys, think up a melody, and things of that nature.

IMHO, the best songs I've ever written have started that way. It allows me to get a sick groove going first that I can expand on and add to. It's better than trying to fit a groove in to a pre-existing box that limits my options from the get-go.

MatticusMania · #10 08-25-2011, 12:29 PM

In most cases, the guy does.

oniman7 · #11 08-25-2011, 05:42 PM

I'm thinking the egg.

In all honesty, usually our guitarist has some guitar lines and vocals to go over it. Then he shows us the whole song and sometimes writes a couple other parts. What he doesn't write, we do. In some cases, one of us has come up with a line (this one we're working on now started with a bass riff) and everybody else helps fill in parts around that. Singer usually does melodies and lyrics.

Rob Martinez · #12 08-25-2011, 06:11 PM

There is no ONE way to write songs. And frankly, it doesn't matter how anyone here does it. YOU all have to figure out what works for you.

One place to start is, does anyone in the band come to practice with, or even start jamming on, a riff, or a beat, or a repetitive lyric and or melody? That would be a start.

NoiseNinja · #13 08-25-2011, 06:17 PM

The bands I played in all the mentioned methods were used. But usually lyrics comes last. Sometimes someone brings more or less a whole song, but most of the times someone just brings a riff, and we take it from there.

Mybikeisblack · #14 08-26-2011, 11:21 PM

Lots of good ideas here and I appreciate them all.

We're bringing in a synth guy so we're going start writing after we joins.

We had a good practice the other day. Basically I hummed a line, and the guitarist made it happen.