Song writer credit - what counts?

[Mastermold]

I am talking about this in terms of the music for a song specifically. (lyrics are separate)
My opinion is when a song exists and you come up with a bass line for it - you aren't really writing anything. But if there is no existing music/chords/melody/harmony and you come up with a portion of that then you can become a partial song writer.
But there are no hard rules in the industry.

So I ask -
what makes one a song writer?

Ask James Jamerson.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

The ones on Soundcloud aren't the ones that make me money. And i'm not really trying to bring in the big bucks from my songs. Music pays my bills several times over. The music i make for me is for fun. The packed dance floors tell me the songs are doing their job.
Would love to see your royalty checks if we're playing that game.

Groovy, enjoy.

 

[The Expendable Clay]

Are instrumental music and songs with words treated differently in terms of who is the writer?

 

[jimmydean]

All I can say , is get your name on the paperwork