Melody first or lyrics: what the pros do...

[faintron]

Setting harmony aside for now, I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts about which method of writing tunes is easier or more efficient: writing (or "vocalizing") the melody line and then plugging in syllables/words per note, or writing lyrics and then setting these to a melody.

I've read that popular musicians and singers do it both ways...but usually one or the other. Bono, James Hetfield, Sting, and Danny Elfman, for example, create melodies and then add lyrics. But on the other hand, guys like Elton John (w/Bernie Taupin), Geddy Lee (w/Neil Peart), Roger Waters, and Robert Plant (I think) start with a poem and then find the notes to suit it.

Which method do you think is more common? Which do you prefer?

Personally, I've done well by writing melodies before lyrics. The melodies are easy, but finding lyrics to fit the notes takes a while so I'm considering trying the other technique. Thoughts?

[bluesking]

Originally Posted by faintron

Setting harmony aside for now, I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts about which method of writing tunes is easier or more efficient: writing (or "vocalizing") the melody line and then plugging in syllables/words per note, or writing lyrics and then setting these to a melody.

I've read that popular musicians and singers do it both ways...but usually one or the other. Bono, James Hetfield, Sting, and Danny Elfman, for example, create melodies and then add lyrics. But on the other hand, guys like Elton John (w/Bernie Taupin), Geddy Lee (w/Neil Peart), Roger Waters, and Robert Plant (I think) start with a poem and then find the notes to suit it.

Which method do you think is more common? Which do you prefer?

Personally, I've done well by writing melodies before lyrics. The melodies are easy, but finding lyrics to fit the notes takes a while so I'm considering trying the other technique. Thoughts?

Cool thread.

I personally need some lyrics to set things up. I am quite rhythmical rather than melodic, so I find lyrics give me a good metre which I can use to get a groove going. But once I have a good line (it only needs to be one or two words) I then think about melody, harmony, rhythm and song structure. I kind of try to do it all at once. I think, more often than not, this causes me to bite off more than I can chew.

The singer in our band tends to work from melody first though. He is much better melodically than me though. Our best songs have generally been based around a melody he has written, harmonised and arranged by the piano player and me.

[seventhson]

Paul McCartney said that "Yesterday" came to him in a dream, and when he woke up, he v1 of the lyrics started as "Ham and eggs".

[JazzMick]

I don't think it should matter which is more common.

If you have a story to tell. Write them down as lyrics, eventually you will have lots of them written down. Then as you are creating melodies and musical ideas I'm sure you will be able to find something that will fit the mood.

Maybe you have a poem or something that suits the sound of a tune you have written. But rhythmically it wont fit? Change the words! Simple. So long as you can find another way to get the same message across.

I don't write lyrical music but that's my 2 cents.

[Madaxeman]

For me, I build the song first, then write lyrics. When writing lyrics, I focus on the words more than the melody or if it fits the underlying chord structure.
This way I can get the sentiment down. If I need to alter the words or phraseology (which I invariably do) it forces me to have better lyrics that aren't as generic because I have to find synonyms or a different way to construct the lyric.
Not sure if you listen to Tori Amos, but she bends and stretches syllables at will to fit the melody, with no regard for any rules of language.

[Malcolm]

With out the story no need for the song, so Lyrics first for me. Verse structure next - four line or five, rhyme or not, three verses and a chorus normally. Chorus is the hook. Chord progression for the rest, tension, climax, resolution and return to rest journey the verse must take is next -- Next is fleshing out the chord progression with the lyric flow - getting the chord change words to match up with the chord's journey from rest, tension, climax and back to rest. This same format is then used in the other two verses and probably will be used for the chorus as well.

Time for melody notes. Should mention here that I write in C - on the keyboard - all white notes - much simpler. To harmonize the melody notes with the chords each should share some of the same notes. If you follow the above structure you already have a pretty good fake chord format going. Flesh it out using chord tones that match the lyric words.

Let's say the word "morning" is over a C chord in your fake chord format. OK you could use a C melody note or a E melody note or a G melody note as those notes are found in the C chord. Which one sounds best? Recite the word "morning" over a C note then over an E note and try the G note. First thing I found is that "Morn-ing" will take two melody notes - I liked E, G best so over the lyric word "Morn-ing" my melody notes will be E G. Next word ..... That will get you a first draft - keep fleshing it out until you are satisfied..

[gold3828]

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