To all the songwriters...

[Hentricks]

How do you guys write songs? Do you start off with chords then add a melody then lyrics then change the chords to a nice rhythm? Do you first do a cool riff and base everything off that?

Does anyone know how the Beatles or any of the other great songwriters wrote their songs?

[mllebois]

I seem to recall reading about how the Beatles worked on their stuff, at least the earlier stuff. One of them would have a few bars or a riff figured out, then show the other one, who could usually come up with something to add. I think it was Paul McCartney who said that, something about how one of them would do the verse, then the other could usually figure out a bridge. I think he also said that the working title to "Yesterday" was "Scrambled Eggs", just something to fit the beat. I think that Elton John's lyricist wrote the poems and then Elton put it to music. I don't think there is any set way, just whatever works. If I were writing a song, ( which, by the way, I haven't!), I think I would work out a melody line first, then rhythm. Not being a poet, wouldn't know when to fit in the words! So maybe the best thing is to collaborate with a friend? :confused:

[Hentricks]

Thanks mllebois!

Yeah, Yesterday was originally entitled Scrabled eggs...it was a song which came to McCartney in a dream and he just used simple lyrics to get it out of his mind then he changed the lyrics later. I read somewhere that for a while he went around playing the song for people and asked them if they heard the song before. He couldn't believe that something original came to him in his sleep. .... man if i could write songs like him.

[Mr B]

I start off by playing simple chords like A, C, G or D (minor if the song is to be a ballad). You just strum around with them until you arrive at a decent hook. You then play this hook over and over again, take a pen and a piece of paper and write down the first words that come into your head. The way your subconscious mind works is that the words you write will be in tune with that hook you just played on the guitar. Repeat this until you have a verse, a bridge and a chorus. This is how Dylan, Springsteen and Petty write. Take "Born in the USA", it's just the chords A and D.

Born in the USA
A AA DD A

Later on you can change the lyrics to something good (like "born in the USA"), harmonise and give it a riff.

This seems to me to be a good way to write, as it's worked so well for others.

[Spyder]

Depends on the mood, for me.
If I'm poetic-feeling, then I will be writing words, then playing chords.
Usually, though, I'm just strumming until I find a good progression.

[smfulla]

well actually sometimes I start out with a melody
get some chords that work with the melody, and add bass and drums later.
But most of the time, I have a chord progression or a riff that I like, and write a melody to that. (I don't like lyrics, I keep most of my stuff instrumental

[Hentricks]

Thanks everyone for all of your help! This is definitely going to get me going!

[se77en]

For me songs just kinda "hit me" all at once...I hear the whole thing in my head....i just grab the ol 7-string piece of wood and go at it....they pretty much just fall into place after that....like they've got a mind of their own