what comes first if i write a song,the guitar chords or the bass or the drumms.?

Answer 1

Sometimes the melody comes first. At other times the words come first and later evoke the melody. Sometimes a more 'background' melody in the bass line comes first and commands a complimentary chordal structure and/or melodic foreground from the other instruments. It just depends on where your imagination takes you.

The drums are supposed to compliment the other elements in the song. Usually they are to be felt and not heard. So, the percussive qualities of the other instruments should be emphasized by the drums with great reservation--of course, an exception to this could be heavy metal and hard rock, but still, these genres also adhere to such principles to a large extent.

In song writing its best to know what you like to listen to most. Do you like catchy chord progressions? If so, work on making something that sounds great to you.

Do you like powerful lyrics? Then concentrate on writing the most compelling words. The rest should follow on its own. Thats whats so great about the music making process. Its fluid. Its often improvised. The best songs to me are the ones that sound great while also sounding like they were written with little work.

Also something good to remember: The best songs seem to be the most simple and the most straightforward. Find out what you like most about the simple aspects of music. If it sounds good to you then do it and never stop. Just keep doing it because you like it and for no other reason. Usually if it sounds good to you then it will sound just as good to someone else.

Good luck.

Answer 2

What comes first is whatever you want to come first.
When I write music, I usually either start with the lyrics or a riff of some sort, and then I build that into something. Occasionally, I hear a vocal line in my head, and have to figure out the chords for it.
I do have 3 songs that I have written that started as bass riffs.

There are as many ways for people to write songs as there are people writing songs. The best way for you to write is to do whatever comes naturally for you.

Answer 3

u dont need any guitar chords,bass or drums to write a song.writing a song can just mean writing lyrics.but i think it would be easier if u put the guitar chords in first

Answer 4

Whichever you have the best idea of, or whatever you're best at writing you should start with that first.

But assuming you already have lyrics written out, the percussion would be the next logical step since the rhythm and meter of the lyrics should pretty much dictate how the percussion is going to sound, after that, the melody can be written, then the supporting instrumental/chords.

Answer 5

Generally the chords since that's the meat of the piece. The bass line should reflect the chords, and the drums should match the rhythm obviously. Personally, I write the drums part through trial and error through improvising; which drum or cymbal I should use.

Answer 6

Many of the best songs were poems, first.
Once you have your lyrics and decide what the melody will be, then write your chords for it. Your bass line and drums can be manipulated for emphasis.