The other day I asked the question, “Which comes first? Music or lyrics?” Personally, I’m a music first guy. Even more specifically I’m a vocal melody locked up tight first kind of guy. Today I thought it would helpful to give you a glimpse into my songwriting workflow in hopes that it will inspire and motivate you to go make some more music. Enjoy!
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
Hey Graham,
Another great video. I wish this had been posted earlier though, I’m not a very good song-writer at all. I’ve tried a few times, they didn’t work at all, and then I gave up. I’ve done that a few times but I now know it’s all about experience and throwing away those rubbish ones.
I think I’m the same as you really. The music and the melody will come first. When we were in a band, I would usually come up with something on guitar, the other guys would find parts to go with it, then the singer would put a melody and lyrics to it and it worked really well. I’m not so good with the melody and lyrics but I’ll try your workflow and see if that works for me.
I haven’t joined in with the challenge as yet, but seeing as I’m new to it, I might join but just with one song.
Thanks again for the great video and all the fantastic advice you give us.
How interesting to find out that my workflow is so similar to yours!
For me it’s: Riff > vocal melody > theme (depending of what the melody makes me feel) > lyrics
That song is sounding great, by the way. Can’t wait to hear the final mix.
Cheers!
Me either!
What came first, the chicken or the egg? I recently did a song where I had all the music done, then went and pulled out some lyrics I had written several years ago and used those for the vocal. Now I didn’t look at the lyrics beforehand and write the music to fit them, I just decided when the music was done that I would go back to an old notebook and see if I could find something there that would work. I did, and so used the old lyrics in the ‘new’ song. Now technically, the lyrics came first, but they really had no influence on the music in this case. Ha ha, just kind of having fun with the whole idea I guess. I guess what I really feel is that it doesn’t really matter how you get there, just get there any way you can.90% of the time or more though, I have the music completely finished and then add the lyrics/vocals. For a while recently also, I was getting inspired while driving, so I would pull over, record a few seconds of a lyric or melodic phrase into my phone, and then use that as the seed of my song when I got home. I built dozens of songs with this simple method. All it takes sometimes for me, is just to capture something of that initial inspiration like that, and then the rest just seems to flow into place.
I think that most people you talk to will agree that in music that has vocals, the vocal is the most important part. It’s just human nature I think, that we tend to focus on the human voice in music. Mixing engineers I have listened to, generally have said that the vocal is what should be most out front in the mix. I don’t think this means that it absolutely has to be this way, as I’m not really a believer in ‘rules’ in music. It’s just a widely accepted practice that the vocal gets the top spot. Something to consider when writing your lyrics or singing your vocals I guess, or even when mixing your song. It has made me try to do the best job I can when it comes to my lyrics and vocals, and not treat them as ‘not as important’ as the rest of the song. Peace!
Maybe I should add too that what was interesting also was how little I had to change the ‘old’ lyrics I used to fit the song. I think I cut one line from the chorus so that the lyrics fit into the measure, and not much else.
Graham thank you so much for this video! I recognize every word you say. There is this little thing all songwriters share: the magic of the moment when a song is born. You can’t grab it, can’t smell it, can’t see it, can’t control it… Suddenly IT is there: a song.
Great info. Like you, I like to set some limits to prevent “mission creep” during the writing process. Btw, which Martin is that you’re playing?
This is exactly how I do it too. Except I use random words that might not make sense, and then I will fit them to a theme after I get a melody I like. I always start with a guitar as well. I’m gonna give your humming the melody method a try though, I never thought to do that before. Great Video!
Oh and I also completely agree with you that the lyrics can be AMAZING, but if the melody isn’t there than it wont matter at all. Well said!
I thought I was crazy working like that, but its great, your way is just like mine! I even sing a verse or chorus and than finding the right chords and right rithem, than from basic piano with sung in melody Im building up my song and make the lyrics fit till its in the right place. Your movie gives me convidence, Thanks Graham!! Best regards, Ivo…
Graham,
I’m no young guy, I would be a very late starter as a sole singer by most peoples standards :-). But I started writing music about March of last year. I finally at that point had a computer, DAW, Interface, Keyboard, guitar, Cheap Mic so that I could finally try to develop my Ideas that I have had for songs for years. I have taken on the challenge to release 5 songs on My Mothers Birthday March 31st 2014. I play guitar and Keyboards by ear Ive played at church but have never been a soloist with either. So it has been such a challenge with time but I did want to say that you have provided me with so many tools and Ideas in which to make this dream of mine come true. Thank you for the inspiration and motivation to finally make this come true. Keep it going Man and I look forward to purchasing your EP as well as reviewing more of your content in the future.
AHampton
Beautiful idea, to focus on the melody first. I am a lyric guy, i focus on heart and soul and things that are significant to me or family or friends. But the idea of limiting yourself to your melody can change the song in a wonderful way. I really like the perspective of “how would a listener hear this?” That’ll definitely change my song writing for sure!
Thanks
Jacob
Graham, you’re in great company. This reminds me of the story about Paul McCartney’s original lyrics to “Yesterday:”
Scrambled eggs
Oh, my baby how I love your legs
He had the melody, and put some nonsense words to it until he and John could come up with the final lyrics. Here’s Paul and Jimmy Fallon singing the whole song with alternate lyrics:
Hilarious!
Yes! So true.
Graham,
Though I can see this suggested method as decent a starting point. For a life dedicated to songwriting it would turn out to be somewhat limiting.
My first point is, and this certainly becomes the case once you have been writing for some years, the lyric and the melody often arrive already coupled. As if in the great imaginative mind, filled with countless melodies and words, the two met and decided they were meant for each other. The chord of playing structure in this case would not be first, as suggested, but last.
(Once in a while of course you will find a great riff, Day Tripper for instance, and build a song around it but I don’t believe it would work for long as one’s staple songwriting method.)
One example; there are lots of good songs about the subject of sleep or dreaming. The melody to these will, more often than not have a lazy almost drowsy feel to it. The music and lyric were probably hitched from the very beginning. The music/chord/ or riff structure was then probably dictated by the melody. And, in the cases of first class songwriters, the chosen chords would be not always the first or obvious choice. I know John Lennon would often change the original chord sequence to a Beatles song because it gave up a more interesting counter melody or harmony. If I fell is a great example of this.
Thats said, there are of course many ways to skin a cat.
But thanks you once again for maintaining a camaraderie-like spirit to your videos rather than that of a salesman or lecturer. Your’s is the only recording blog I read regularly so I leave with heartfelt gratitude
.
Billy
Great thoughts Billy!
I love this idea of boundaries .I’ve been writing songs for most of my life and have been fortunate enough to have spent many years as a professional songwriter in Nashville ,with songs on some major artists but I must say so much of that writing time became drudgery due to not having defined hooks and melodies which can be difficult to establish especially in co-writing situations .Its taken me a long time to realize my limitations .I guess You can teach an old dog new tricks !
Thanks Graham ,you always inspire me .
Love it!
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Wow. Thanks. I really love everything you are doing with these videos and blog posts. But why would you want to limit song writing methodologies? There are assets and liabilities to every kind of song writing. Why couldn’t a song idea begin with a rhythm? Or with a lyric? Or a melody? An interesting chord change? An emotion? I drive a delivery van for my day job. Sometimes I will see or think something that spontaneously triggers a melody with lyrics. If I still remember it when I get home I will write down the lyrics and grab my guitar to find the melody. Which seems to pass your test for a good melody. Simple and memorable. Still, I view this as only one method for song writing.
Yes – it is only one method. My favorite method.
Another great informative video as usual. I usually start with the title and create the chorus and work out from there. I find that having a good title phrase also ‘limits’ the millions of possibilities.
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