How do you lead your compositions

[TCwebtime]

Hi,
I’m interested in hearing how other people lead their compositions; I tend to work on a melody then add chords to support and enhance that melody; other times ‘melody and chords’ at the same time.
For more electronic/beat/tech-house stuff I do layering at times.

Do you have a preferred method you stick with?
1) Layering parts to build something
2) Melody first, free from chords’ limitations then add chords
3) Chord structure first, then add a melody to it within those chords’ limitations
4) Both together at the same time, bar after bar

[EOSPete]

I know very little about songwriting but the songs I have made so far have usually started with a chord progression then I scat sing a melody over that and transcribe it. Many times I will duplicate up a chord progression loop with a simple drum pattern as a metronome and then jam a melody for 20 - 30 mins and go through it afterwards chop it into bars and save just the interesting bits then piece those together. I find this is a nice way to find melody but it does rather tie you to that chord progression which at the moment I am then finding difficult to break away from to take the song to another part of its structure. I wouldn't call it song writing - just riff writing at the moment but I am detemined to write something worthwhile.
At the same time I will layer up other parts to give a piece depth and some degree of progression. That said didn't Tangerine Dream build a whole musical career like this?

P

[EOSPete]

Came across these two ideas which have a common theme of a set of prompt cards to beat writers block

http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/brian_eno/oblique/oblique.html?m...


The Frustrated Songwriter's Handbook: A Radical Guide to...
http://shopping.yahoo.com/search/proxy?p=0879308796&field=isbn

The book is well worth a read although I am sure many will disagree with the fundamental message that if you write a lot of music at least some of it will be good.

P

[Keith Gemmell]

I think all four of those methods work. It really depends on style as to which one you use. For conventional instrumental stuff, I try to come up with a strong melody and add chords afterwards. After all, a good melody can support any number of different chord progressions.

Singer/songwriters (which, I'm not) usually mess with a chord sequence and improvise a melody. Trouble with this method is that only a very few of them ever seem to come up with anything worthwhile.

The layering approach (I presume you mean the Dance/Electro approach) can yield very interesting results, in the right hands. Not as easy as some will have us believe to write good Dance music.

I use all of them.

All these methods, though, in my opinion, rely on two critical ingredients: Repition and Variation.

[TheGalacticFederation]

My personal style is to start with a drum track that works for me, then make a bass line that fits. From this I can develop the chord progression and develop the melody from that. It also pays to mix it up and not get stuck in a routine. This ways I can always take my music in new dircetions.

When I write a guitar based song I start with the chords. I always need the chord progression before the melody cause how would I know what key I'm playing in? It gives me structure.

The vocals are usually inspired by the music.

Working with samples is just a matter of mixing it up until you find something that works for you....and it depends how much of a song structure you want. Since I've had computer software, I've tried to push that as far out as I can without completely losing structure of some sort.

I did a project for a sculpture display that was just totally random soundscapes. The only brief was that it had to relate to human body. That was cool.

[Avebury Stones]

Considering I don't know what any particular chord sounds like as compared to a melody I layer parts. All I care about is does it sound musical together when I do. I'm just using loops so I can preview sounds over what I've already layered and work my way down the timeline roughing out a melody or chords. Usually I add the drums much later along with a lot of accents and in my case sometimes Foley FX etc. I'm not typically structured but most of the time I'm working with Spoken Word so it's a bit different than a singer in which case my music is somewhat more structured. It's all about telling a story or entertainment so whatever works the best I do. It comes pretty easy to me now so I guess you can't beat experience....cheers...Mike

[Jace]

I prefer to do my kick group first then other drum and percussion sections second ,adding my chosen synth or bass or guitar sound to support as i go, but it is all based around my drums, and one starting element, which will then progress with layering
and so on.
rules can change according to the project, so really hard to say which way creativity will take me, but the formention rule is ,my starting point..

[Gooster]

Coming from a rock band background, I tend to build on a solid base of rhythm.
Usually I get this right at first, then add my bass, usually represented by a low frequency chord structure.
Once all is right here, I add my top notes, melodies and solos if necessary.

Dont think there's a right or wrong way to do this though.....horses for courses I guess. :)

[Loki Laufeyiarson]

Can't really say I prefer one way or another. Sometimes I start with a drumloop and build around that with all kinds of stuff. Another time I start out with a couple of chords and try to make something out of that. But starting with a melody or even just a couple of loose sounds and try building a song around that is a workflow I often use.
Sticking with one method feels to narrow for me.

[TCwebtime]

Yes, I often find it more 'open' to just work on a melody, no chord restrictions... let the melody flow... then harmonise it.

[Sakura]

Normally I layer everything first, like with the new song,"closer" I layered every guitar with another to compliment it.

[TCwebtime]

Nice energy in closer

[Heskin Radiophonic Workshop]

I normally mix and match my methods. Sometimes I'll be jamming on guitar and come up with something, or sometimes I'll start off with a drum pattern.

I am very keen on developing structure though. I have a habit of leaving the "full on rocking/banging" section to just a few bars - the rest is tantalisation and atmosphere.

I'm currently interested in writing song where the chords share a lot of notes, so only one note out of three or four will change, and perhaps only by a tone.