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Music to fit the words, or words to fit the music?

PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,649
in Musicians and Gearheads
Seems like words to music is my go to. But timing changes a bit. Any thoughts?
Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23

Comments

  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,331
    Music to fit the music and words.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,649
    So do you prefer to have a preset drum track and adjust your music to fit, or write music/words and add drums after? Or just a kick drum to keep a basic beat, leaving room for a drummer to create their part?
    Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
  • xtremehardy388xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    The best songs I've written have been done in under 5 minutes---just the moment and mood I'm in. I'll find a chord or riff I like and then piece the music together followed by the lyrics. For one song (my favorite) I figured out the riff and then the chords. For a few years I used different lyrics until I got a call from one of the subjects of the song. In that moment, I wrote the lyrics. As you may guess, it was about one of my exes.
    Grand Rapids '04, Detroit '06
    JEFF HARDY AND JEFF AMENT USED TO LOOK THE SAME
    "Pearl Jam always eases my mind and fires me up at the same time.”-Jeff Hardy
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    music comes first in the form of a humming or rudimentary-lyric melody line.
    Then I figure out what chords they are.
    Then the words are refined or added to.

    let's go!
    image
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Done it both ways. The majority of the time I write the music first. And a majority of that time when I'm writing the music first I usually hear a lyric or melody, and I just build off that.

    In more resent years and after writing a bunch of songs that way I started challenging myself to write music to words/ lyrics, melodies etc...
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    Most of the songs I've written started with music first, then I hummed a lyric melody and added lyrics to finish the song. Usually I start with a chorus and then build verses/bridges.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    sometimes i have words first and a lot of times they sit around for months until i come up with music. to me it is easier to edit the words or change them around to fit the music. sometimes i have a chord progression in mind and play it over and over til a theme pops into my head and write from there.

    the best songs are the ones that are really spontaneous though.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,987
    Bernie Taupin wrote all the lyrics and then gave them to Elton John so he could write music to fit the words. Seemed to work pretty well, lol. ;)
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    edited November 2015
    gimmesometruth27 said:


    the best songs are the ones that are really spontaneous though.

    I agree. Pretty much all my songs just came to me without much thought or effort.
    I'd pick up my guitar and play around and like the sound of it then hum something and add lyrics.
    I see people I know labour over their songs for weeks, I feel maybe I should take more time but then again, I might overdo it and kill the song.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
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