Which comes first, the music or lyrics?

[jmplayer]

For me, it's music.

[Zydar]

Definitely music. I struggle a lot with lyrics, while the music comes much more easier and natural.

[Adami]

Music for me.

[Jamesman42]

Music for me.

[Infinite Cactus]

Sometimes it's music. Sometimes it's lyrics. Most of the time  though, I have an idea of a feeling or mood I want to capture so I'll write both almost simultaneously with the music coming slightly before the lyrics/lyrical ideas.

[ReaperKK]

Music, I can't seem to develop any talent for writing lyrics. Most of the songs I've written have no lyrical content, few have some from me and some from my buddy who writes lyrics (among other things).

[Ħ]

If I were to write, I'd write lyrics and music side by side....so I'd write a few lyrics, and then write accompanying music.  I like it when the music and lyrics play off each other.

[The Silent Cody]

Definitly music, but I love when music is connected with lyrics, you know. Sad lyrics - sad song, word "scream" - some screaming - guitar sound. For example

[ScioPath]

Poetry and music are two individual art forms and should both be respected equally as such.

[PuffyPat]

In my opinion, it really depends. You could write some lyrics, and depending on what it's about it could heavily influence the music that goes along with it. Same goes for the other way around. Although, I usually start with the music, but that's just because I never write any lyrics (I'm a "stereotypical" drummer).

[MasterShakezula]

Um, similarly, when writing music, do you guys prefer starting with a chord progression, or do you start with melodies?

[jsem]

Um, similarly, when writing music, do you guys prefer starting with a chord progression, or do you start with melodies?

Probably needs a separate thread. I always do music first though.

To the OP: Always music first. I'm not much of a lyricist myself either, I suck at it.

[ScioPath]

Um, similarly, when writing music, do you guys prefer starting with a chord progression, or do you start with melodies?

I generally just jam and refine.

[Sketchy]

Music: I'm not good at poetic use of language. I come up with utter drivel half the time.

When it comes to the music, it depends. If I'm at the keyboard, it tends to be chord sequences, if it's on the bass, it's usually a riff. If I'm jamming with a friend of mine, it's always riffs, because for that, I'm on the bass pretty much exclusively.

That said, I do have a habit of putting in some quite chordy riffs, as I just tend to play like that if left with a bass and some time.

[Progmetty]

I write music and lyrics but never are able to put them together. The problem: I find it impossible to come up with a singing melody that doesn't go exactly -or very close- with the music, if I have the music ready I can't make the lyrics fit without facing that problem and obviously if I have lyrics ready I can't make music especially to fit it. Real shitty problem.

[MetropolisxPt1]

Music and chord progression > lyrics and Melody

[Mosh]

Music. And melody. If it doesn't have melody it isn't that good. I find it sad that people don't rank Tuscany high because of it's lyrics, surely the incredible music makes up for the lyrics. Which you can barely understand in the first place.

[GasparXR]

Music. And melody. If it doesn't have melody it isn't that good. I find it sad that people don't rank Tuscany high because of it's lyrics, surely the incredible music makes up for the lyrics. Which you can barely understand in the first place.

Actually I heard 99% of TCOT clearly the first time through. The Later DT albums are easier to understand IMO.

Ontopic, most of the music I'm writing right now is based on various lyrics, so the music is meant to tell the story or convey an emotion. Despite that, I consider them equal. I like songs to have very poetic lyrics (although it doesn't bring the song down for me if the lyrics aren't that good -- TCOT for a great example, the music is excellent) alongside having excellent, engaging, emotional melody and chord progressions.

[Dark Castle]

Because I'm just a singer primarily, (I attempt to play drums as best as I can for my lass's band)  I tend to write lyrics first, and let my friend handle the music aspect while I describe what I hear when I'd be singing.

[DejaVu]

When writing more complex, longer and progressive songs, music should definately come first. Writing lyrics initially and trying to direct the band to what they sound like is an extremely hard task, so what we normally do now is think of a concept/back-story/theme, start jamming ideas out, then construct the song bar by bar instrumentally.

For shorter ballad-style songs, I normally write the lyrics down first though, it works easier like that.

[Elite]

Depends on the thing we're writing. Most of the time the music comes first, but also in a lot of cases, we write lyrics first and try to fit the music around them.

I don't have any clear cut answer on this one, both are equal really.

[aparadoxindeed]

Definitely music first!  I always feel like it's better to set the mood (backdrop) first, and then fill in the specifics with the lyrics.  Any way that works is good though, of course!