Songwriting Tips: Which comes first - Music or the lyrics?

The music or the lyrics: Which comes first?

It's a time-honored question.

And the time-honored answer?

Well, it really is up to you!

But you knew I was going to say that. Yes, perhaps it was predictable, and maybe it's what everyone else says - but if it ain't broke, don't fix it, eh?

So many budding songwriters get bogged down with this issue, wondering whether to pen some words first, and make a piece of music to fit them, or vice versa. They get concerned about what is the 'right' way to write songs. And, when it comes down to it, even if you searched everywhere you could for the definitive answer, there really could be only one: That there is no 'right' way.

You could liken it to making a cup of coffee. Some people pour the boiling water on to the instant coffee and then add the milk. Others prefer to add the milk first, and then the water. The end result is really the same (and actually a great tool to keep that songwriting brain stimulated, I find!).

For me, I don't really like adding the milk first. But that's just me.

Enough of the simile, though, you might say, quit beating around the bush. This does say 'songwriting' articles, after all.

So, it all depends on you. What kind of songwriter are you? Do you love coming up with a tune first? Perhaps your lyric writing skills are where you draw inspiration. Whichever you are, it might be worth mentioning that perhaps the best writers don't get stuck in just one way of writing. One day they'll start humming a tune, the next they'll write a few lines...in the end they'll still have come up with (hopefully) a great song, whichever way they began.

To make things even more complicated - or even more vague, depending on how you see it! - there is another option: The lyrics and the music at the same time.

When writing personalized songs, this is often the technique that I use, as I have a lot of information about the song recipient, as well as the customer's chosen song style - so, sitting down and working on both parts at the same time means I can write lyrics and music which really compliment each other. In fact, rather than writing a piece of music for some lyrics, or the other way round, you can actually come up with a song which sounds altogether more 'whole' if you work on both parts simultaneously.

On the other hand, it is rare that lyric and musical inspiration hit you at the same time (it is only apparent in the above example due to the nature of personalized songs). I can be doing absolutely anything - from eating my dinner, to walking the dog, to playing tennis - and a piece of music will suddenly hit me. I'll start to hum a few notes, perhaps a main melody or a guitar part, and I'll find that I can't stop humming it. Then I'll either record it on my handy little ipod or Dictaphone, or rush home to work on it straight away.

Then again, there are other times when I'll suddenly think of a great line, or perhaps a few words or a phrase which would work great as a lyric or song title, and I'll start my song process from there.

It really doesn't matter which way I began - the end result is still a song.

Song writing is all about you, and how you want to do it. Write in the way that feels the most comfortable, the most natural to you, and you'll find that your best songs will flow. Try and force yourself to work in one style, however, and your songs will be stilted and lifeless.

So, I'll finish this article with a few corny, Disney-esque words for you: Just follow your heart.

By Alan Law, of www.give-a-song.com.