How do you write songs? Do you write the music first and fit the lyrics in after?
Or do you try to write riffs to fit with the lyrics or melody or whatever.
Just curious to find out different ways of writing songs.

It doesn't matter. Just do it the way you wan't.

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I usualy write the music first and fit lyrics to it, but while im writing it I kind of have a sort of idea where the direction of the lyrics will go or the subject matter, and write the music based around that

It really depends on what you create first, being a guitarist I tend to write riffs first and then structure it or amend it when I start adding vocal/lyrical ideas. Though sometimes I'll have a real good idea for vocal melody and create a riff to fit around it. It's just really what ideas you have at the time.

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I dont write alot of songs , but me and my mate like to
try to make up riffs , and in time turn them into songs.

We usually set a mood and a wierd name , like Trolls in the dark
from Rhapsody , and then create riffs we like to fit that
kind of mood!

Dont know if anyone else does that.. but it works for us!

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Not quite so serious yet; but me and my bassist friend like to improvise around some theme or mood. That's the blessing of scales.

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Everyone does it differently, but one helps the other. If you write the guitars first, the vocals can be easily written over the guitar. If you write the vocals first, that can give you some melody to go on for the guitars.

There isn't a set way to do it, most people use a mix of the two.

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How long have you been playing anyway?
What me and my mates do it just yell out a key and type of scale and go from there. Alot easier when we only had one guitarist...it may also depend on who you are making the songs with. Thier abilities and knowledge of music will vary from yours. I dont think there is a right way to write music

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I usually try to write late at night, that's when all the creative juices start flowing.

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Most of the time you write the music first.. I read a Slayer interview and Kerry was talking about how the only Slayer song that was built around the vocals was Spirit in Black.. And as far as writing music goes....just play and shit.. You can either write good shit or you can't, so just play...

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About ten years. In a band at the moment writing originals. First song was written on guitars with lyrics added in afterwards. It's great having two guitarists coz he writes riffs that i wouldn't write and vice versa, so the songs are a blend of what we both like. A good mix of thrashy riffs, chunky riffs, tremolo black metal riffs, power riffs etc. and each song sounds different coz we don't have a "blue print" on how to write a song. Also i love doing different harmonies in the vain of Death and Testement. I was just wondering how different guitarists approach writing music and maybe try different ways of writing songs.
Cheers

I write songs riff by riff. For each riff, I have an idea - not always something I am humming in my head, but also some sort of pattern or ideas for harmonies and timing - I don't always know how it will eventually turn out. I write the music on gp4. Often each riff is based around one instrument providing the core melody or rhythm, and then I write complimenting riffs for the other instruments.
I write instrumental music, so lyrics are not a problem.

As for real songwriting, all of the two songs I have so far made have started as as basic chord progressions. One was some basic major and minor chords and then on from there, the other a bunch of power chords. I find it a good approach to start like that to get a feeling of the direction and rythm and then build riffs based on that.

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I rip it riff by riff or progression by progression. Sometimes the rhythm comes first and build a lead of it. Sometimes I rip a lead and build the rhythm around it. There's been a few pieces where I started with an underlying bass melody and built off it.

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sometimes ill listen to a ton of different genres of music and different artist for hours to get some inspiration and ideas, and then ill take the ideas that i get form those different genres and make it metal. ive written some really interesting melodies like this

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I usually compose the song, than write lyrics that match the melody of the song, but for the current song I am almost finished (Red Masked Phantom) I did it the opposite way, I wrote the lyrics than composed the instruments riffs that matched to it. After that I played the song and sang the lyrics; I can never do the singing without listening to the instrumental riffsThe result was pretty darn good. Do it the way that is easiest for you, there are no rules

For some odd reason I write the lyrics first. So that way I can get a sense of what the song is about and how I want to represent the content musically.

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I usually write the riffs then show them to you then jam on them.
Seems to be working so far.

I just will be listening to a song like yester day I was listening to Megadeth's take no prissoners and after I heard it I tried to write a good thrash song so bassicallly I get inspirration