Starting Songwriting: Should Melody or Lyrics Come First? Lessons From Great Examples for Beginners
The Question Every Beginner Asks First When you're starting songwriting, one question almost always comes before everything else: Do I write the melody first, or the lyrics? It sounds simple. But the honest answer — backed by how the world's greatest songwriters actually work — is that there is no single correct answer. As songwriter and educator Hannah Trigwell writes on her blog: "There is no secret formula when it comes to successful songwriting. Everybody has a different process and you just need to find what works for you." Let's look at what real songwriters actually do — and what those examples teach beginners about finding their own process. Approach 1: Melody First — What the Beatles Teach Us The most famous melody-first story in music history belongs to Paul McCartney and "Yesterday." Here's what makes this a great example for beginners: • The melody existed for months before real lyrics were written • McCartney used a placeholder lyri...