Finding Your Songwriting Style: Should Beginners Start with Melody or Lyrics?

 Starting songwriting can feel overwhelming when you don't know where to begin. One of the first questions every beginner asks is simple yet crucial: should I write the melody first or the lyrics? The truth is, there's no single right answer. 

There is no set rule that says one has to come before the other, and successful songwriters use both approaches.

Understanding Songwriting which Comes First Melody or Lyric

When Starting Songwriting with lyrics, you're building from your message outward. If you choose the Songwriting which Comes First Melody or Lyric method, your lyrics are probably going to be well thought out, and they'll likely capture the words you really want to say. This approach works particularly well if you have a story or emotion you need to express.

Great examples for songwriting beginners:

• Bob Dylan is known for a lyrics-first approach. For his famous song "Blowin' in the Wind," Dylan wrote the lyrics before he had any melody in mind.

• "All My Loving" was composed lyrics first, music later, with Paul playing the piano and finding a melody to accompany the words.

Exploring the Melody-First Approach

Starting with melody means your music shapes the emotional landscape of your song. When you go the Songwriting which Comes First Melody or Lyric route, you tend to write songs with definitive structures and melodies that are both catchy and balanced. This approach can help you create more immediately engaging compositions.

Great examples for songwriting beginners:

Great Examples for Songwriting Beginners: David Bowie and producer Brian Eno started "Heroes" with the instrumental track, experimenting with different sounds and effects. As the music evolved, Bowie wrote the lyrics, drawing inspiration from the mood of the music.

Finding What Works for You

Your genre and personal style matter significantly. More lyric-heavy styles like rap or country often work well lyric first, and more music-heavy styles like pop ballad or dance track often work well music first.

The most important thing? Some folks find their groove by working with words first, while others need to get the melody down before anything else clicks. It's really about figuring out what feels natural for your creative flow.

As you begin your songwriting journey, experiment with both approaches. Try writing lyrics one week and melodies the next. Pay attention to which method feels more natural and produces better results for you.