Stupid Question

[Exploited-Monster]

This is my first time on the songwriting and lyrics forum . . . so this may sound very stupid but while trying to write a punk rock song what should you come up with first, the drums the bass or the guitar or the lyrics. What's an order that should work. Or is there not one? Basically what I'm trying to ask is how do you write a punk rock song?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Three powerchords and a root note bass line. Tada.

[bigskinny2006]

dont write punk songs
lol sorry i just had to

[killfile]

APS is right. Most punk is simple. You could just do a I-IV-V powerchord progression on guitar, bass plays root notes, change chords for chorus - voila, instand punk song.

[ClayTheJ]

No no no all wrong, you forgot the classic B Bar Chord to E Bar Chord move.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

No no no all wrong, you forgot the classic B Bar Chord to E Bar Chord move.

Oh snap. That's hot.

[ClayTheJ]

Fer shizzle

[Bob'sYourUncle]

I always just assumed that the guitar came first, bass on top of that, then drums, then lastly lyrics.

Guitar=3 powercords
Bass=16th (or 32) notes throughout, has to be open A for at least half the song
Drums=Basic 4/4 beat at 190 BPM
Vocals=Scream so no one can understand you anyway, but make the words seem political (extreme left wing only).

But everyone knows that the look for punk is way more important than the songs.

[ABulldog]

NOPE! You are all wrong. Punk rock comes from the lyrics. Real punk is about politics, and anti-establishment ethics. Sex/drugs and music that is DIY, hippies that reject the peace and love image. It is about anti-mainstream. Which means the opposite of pop-punk. If it is popular, then it goes against the ideologies of punk. What everyone is use to is hearing that the Ramones, the kings of 3 chords, are the creators of punk rock. Not true. Many people consider bands such as Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground as being the first punk rockers. Listen to the music it isn't 3 chord based.

So, true punk starts with the lyrics and they have to be about what goes against the "norms of society". If what you sing about later become the norm, then you aren't punk any more. You are mainstream. You can back it with any type of music that you wish.

Take the cramps. They are considered to be Rockabilly, but they are a true definition of punk.

So write your lyrics and learn how to put them to music. If you have aspirations of being famous, then don't try to be punk. You will be considered pop-punk, which is the opposite and confuses the hell outta people.

[Exploited-Monster]

Oh believe me I don't plan on being famous. And punk is good music and a bad attitude. And sometimes offensive lyrics. Don't worry . . . no matter how many people like it punk will never become mainstream. Punk is what the public makes it. That's a bad thing about society. So who cares whatever anyone else thinks or what it's for, if you don't like the government or green day it is yours to do with it what you will . . . Take Sid Vicious for example. He is not punk. Johnny Rotten is or was for that matter. Sid Vicious was a follower and copied Johnny Rotten. He could't even play bass. Yet the public has made Sid Vicious the hero of punk and ther's nothing anyone or anything can do about it.