new band question

[CCTimW]

I'm sure this has been asked hundreds of time but I was unable to find it in a search. My friends and I have started a band and being new to it we been having some problems. I feel we don't really know how to go about writing songs so any experience that anyone could give about the subject would greatly help. Should you first start with the lyrics or the drums or bass or guitar. I'm basically asking when you got four fairly good musician in one place how should you start making music.

Thanks

Tim

[10571z]

well my bands usually rites songs by them selves and then shares them and band practice. its to ahrd to make a riff or watever at band practice you make it before.

[I-cant-sing]

just right the guitar parts first, then the bass, then the drummer just joins in and does his stuff

[Derlinyer]

...Umm, it takes preparation.
You have to write the guitar/bass tabs (words if needed). And then play it numerous times so the drummer can get the right rhythm down.

[killfile]

You do whatever works for you since different things work for different people. There is no "you should start with drums/bass" or "you should start with lyrics". If you dont know what does work for you, try each approach in turn.

[JK_TheJudge]

Just like basically feel the music on which your playing someone start a riff and then just jam it out until you feel like yeh thats a song you want or something thats what i do

[StrangelyBrewed13]

go to the songwriting forum

[jameschez]

i tend to make a bassline up at home then share it at practice and we add and remove parts and once the drummer lays down a beat it all flows.

[justignoreme]

usually a member of your band will come with a little idea and then present it to the rest of you. then you can work on it so that it's 'band' worthy

[Swovy5]

there's a couple methods i've tried that worked:

have someone write a song or riff and come in and share it with everyone, and develope that into a song.

or you guys can just jam and when you guys find something that you like call that a song. then add words later

the latter usually works a little better for me. the reason is when people jam, they usually give it their all, to some degree, for what their particular style suits that jam. that is to say, you'll be making up your own part, so it will always sound good to you. if a member isn't playing well in the jam (unless he's having an off day), then maybe there style isn't suited for that kind of jam or maybe your kind of music. plus, if you guys are jamming, you are sending ideas back and forth in real time, so you're continually making musical progress.

the problem with bringing in a song and sharing it is it could be shot down by the rest of your band. usually that isn't a big deal with just a 2 bar riff or a simple bass line. but if you're a songwriter and you dedicate serious self and time into a song only to have it shot down, it can be a serious ego blow.

on the flip side, if you share a song and your band accepts it, things can go smoothly. or real rough, depending on the personalities in your band. I've been in cases where someone would write a song, bring it in and tell me how to play my part, and then the bass line, and so on. i don't mind a whole lot, i personally like to collaborate and take advantage of the other members experience to optimize music. but i also come from the if-yo're-gonna-be-a-megalomaniac-about-your-songs-then-go-solo school of thought, but thats just me. some people don't like being told what to play, some people do. whatever works for you.