In my band it's a requirement that everyone write songs(even the drummer:).

So far I have noticed I write in a linear fashion. It's not the way I would prefer. It seems a little too chaotic making each part as you go.

I have also noticed that in linear writing people tend to write parts that sound like ends in themselves. So, even though the parts work together the end result sounds like some cut and pasting has went on(instead of one big idea being expressed).

I was curious as to how many of us write in a linear fashion?

Also, for those of you who don't, did you start out writing that way? It seems like a good stepping stone.

In my limited experience, things have worked out best if one of us has an idea or three as far as musical rifs, licks, etc., most of the words and some clue as to what we want format-wise and then we bounce it off eachother to let people write their own parts. The music is still with out a doubt whoever wrote it's creation but it adds a lot more of the band's personality to the music and makes it distinctively yours.

When I was taking music theory, I would write out a series of progressions, then fill in the notes. My instructor was amazed when I told him that I did not hear the music till it was played, instead of writing down something knocking around in my head. Came up with a few pretty good pieces, but that was all mathematical (and theoretical.)

Now, when I come up with something, usually a lick, I work with a guitarist friend of mine and hash it out and use the music theory to build on it. I then end up writing it out just so I don't forget what we finally came up with in the end. Much more fun in my opinion.

ATM

By "linear fashion" do you mean lines instead of chords? Maybe I'm not understaning.

As a bass player, you have an edge, becasue the two most important compositional elements of most songs are the melody and the bass line. This is true in most types of Western music. Have you ever been in chuch when the choir sings a hymn? The melody is usually the soprano (highest) part. That plus the bass part provide the blueprint for the song. The other parts (tenor, alto) fill out the harmonies when two notes aren't enough to give a full chord, but it's (a) the melody, and (b) the bass part that most people hear.

Moving ahead to modern pop/rock/R&B music, the bass and the melody are still the most important elements. So, if you can sing the melody and play the bass line and if they sound good together, the song should work when your band jumps in. This is true even in rap, although harmony is not longer as clearly defined.

Other impotant things are the right drum beat, the right rhythm by the keyboardist or the rhythm guitar, repeasing riffs if desired, instrumental hooks like a bass or guitar line that starts a song or plays between sections, sound effects (from any instrument), countermelodies (that play in the space when the vocalist is taking a breath), and solo and/or instrumental sections.

If you get the BASS/VOCAL MELODY interaction working FIRST, all of this other stuff will fit in correctly. If you don't nail that part down in the beginning, it will take you a lot longer to get something together.

You didn't mention what kind of music you want to write.

In our band each song is originally written by one person. When we try the song out each of us usually plays it there own way.

Our guitarist originally had the idea of doing it that way. He said we would write better songs if we wrote all of the parts when composing. He was right,

By linear, I think he means the way I write: start out with just a very basic line or riff, and add on from there. It takes a lot of work to get all the different sections to work together, but that's my favorite part, so I don't mind. As for everyone writing songs, in my band, I write most everything. The drummer does most of the drum parts and a bit of the lyrics. I guess I'm lucky to have so much influence as the founding member.

By linear I mean chords and feel. When I write I start with rythm g****r.

I think of the other parts while I play the g****r part over and over.

I generally keep the g****r and drum parts real simple considering I'm not proficient at either. On those two instruments I just try to create the right feel of the song(no embellishments).

I tend (probably a bad thing) to be quite fussy -I would write and demo a song in its entirety to give to other band members, complete guitar lines etc. I'd also put a simple drum beat on there as well (just to keep time and give a general idea of what it will sound like with drums). I then tab out the guitar lines.

I don't think I'd be listening to him. Neither would Lennon and McCartney. This approach might work sometimes, but not all of the time.

I agree with the guitar player. If one person writes the majority of the song, it has a better chance of being fully realized and not feeling too "compromised." I've discovered that 95% of my favorite bands take the "one person writes the song" approach. Even if it's credited to the whole band, oftentimes one person writes the song, and the other members put their mark on it with their playing style and help with arranging.

In my band experience, it's always worked best this way, and although I love jamming I've really come to loathe the "let's just jam until we come up with a whole song" approach. Those songs are never as good. If you want complex, interesting parts that weave in and out perfectly and don't crap all over eachother, you really have to sit down and work out all the little details. If two people are used to working with eachother this way it can work, but oftentimes one person will have the clearest vision for a song. Some compromise is usually healthy for a band's well-being, but too much compromise can easily ruin a song.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always understood that with Lennon/McCartney, whoever sang lead was the principal writer of the song.