There are many ways to start writing a song.
You can start with a melody, chords, a riff, a drum rhythm, lyrics, anything.
Questions: Which way is right?
Answer: Whatever leads you to making a song.
Years ago I got every single book on songwriting, engineering, producing and mixing songs from the entire Ohio library system sent to my local library and then I read them all.
Some said you HAD to to do melody first, others said chords first, others said you HAD to do this or that in a specific order.
But one book interviewed well known artists and bands and there were examples of every approach you can imagine. Or many approaches I should say.
The lesson we can learn from that is there is no one way you “have” to follow.
I, for example, start with anything and then mainly improvise every track, instrument by instrument until the song is done.
You may find a way or 2 ways or a lot of ways, but don’t follow someone’s guidance as if they are talking math and not a creative effort.
Don’t bother arguing with them, just don’t follow their insistence that one way is THE way.
Be willing to try it out, but also be willing to set that aside and try other ways.
So, how about just start with anything in any way and go from there. Over time you’ll find a way or ways that works.
The important thing is to start a song and if nothing happens try something else.
Oh, and one last thing… don’t worry about if anyone will like it or get bogged down in the “perfect” guitar tone or whatever. You can always change elements of it later, just start one and move forward.
Ok?
Peace.
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