I'll give you a bump....from my perspective.

I've only written a few instrumentals over the decades.
For an instrumental to hold my attention it can't be too long and there must be a motif that is revisited appropriately through out the composition.
Otherwise, instrumentals can become dull and uninteresting unless one actually prefers the guitar-centric/ambient/soundscape/soundtrack genre.

For me:
1) The subject I choose to write determines whether it's a minor/major tonality
2) I don't try to create a complex batch of fret board chord gymnastics.
3) How I phrase my lyrics determines what melody (lyrics inclusive) I go with.
4) I do countless takes (because I suck at singing) to get that melody take.
5) Of course, then harmonies will fall into place.

Don't know if I've deviated or not but thought I'd comment.

Carry on....


Last edited by chulaivet1966; 08/17/20 01:22 PM.