For me, a song starts with an idea in the form of a lyric or phrase or a rhyme. I write poems too, in the same way. They're usually silly stuff triggered by an event or memory or by something someone says or does. For example:

Surgery

I made the decision
To have an incision
Here in the side of my neck

A disc in my vertebrae
Finally wore away
Turning me into a wreck

yada, yada, yada

But songs come with a melody too, or at least the initial phrase or lyric usually does. Sometimes I have a chorus with a melody and no verses. Sometimes there's a verse and a melody but no chorus. In any case, once I have the snippet worked out in my head, I pick up the guitar and find a key that works and figure out the chords for that section. After that it becomes work. My life is littered with unfinished songs.

Interesting thread.

Be well.

Scott

Last edited by olemon; 08/19/20 01:59 AM.
My songs are here:
https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson