It depends on what I want the song to be. If I want a groove based production, I usually start with bass and percs for example. If I want something melodic, I do something melodic.

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Originally posted by floyd741 Without a doubt it's always the chords or, at least, some semblance of progression. I would love to say I put down whatever I can think of but that's simply not the case, I always have a basic chord structure in mind and I write melodies/bass lines accordingly. A few times I have thought of the melody prior to the chord progression but those are always extremely simple. Any complex or involved melodies (my bass lines are never complex) are always a result of a chord progression.

+1. This is exactly what I do, down to every word.

write round the melody

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Ive only made one track but i think my method will generally be, chords first then everything built around that, however my next trak im starting with the kick and base line but I think once I master certain things it will be Chords > Melody > Baseline > Percussion

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Originally posted by msz i ride the cowbell. usually start with melodics(sp?), then bass and groove. on more of a techy track i start with bass.

personally i can't start with chords because i find a lot more complicated making a melody form chord progression than making the chords once you've the melody...

Is melody really number 1?!

I usually start it off with kick and bass

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First step in the creative process is seven shots of whiskey.

Actually it might be amusing to have a drunken production contest. Have everyone get toasted and bash out a track in a few hours, then vote on the best one.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles First step in the creative process is seven shots of whiskey. Actually it might be amusing to have a drunken production contest. Have everyone get toasted and bash out a track in a few hours, then vote on the best one.

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Nepsis N7 (2014) • Ableton Suite 9 • Bitwig Studio • Audio Technica ATH-M50WH • Equator D5
NI Komplete 9 • Synapse Dune • Kilohearts kHs ONE • reFX Vanguard • LennarDigital Sylenth1 • Hamburg-Audio Nuklear

being seriously, did you find yourself more creative after a great party the last night?

My best tracks were produced a day that i was suffering a particularly hard hangover, science behind this? Maybe you are more sensitive and when something sounds wrong there is a physical response with pain, you know some sounds make your head explode so alcohol may be your friend!

You see a lot of bands and composers having a bottle of jack daniels on the top of his piano too.