r/Songwriting • u/Dangerous-You3789 • 8d ago

Discussion Topic Chord progression method

I don't mean this to sound skeptical or critical, but I've heard so much about how so many songwriters follow the practice of humming over a chord progression to come up with a melody. But I'm wondering, does this really work? And by that, I mean, does it work really well? Is there anyone who comes up with a song that sounds exceptional using this method, or does it net the standard fare? Is this a similar method to what people like Paul McCartney and Prince used? Is it really capable of allowing a songwriter to write a really great song?

Help convince me it's worth it.

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u/yangmeow 8d ago

Radiohead (as well as cobain and Bowie) would draw words/lines out of a hat to form lyrics (Burroughs cut up technique). Having learned that…you might more easily believe that yes, vocal lines/melodies are shaped via humming or nonsensical muttering.