Originally Posted by Brian Krashpad

I prefer a more integrated, organic approach. I write lyrics along with melody, and do so without picking up an instrument. Once I have the whole thing written, a capella as it were, I pick up a guitar and figure out the chord progression, and, if necessary, melody notes. By writing this way you don't have to know much theory, if it works as a song first, with no instruments, it'll be fine once you add them. You do have to know your instrument well enough to figure out chords for the a capella song, however. An upside of writing with voice only however, is that one tends to write only what one can sing, rather than something that can be outside the range of your singing voice.

Originally Posted by bandteacher1

I type whicked fast,