Doing Harmony First ?

[FuturisticFeel]

Hi, Ive heard usually the chords are played based on the melody, but I was wondering if anyone here thinks of the chord progression first and lays their melodys over that.
The reason I ask is because I think that I can spark ideas for beats easier this way.
THANKS FOR UR HELP, PEACE

 

[dvyce]

it is very common to do it either way

 

[85maestro]

I usually start with the chords then drums & bass to create the groove & then go to the melody, unless I hear a great instrument sound that sparks a melody in my head, & if I'm making a synth-heavy rap beat then I usually start with the melody

 

[bboydru]

i usually freestyle for awhile until i find something i kinda like. then i mess around with what i got at different octaves and using different sounds/voices. when i'm happy, i evolve it into a chord progression, bassline, or full melody depending on the voice and octave at which it sounds best. then building the corresponding elements around it are pretty easy. in other words, i don't necessarily start with chords or the melody first, i just start with some freestyling.