I can't tell you how many songs that I've written on the toilet. Long before I knew EVH did that too. If we were suck for a part my bassist would tell to go home, sit on the pot to figure it out. Normally I'd write the songs at home by myself. I'd have the verse and chorus and sometime a pre-chorus, basically an outline. Then I'll show it to the band and we'd jam on it. Then we'd tweak it, figure out if it needs another part or a part that need reworked. I don't smoke so I'll noodle around when when someone steps out. I'll playing something mindless, not even paying attention. Someone will say stop, play that again. Songs have came out of that. Alot of those are writtem on spot as as you'd hear it. I played a part, naturally switch to another part or two. That's it, come up with an intro and we got another song. I have been baned from noodling at practice before because we'd have too new many songs in the oven at once. My favorite part of playing guitar is creating.

Back in the day when I had nothing but spare time I would get and idea for song either lyric, music or sometimes both.  I would set down and work out the entire song music and lyrics usually with a day.

Now things are more complicated.  Same process for the most part, but it takes weeks or months.  Riffs and other ideas are recorded so they aren't forgetten.  Lyrics written down along the way or after the fact.   Then at some point it all gets force fit together and evolves into a song.

I liked it better old way when things were done concurrently.  The songs are equally good/bad hit/miss regardless of method.

"I can't tell you how many songs that I've written on the toilet."

Me too...but the problem is to get everything else (funny stories, jokes, rubbish, ect) out of my head. Toilets are so creative!

My problem is that I have music in my head (only if I´m NOT concentrated). Oh, the music is not the problem-only to make it louder!

I used to have one of those little mini tape machines and used it EVERYWHERE! In my car, rehearsal, shopping, work, etc. If I ever got an idea I would sing into it or say the lyric or song title that would inspire a complete song. Sometimes I even find a little piece of paper in my wallet or laying around somewhere with a cool little lyric, concept or song title on it. Many a song were written like that! Now I have a voice recorder on my cell phone that I use for it. I have the capapbilities to record all the drums, bass, keys, guitars, etc. at my disposal so when I present a song to the band it is pretty much complete. I just tell the guys to do their thang but to kinda stay in the ballpark.

I love the epiphany toilet idea! LOL!!   

cgtrox

Our band tends to write almost everything in the rehersal room. Normally the drummer comes up with a beat or the guitarist with a riff and they'll jam it out a bit, then the rest of us will throw ideas arounds untill something comes out of it. Then we record it on my cellphone voice recorder so we can remember it haha.

I have a small cassette recorder my Wife got me and I use it when beats/ or riffs climb into my ear drums!! Sometimes.... I'll be sleeping at night and a riff comes in and I have to get up. Turn on things and record that thing before I forget it!! When I write stuff for my solo stuff I start with the drums (yeah weird !). Then guitars and everything else. I don't know how many tunes I've made backwards!! Did the ending first, then the rest of the tune!

For me, lyrics seems to present themselves in my head at the most inopportune times. It's not one of those activites where you can set aside a specific time, sit down and start writing. I mean, sure, sometimes it works out that way, but very rare. Usually extreme life-events inspire (or someone else's life-event; I've always been able to mentally put myself in their shoes and feel what they're going through, and create lyrics from that).