[mickeytwonames]

I find it all too easy when I'm coming up with a song to fit chord and lyrics too tightly together. So the words/melody changes on the beat of the chords.  It may be I'm not accomplished enough vocalist (as for example Van Morrison) to be able to know the underlying chord sequence and then vamp over it with freedom of expression. Any advice on how to break out of this habit would be most welcome?

[Boydie]

My advice would be to either:

Record the chord sequence first and write your melody when you play it back - rather than playing the chords and singing at the same time

Or

If you do play along just do a single strum and then sing your melody across the changes