Use of Leads in a Track?

[SkairkroNY]

So, music theory in general is a hurdle i have absolutely struggled to get over since day one.
I need to know - what is it advised to be written first, the bassline, or the lead that it's based on?
Lastly, what kind of scales are usually used in electro/complextro? Because I feel like no matter what I try, no matter what key I use, it always sounds like some imbecile tried to write a Datsik melody.
What chords are used most, as in, what kinds of melodic progressions would prove most useful in a complextro track?

[fragments]

If you are basing the bass line on the lead, how can you write the bass first? Just sayin man...think about your words, what seems logical?

Either can work. If Im doing a bass oriented tune where the bass is going to drive both the melodies and the rhythm of the track I write it first. If the bass is going to play a supporting roll in the melodies, I will right a lead first.

You could probably load up your omg fav electro track into something like Mixed in Key and go from their figuring out chords by ear.

But seriously, I cant imagine a contemporary, commericial electro track being more melodically complex than Datsik.

The chords and melodies that work best for electro tracks are which ever ones you can use to make a good tune. Its your lack of music theory knowledge and not the fact that there are prefered chords and melodies for electro that are making your tracks fall flat.

I read several computer musician oriented music theory books. The one that helped me the most was Raven Spirals Guide to Music Theory (pretty sure its free still). He speaks from a piano roll, electronic music, DAW perspective a lot of the time.

A friend of mine, who used to teach piano part time, told me that typically adults do better learning about chords first then their relationships to melodies. Everyone talks about learning scales first, but for me it clicked when I learned chords and their relation to melody. When Ive written one, it defines the other for me. I couldnt even tell you what key or scale Im working in, but the compositions are getting better all the time.

[titchbit]

you don't need to write ur song like a classical piece. ur bassline and "lead" can be unrelated if you want. and genre can use any kind of chord. probably major is most common since that stuff is overly happy.