Is there a right way to compose a song? I'm an amateur composer (never went to music school or anything) and I usually like to start with a melody then add instruments afterward, and if any lyrics that's last... But is there a correct way to compose? I heard some people say you should get a bass line / drum beat first then assign the lyrics to a melody and lastly put in accompanying instruments.

In all honesty, there isn't a right "way" to compose a song/piece/etc. Even at [my] music school, Composition teachers/Departments don't put emphasis on "how" to compose and write music, rather it's "what" you're writing.

Hope this helps a little bit; there's lot of people here (free... which is always a good thing) with experience in Composition, in many styles.

I have the following quotes around my piano, all from Debussy. I consider them long and hard before I attempt to write anything.

1. Collect impressions. Don’t be in a hurry to write them down.

2. There is no theory. You have only to listen. Pleasure is the law.

3. Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.

4. Extreme complication is contrary to art. *particular one I have trouble with- listen to most of the things in my own thread which could probably have gotten closer to my intentions with half the sheer volume of notes*

It would be completely pointless for me to replicate what Debussy did and the point of the above is not for me to write in Debussy's style. I just think that together they form the best compositional advice I have ever received: allow yourself to absorb the sound of your influences without becoming too concerned with how they work, which pretty much summarises all four of the quotes. If you learn how a piece works, all that teaches you is how to replicate it either by playing it or by writing something like it- and you don't need to write anything like it, it's been done.

There is no correct order to do the steps in at all, but it's usually easier to get the melody first. Then again, some people do that after the bass line.

As long as you get everything in there, the order is completely up to you.

Also, just sit in a quiet room when you compose. If you have a tv on, or music the background, you won't be able to compose like that. When you come up with a song, your using what is called your "Muse". Which iswhen your subconscious sings those song ideas to you. This usually happens a lot in your sleep. This is why some composers like to write a line or so after they firstwake up in the morning, because when you first wake up is when it's easiest to remember your dreams.

If you come up with a good idea that you want to use, write it down right away. even if your positive that you will remember it, you will most likely forget it.

If you have trouble coming up with a Bass line, go for a walk. The different pitches of your footsteps can actually work pretty well if you change the duration of them. Of course, youwant to try other methods too.

That's all I can really think of right now, but I will post some more tips for you soon.

Sorry for the amateurish music theory, but by bassline do you mean the chords? If this is so then in writing the melody you would get all the chords for the melody since it has to match the (notes/key, etc...) melody right? Then with the chords figured out you can figure out the notes to go with the bassline?

Yes, but don't always use chords for it. Sometimes plain chords ruin a piece. Instead you could try writing a small background melody to use instead, it can make the simplest of pieces sound better. Of course, if your going for a slow piece, use chords.

I just want to jump in here to make a little suggestion...

Chords, as discussed above, aren't the same as "harmony" really. Yes, chords outline the harmony at the present state, however they shouldn't be though of as the harmony of the piece (which I feel is being discussed right now...). When you're writing a piece of music, make sure you have a steady harmony throughout the piece, and using chords to outline that harmony when you see fit.

Another suggestion, is that you can use simple chords, and plain chords in pieces. Honestly, anything is a go. You don't even "need" to use chords for slow pieces either. Whatever comes to you in your head should be what you write down on paper. When you come to the editing process of your composition can you start adding more and subtracting from your original idea to make to sound "more correct" and so on, etc.

Harmony, that's the word I'm looking for..... Fail on my part.... -.-