What is a good way to compose music?

There are many ways. I was taught, initially, to compose using the traditional Western tools: diatonic and modal harmony and their implied rules, traditional counterpoint and ITS rules, meter, tempo, polyrhythms, sectional song structure (ABA, AABA, ABCBA, etc.)... and then I was taught (and/or learned independently) reharmonization techniques, serial composition and 12-tone theory, and a variety of ways in which, knowing the rules, I could BREAK them in a way that was effective (and often pleasing) musically (dissonance the most generally familiar example, but by no means the only one). And, of course, I learned the principles of instrumentation/orchestration -- the pitch ranges and timbral characteristics of instruments and instrument families, both alone and in their interaction. All of this was done on paper, using traditional notation. At some point the technology of MIDI and digital audio recording pulled me in, and I began composing using those tools: first step-sequencing compositional ideas directly, converting them to traditional notation to proof them, elaborate on them, and flesh them out, then eventually playing them directly into the technology, doing the elaboration in real time.... I was a performer most of my professional life, so that workflow resonated with me. There are many ways to convert musical ideas to delivered product these days, and each of us (I think) eventually finds his or her most fluent tool. I do believe that the more tools with which we are familiar, the better off we are.

I don't write songs the way Billy Joel does, by first thinking of the music and then forming words that convey the mood that the music implies to him.  My songs all begin as poems and then  I think of music that fits the meter of the poem. So I'm guessing I won't be writing an instrumental.

I have a lot of ideas while just noodling on the guitar. If an idea comes to me which I feel is worth something, I record it on my phone. I revisit the idea after a few days, to see if it still excites me, if it does, well then I proceed, otherwise no. That being said, there have been occasions, when music and lyrics have presented themselves simultaneously to me, so in those cases, just go with the flow. And last but actually the most important. Composition of music is output, for any sort of output you need input. So, to get good output, you need good input. A ratio I've often heard is 100:1 for input:output.. So start listening and learning songs by the dozen.

On a software only stand alone- composition point of view i have personally used FL studio. There are many softwares better than this in the market. On a hardware point of view one obviously need good instruments and HD recording equipments. The mixing can be done using software/hardware combo or only the latter.

Take your soul (by soul I mean feelings, thoughts, the essence of human life) Focus it into your hand and let it seep onto the stave and bleed through the bars until you have created an extension of yourself in notation. But I recommend just buying a Theory book, learning about musical patterns and techniques, Listen to noteworthy composers and pieces in a genre that interests you, And experimenting with melodies, accompaniments, rhythms and harmonies first X)

I have been composing music for the past 40 years. I don't write for money or fame or any other purpose. I write for the sheer joy doing it... Everyday. The idea of good or bad does not enter the composing session, that's for editing, as the judgment you impose on yourself as you compose, will form very bad ideas you'll have to struggle with. It is my feeling that the composer is no more important than the pencil he uses to write with. If your ego enters the process, then it becomes is a very limited process, with all kinds of external forces coming to play in the process.You have to learn to let all thinking stop and open yourself to the flow of the universe and allow it to flow through you without any rational comment on what your doing, until later(a few days). This way opens you to the joy of composing. What you do with it is up to you, but the experience of being inside the music as you compose is end enough for me.Music  by nature is not manufactured or contrived or "produced". You can cut, past and loop and with the modern DAW do incredible things with music, but to my mind, that's not composing. Music grows from within and is very much an organic process. If you get stuck in "producing" music, I'm afraid it is a dead end, for the creative spirit and will be difficult for anyone who gets into  this position.I use to think composers were "born" with a special gift that allowed them to write music, but that's not true. Everyone has a musical  "voice" or intelligence and when you find yours it's a joy beyond compare.Best wishes for many hours of enjoyment.Ross

This happens a lot when you're beginning to compose. They just don't seem "good enough" to show the world, and if they are good enough, it just becomes more of an imitation of someone else's song. However, you need to know that composing isn't something congenital and it takes time to make good music. No one's first song was a superhit, at least in terms of originality. At first, the songs will be really bad, but you just need to go on. And even when not composing, you should just play whatever comes to your mind. Of course you should do exercises and all to improve your playing, and also cover songs to know about various techniques used. But, take some time aside every "cover" part of your practice, and play whatever comes to mind. Sometimes, really mind blowing pieces come out of this. And then improvise to make it better. Complexity should never be a key criteria while making music. Most people, while starting to compose, try to make it as complex as they can. But, as Leonardo Da Vinci says, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication", so just keep it simple. So, just play what comes to mind and keep it simple. Practice regularly, and very soon you'll begin to notice that you like to play a certain combination of notes, which is very unique to you. That's when your music starts becoming original. And better. Cheers! Keep practicing.

Well, many other people can't compose music either. In fact, most of the people who are not musicians or specifically composers can't compose music.You didn't specify where are you standing at in regard to music. Are you a musician who can't compose? Are you a composer who lacks inspiration or you are neither of that?

I have been hobbying away at this for several years, one gets better at it slowly. You basically just think of a tune and write it down, add harmony and etc. If you can't think of a tune in the first place, just keep on trying random notes until you get sth. Or you can try modifying some other tune until it becomes completely different. There are many ways. Harmony take a while to do, the most primitive method just adds chords that are similar to the melody. This can come in the form of arpeggios or just plain chords. To do better than that requires a certain amount of experience. Some people work from chords to the melody, I guess it works for them.