Choose a mood or idea
Pick a genre or style
Decide on tempo and time signature
Select a key and scale
Create a short melody
Build a chord progression
Add a bassline
Write a rhythm or drum pattern
Develop a song structure
Add harmony and counter-melody
Repeat and vary musical ideas
Use dynamics and contrast
Arrange instruments and sections
Edit and refine the composition
Play it back and make changes
Export or notate the final piece