Originally Posted by: RedCross1. What is the sequence of work for composing a song: (melody, scale, key, chord, chord progression .. )

From what I think, you just come up with a melody first, then you figure out which scale it is in, then you figure out what chord is allowed and then you group chord together in some kind of order (what order?) or based on the notes. And once you get the scale and the chord you come up with a way to play along the song using the notes in the scale and the chord. Is that true ??

Everybody has there own way, some start with chords some start with a melody. Both ways are correct, but what I suggest is using the one you feel more creative with. If you gets melodic ideas, it's good to start with a melody. If your ideas spawn from thinking up chord progressions, then start there.

I usually start with a rhythm pattern. Maybe a drum loop. You can find hundreds on the internet. Once I find one I like. I figure out a melody, then a bass line. Then the chord progression. This is easy cause I can see the bass playing C while the melody goes G E F. C E and G make up the C major chord, so I can consider using a C major chord there. Then I work threw the rest of the melody.

I am particularly confused with the bit that we have to stay in the scale the contain ALL the notes of our melody. Please explain.

It just keeps things in order. You don't want a melody in C and a chord progression in Ab. They should both be equal.

2. What is the sequence of work for composing a solo: I first thought it would be the same as composing a song but later think differently. Do we compose solos based on the scale of our song (i.e. the note in the solo has to be in the scale)? We dont come up with it so randomly as our melody right?

Solo should be written just like a melody would, after all that's what it is. Chords are sometimes used but generally the reinforce the melody. Solos however are not as linear as a melody might be. Ornamentation is a good trick. The most common is a trill.

3. From 1 and 2, I come up with another question: can the song be in many different scale?

Yes. songs can change keys, the process is called modulation. The most common is to a relative key. i.e. C major to A minor.

If you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help.