How to Write a Good Melody
Questions for discussion:
* What is a melody?
* What do YOU think makes a good melody?
* What makes a melody bad?
* What are some of your all-time favorite melodies?
Rolling Stone's 500 Most Iconic Songs of All Time
Definition: a pleasing series of musical notes that form the main part of a song or piece of music
Melodies should be SINGABLE!
* What is a melody?
* What do YOU think makes a good melody?
* What makes a melody bad?
* What are some of your all-time favorite melodies?
Rolling Stone's 500 Most Iconic Songs of All Time
Definition: a pleasing series of musical notes that form the main part of a song or piece of music
Melodies should be SINGABLE!
- Rhythm - rhythmic patterning/motives
- Example: Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Movement 1
- How many times do you hear the motive?
- Contour - melody goes somewhere, has a shape
- Up then down, down then up, or another shape
- Example: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- Intervallic Organization
- Leaps versus steps
- Should have a good mixture, not too many leaps, not too many steps
- Example: Tis the Gift to be Simple
- Look at the leaps and steps on GarageBand, on the piano, and on the notation
- Range - keep it in a reasonable range
- Most melodies use eight notes of the scale (or less)
- Home Tone - Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle
- Also - note the use of steps and leaps!
Listen to Great Melodies:
Discuss the use of home tone, contour, range, etc... Do you like these melodies? What are your favorite melodies? Share some with the class.
Mozart: Symphony No. 40
Bizet: Habañera
Schubert: Ave Maria
Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody
George Gershwin: Summertime
U2: One
Discuss the use of home tone, contour, range, etc... Do you like these melodies? What are your favorite melodies? Share some with the class.
Mozart: Symphony No. 40
Bizet: Habañera
Schubert: Ave Maria
Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody
George Gershwin: Summertime
U2: One