Questions tagged [melody]
A succession of notes which comprise the principal part in harmonized music.
295
questions
6
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5answers
151 views
Is a note that is enharmonic to a diatonic note of some diatonic scale, also diatonic in regards to that scale?
I'm learning some music theory from a book, and encountered some question in my head that I can't seem to answer.
The question is in the title:
Is a note that is enharmonic to a diatonic note of some ...
4
votes
5answers
172 views
How do I make sure I'm hitting the right notes when I sing?
I'm a beginner. I think I will get a new vocal coach since my current vocal coach is ineffective and doesn't help me at all. I asked my question on reddit and asked a singer I know, my question is: ...
1
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4answers
222 views
Can we run out of melodies one day?
There are a lot of great melodies out there, many of them classic (both classical pieces and electronic songs). They are unique and will never be repeated.
Given that melodies are created using a ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Is there a historic origin for final ending (cadence) of V-I with melody tones ^3 ^1 in some jazz standards?
In some jazz standards I see a final ending of V-I using melody tones ^3 ^1, for example...
Cherokee in B flat
All of Me in C
Note that the ^3 in those examples is not some kind of embellishment of ^...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
How to know in which scale i am from the notes of a melody? [duplicate]
Is there a way to know in which scale a melody is? I have no musical lessons and i learned the minimum that i know from the internet but i think i have some basis (or i want to think it at least). My ...
2
votes
3answers
119 views
Making a melodic line stand out in written score
I'm arranging an orchestral piece for solo piano, and find myself transcribing a passage with a single melodic line in the lower register, which to play on piano should alternate between the left and ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
What is the piano melody to this song [closed]
in the beat of Distance by Beast Coast, I think the first note is a D# but I'm not sure about the others.
6
votes
2answers
167 views
What does "plagal" actually mean for modal music and melody generally
Basic textbook descriptions of the church modes seem clear, but I find things confusing when looking at actual compositions. I especially don't understand what "plagal" modes really means.
I ...
4
votes
3answers
478 views
notation for different versions of melody
I have a simple song for which I know two melodies to play. They are not played simultaneously - one has to choose between one of them.
What is the common/standard notation for that?
As far as I know, ...
8
votes
3answers
679 views
Is there some theory that suggests that sequences may be formed by "sampling" earlier sequences?
Is there some theory that suggests that sequences may be formed by "sampling" earlier sequences?
Often music theory seems to suggest progression as "where to go next", but I've ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Schumann posthumous variation V's choice on descending the semitone or whole tone
Here is the starting part of Schumann posthumous variation V,
I am interested in knowing the "logic" or the "reasoning" why and how Schumann chose the descending tones of the ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
How to smoothly change between vastly different melodies [closed]
I'm starting a Concerto(Piano) and all of the problems I have come across are A: regarding the orchestration(this is my first orchestral piece) and B: the 2 subjects of the first sonata movement are ...
4
votes
3answers
100 views
On Schumann posthumous variation V's note on a natural G or a flat G
This shows the first two bars of Schumann posthumous variations V.
Look at this music note (red-squared), I am curious to know why Schumann chose a natural G instead of the original flat G in this ...
5
votes
4answers
767 views
Should melody avoid nonchord tones since they are disonant?
Should nonchord tones be avoided since they are "dissonant"?
3
votes
2answers
81 views
Why might two jumps in contrary motion be avoided? [duplicate]
The goal is to write a well-constructed and easily singable melody. There is a motif in my melody that outlines a C major triad like this: E4 G4 C4 (in that order). Why might it not be wise to have ...
8
votes
2answers
347 views
What techniques and methods govern how melody can suggest a certain harmony?
In The Art of Strict Musical Composition, Volume 2 chapter 3, by Johann Philip Kirnberger (student of Bach) he writes “Here it must be stated first that every good melody is based on a proper harmony, ...
6
votes
5answers
346 views
How do rhythm and melody compete and cooperate to define the horizontal space of music?
I have some conceptual trouble understanding the differences between rhythm and melody.
I get that harmony is the vertical dimension of music (thinking in terms of sheet music or a piano roll view in ...
4
votes
3answers
145 views
What's it called when you play the same exact melody with a different rhythm?
As an example, here is the original iconic melodic phrase that's used throughout the Trails Sky games:
https://youtube.com/embed/3GB-xej4GFc?start=66&end=85
But here in this next piece, the exact ...
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0answers
36 views
1
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2answers
87 views
What characteristics of a piece contribute to defining its tonal centre?
I have been wondering since a long time that what exactly in a piece defines the scale and the tonal center. Even if we are given a chord progression that is followed through the entirety of the song, ...
0
votes
2answers
98 views
Why is (vocal) melody usually written in quarter notes? [closed]
While writing melody, I was trying to stretch short verses into 16 bars by using too many whole and half notes, and now I think it was equal to having tempo at half speed. Most melody is written with ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
In Hindemith's terms, how do I classify this melodic gesture?
I am attempting to analyze the G note in the melody pictured below using Paul Hindemith's terminology/framework set out in his Book 2.
From what I can gather, the melodic formulae Hindemith is ...
1
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1answer
125 views
Interpolating two melodies into a single melody
I have been experimenting with an algorithmic/mathematical approach to combine two melodies into a single, new melody and want to ask if there are other approaches to this problem.
Example combination ...
1
vote
3answers
179 views
Homophony vs Polyphony
Would I be correct if I were to define homophony vs polyphony as chords vs lines? If homophony is defined as a single melody with chordal accompaniment, and polyphony as several melodies with equal ...
3
votes
2answers
224 views
What is the relation of proportional schemes and the "golden section" to melody?
...And how is this reduction meant to be read? Taken from p. 66 of David Neumeyer's The Music of Paul Hindemith
This is the beginning of the section on analyzing melodies, and it totally blindsided ...
7
votes
2answers
700 views
Creating chord-melody from The Real Book (or other fake book)
I practice songs from The Real Book, and I am quite new to the chord-melody concept. I have knowledge of scales and chords, and I can play melodically these standards. Now I want to play them as chord-...
5
votes
5answers
264 views
Why does Hindemith say to avoid augmented and diminished intervals?
Rule 12 of Paul Hindemith's Craft of Musical Composition - Book 2 states the following:
Avoid augmented and diminished intervals. If, after an augmented or a diminished interval, the third tone is ...
3
votes
2answers
72 views
When learning how to write a good melody is it more important to analyze the notes against the bass or against the chord?
When looking at a score of a song I have always looked at a melody against the notes of the chord root but recently I started learning counterpoint and I feel that I may have overlooked the importance ...
4
votes
6answers
125 views
In major keys, since the 7th scale degree resolves up to the 8th, does descending through the scale degrees 8-7-6 violate the leading tone rule?
I need to understand how the leading tone (7th scale degree) functions in major keys.
I see that the 7th scale degree (leading tone) resolves up to the 8th (the tonic) because the leading tone is a ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
Complex chord progression (secondary dominants) with simple step-wise melody?
In many musical pieces, complex harmonic relations can be identified in the chord progression even when the melody can intuitively be "felt" to progress in a very simple step-wise manner.
...
8
votes
1answer
395 views
How to apply Paul Hindemith's harmonic theory
I have been studying Paul Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition, Book 1: Theory", trying to apply Hindemith's principles to my own harmonies and melodies.
As you may know, Hindemith'...
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0answers
25 views
Is there a database of tunes searchable by interval? [duplicate]
It's a common technique to use familiar tunes to remind ourselves how intervals sound.
Recently in a zoom rehearsal we were talking about octave leaps and between us came up with the common octave ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
How to find out the pitch of a melody in Ableton live 10?
I have a sample that plays 4 chords. I have no idea what their key/pitch is. I've tried using the tuner audio effect but it doesn't say anything at all. Does anyone know an alternate way to find the ...
1
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2answers
91 views
Harmonizing a modulating melody with ornamentations
I've been self studying Tchaikovsky's harmony textbook and supplementing it with harmonizing melodies from Anton Arensky's "1000 tasks for the practical study of harmony" and I've run into ...
1
vote
4answers
107 views
Music construction kit from some great mind
Quite some years ago in school, a teacher told us about a music construction kit.
The kit is a set of cards.
If you put some cards together, something musically / esthetically sound is the result.
...
3
votes
3answers
162 views
Which one makes a melody more noticeable, playing it an octave above the chords or below the chords?
On a midi keyboard/piano, if I play both the chords and the vocal melody at the same time. How do you make the melody sound more prominent than the chords?
In general, which makes the melody more ...
11
votes
8answers
3k views
Does the starting note for a song have to be the starting note of its scale?
Does a scale always have to start off with the note it is named after? For example, the Dm scale is defgab♭cd`. If I wanted to sing a song in D minor, would I have to start with the note D? Or could ...
1
vote
0answers
41 views
Name of Song this jazz melody comes from [closed]
Can someone please tell me the name of the song this melody can be heard? comes from some hard bop tune in the 70's or something I don't know
https://musescore.com/scores/unknown/unknown-...
2
votes
3answers
149 views
Is one major and one minor scale instrument enough to play any melody?
If I buy a diatonic harmonica, I can play one octave of a major scale and its relative minor properly. Is that enough to play any melody by transcribing to the key of my harmonica?
1
vote
1answer
93 views
How can I achieve the ability of playing the music's melody right after listening to it? [duplicate]
Recently I bought a new guitar for myself. After having a basic course, I can play some simple songs like Auld Lang Syne, and I've started wondering this question:
If I had such ability, I may learn a ...
3
votes
4answers
156 views
Is there a term for the combination of melody and harmony, excluding percussion?
I am working with a simple sound generator, which can simultaneously produce multiple sine waves plus white noise. The sine waves can have their frequency and volume modified over time, and the white ...
3
votes
3answers
102 views
Keyscales & Melodies
I'm fairly new to learning music theory at a basic level. I understand notes, triads, intervals and how to read sheet music but I am struggling to understand key scales and how and when they apply and ...
8
votes
4answers
499 views
How to choose chords for chromatic melody?
I've been listening to a lot of impressionistic and avant-garde jazz music lately. When choosing chords in a tonal, diatonic concept, the formula is somewhat clear to me. If it's a note in the scale, ...
6
votes
1answer
704 views
What is the terminology for these two techniques on piano?
Disclaimer: I don't know music terminology, as I don't play any instruments.
The channel Sheet Music Boss on YouTube has two videos in which I've heard what I perceive to be two different techniques ...
0
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7answers
233 views
Name two reasons why the music in the next passage starts in C Major and ends in G major?
Please help with the question in the title. I am struggling so much, thank you.
Why?
3
votes
3answers
769 views
Which note to start the melody on?
I am trying to learn to play melodies by ear. I was trying to play Twinkle Twinkle by ear. Justin Guitar taught that a melody can be played anywhere on the fretboard and when I tried to do so, I found ...
0
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2answers
198 views
How does James Bay's song Let it Go sound sad in a Major key? [duplicate]
If you listen to James Bay's - Let it Go, it sounds sad yet written in major key. In general, not just for this song, what in theory makes this happen?
I've read people suggesting flat majors make a ...
0
votes
7answers
264 views
What are ways to emphasize a rhythm/time signatures without drums?
What are some ways a song without drums can indicate the rhythm/time signature through the melody or chord progression? It seems that when drums are involved, they play a certain beat over and over ...
1
vote
2answers
199 views
How was "Last Train Home" composed? [closed]
I'm interested in learning how this song is composed. Specifically I'm interested in understanding how such a song could be created from scratch.
Typically what I've been told is that most music first ...
0
votes
2answers
130 views
What scale is the melody in the song? [closed]
I was wondering if this song was in major or minor key. I am new to analyzing music and so I am having a hard time trying to figure out the melody, or how to describe it rather.
This is the song link:
