Questions tagged [melody]
A succession of notes which comprise the principal part in harmonized music.
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38 views
Is there a specific name or descriptive term for happy, productive melodies/tunes that you see on ads? [on hold]
Example
Feel free to include some of your favorite ones also!
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1answer
52 views
Which key to modulate to? [closed]
So I have finished the A section of my waltz and am wanting to go to another key for the B section. The waltz is in the key of D major. So these chords are diatonic to it:
My melody in the A section ...
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2answers
107 views
How to properly unresolve melodies to achieve dissonance and darkness in music [closed]
I'm looking to understand music theory behind dissonance, unresolved dark music. What makes a song sound serious and not "rainbows". When writing a bassline or melodies, is it possible to achieve ...
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0answers
80 views
How am I supposed to go about writing a waltz? [closed]
This and other dances in general I have kind of been avoiding for the first 10 years that I composed. But I figured that if I am going to start composing dance music as well as sonatas, symphonies, ...
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3answers
122 views
Why can I play a melody starting with any key, or even change the key in the middle of the melody?
I just realized that I can play any melody starting with any key on a piano, and it sounds weird only for the first key I press, and afterwards I have trouble remembering what the original sounded ...
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1answer
53 views
Melodic lines are diatonic, harmony doesn't seem to be
Okay so this is something that I came across as I was writing my canons and analyzing the harmony to try to figure out which canon is best for my symphony. There is a section in one of my canons where ...
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2answers
70 views
Can someone teach me [closed]
Can someone teach me how to write melodies like:
I know basic theory but I don't know how to generate melodies.
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3answers
76 views
Best sequence to learn about harmony, melody and rhythm? [closed]
I have basic knowledge about these but I want to learn in depth. So what could be the sequence to learn. Also tell where Form, and other elements will come.
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2answers
76 views
Mathematical methods for analysing melodic contour? [closed]
Are there any mathematical methods for identifying melodic shape, identifying motifs and general pattern recognition?
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1answer
82 views
Melody with only notes C, G, D, A
Is there any well-known melody that only contains the notes C, G, D and A? I'm learning to play the cello, so far practicing only playing on open strings and would love to be able to play a melody.
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2answers
109 views
How to make the dominant preparation less boring?
This is one thing that I have always noticed when I compose a sonata. Even if I can get through most of the development section in sonata form, the dominant preparation sort of grinds my gears. I'm ...
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4answers
71 views
Melody And Intervals [closed]
How do composers think about intervals like minor, major,etc to compose melody?
Eg I know playing major third will invoke happy mood....that is if we play C and then E creates happier environment......
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1answer
92 views
Melodic Composition Tips?
This question (and my attempted answer) is from a practise test booklet for the RCM Grade 8 Exam I'm going to take. I have a few questions regarding composing melodies and also cadences.
So in part ...
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0answers
68 views
How to describe unmistakable similarity in two Andrew Lloyd Webber songs?
So, I'm a very elementary music student with a theatrical background, and I want to ask a professor about what I hear as a very marked similarity between a couple of songs from different Andrew Lloyd ...
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1answer
75 views
Can any melody / motif be turned into a good sounding melody? (Theoretical and practical question.) [closed]
I've read and experienced and I noticed that rhythm, rest placing and even very minor (no pun inteded) changes to the melody, for example some flat or sharp can change it drastically.
My question is ...
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2answers
88 views
Melodic Criticism - Exercise 3.16G, Laitz The Complete Musician 2nd Edition
The question asks to find the weaknesses or problems (based on the general guidelines for melody writing presented in the preceding section) in the following melodic contour (tunes without rhythm or ...
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1answer
154 views
How do video game music composers make so many songs for one game? Are all of them some sort of musical talent / genius?
I love video game soundtracks from to 8-bit ones to the very orchestral pieces but it's not clear to me how they can make so many songs for one game. Even if there are motifs which can help make ...
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1answer
93 views
What is considered to be inspiration? How can I be sure my idea is original?
I'm feeling like I'm not fully understand what degree of musical creativity is considered to be creating original content or inspiration.
When a musical idea "jumps in my head" it sometimes remind me ...
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3answers
690 views
What's the point of connecting chords to modes when writing in an established key?
Let's say I am in the key of C and trying to write a simple melody over some chords on the piano.
Chord progression: I (Cmaj) IV (Fmaj) V (Gmaj) I (Cmaj)
Let's take the IV chord for instance.
What's ...
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1answer
84 views
Do melody notes over chords basically change the underlying harmony and the chord extension?
Lets say you have a bunch of chords you play a melody over.
If the melody notes are a part of the underlying chord it sounds more consonant.
But if the melody notes over the chord, are not a part of ...
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2answers
141 views
Why can I not “find” the notes for Eminem's Mockingbird?
I am trying to put together a piano arrangement for Eminem's Mockingbird, and so much of the emotion comes from the rap lyrics. I'm trying to sound out the melody to his vocals, but no matter what I ...
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2answers
137 views
Do people usually sing diatonically?
I saw this segment on Post Malone saying how his music is catchy because he sings diatonically see 2:20.
Which got me thinking. Aren't most pop melodies diatonic? And if not, what's an example of a ...
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0answers
41 views
How to go about writing a second countersubject?
I have written a subject and countersubject. Here is how I went about writing the countersubject:
1st iteration: Restricted to D, G, and A(answer is is D major), all quarter notes
2nd iteration: A ...
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4answers
99 views
Use of chord progression while playing melody by ear
I have a basic question regarding chord progression in Piano. I usually play songs by ear. Once I develop the melody, I add the chords. Whichever chord sounds fit & within the key, I play that. ...
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1answer
62 views
Is there a “virtual guitar” app that can bend strings? [closed]
When a lick or melody comes to mind one the few times I'm away from a guitar, I use a virtual piano app to play with it and check how it sounds. But now I got an idea with a bend. How can i listen to ...
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2answers
148 views
Is there such a thing as “advanced”/ongoing research in melody?
Much of a Western music education, not only in the first year but also in graduate level classes, focuses on harmony. In addition, there are current scholars who work on the "cutting edge" of ...
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2answers
103 views
Prepared myself for symphonic writing, still very nervous
History of my compositions and how I feel about composing a symphony
I have been composing music for years but it was mostly intermittent and studying music theory. Now it is more regular.
I have ...
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2answers
66 views
Writing specific intervals
Is my answer the following question is correct:
Q: What is the augmented seventh from E?
A: D double sharp
Method
Write down the note (of your choosing) on the bottom line of the treble ...
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2answers
87 views
Do we hear bass/baritone solo melody lines as being implicitly “on top of” the accompaniment, for harmonic purposes
I admit that the title of the question sounds a little strange, but I wanted to posit a more general question based on a specific song I was looked at.
I was looking at this arrangement of Chega de ...
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1answer
87 views
Vocals and basslines
I usually only sing by keeping the notes on the chords or sometimes notes that are omitted from that certain chord ro give it the fullness. I want to ask if Its possible to sing along with the melody ...
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3answers
191 views
Can the idea of “modulation” be applied outside of harmony?
If you have a "pivot motif", which shares, for example, rhythmic properties of theme A and theme B, and is used to move between the two themes, could you consider this a modulation? What other ...
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3answers
154 views
Songs melody range
I'm writing a vocal song and I'm worried about the range of the melody..
for example in C Major key what is the lowest and highest melody I could go ?
I appreciate every answers..but..I don't want ...
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2answers
78 views
melody starting point on song parts
Hi I'm writing a song in a Bb Major key
and the chords goes something like
EbM7 , F7 , Gm7
and the first note of the melody starts with G note. (this is the main chorus part)
And if the verse part ...
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3answers
145 views
Do melodies often use the same combination of intervals?
I've been a touch typist on the keyboard for a long time, and the reason is that I've internalized the shape of every word in my mind because I've typed the same words so many times throughout my life....
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5answers
591 views
Motifs in melody writing
I read in many books/teachings etc. that the first step for creating a melody is to come up with a motif, and use that for further development. Are all melodies created like that? I hear melodies that ...
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3answers
168 views
How to use chords and chord websites?
I just started learning how to play piano and only know how to play it note after note. So when I play a song I just play it by memorizing the notes, but not knowing what the chord is or understand ...
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2answers
624 views
Turning lyrics into melody
Ive currently been having great difficulty turning my lyrics and poems into a melody. i've considered aligning the accented syllables as well as the meter with accented beats but am still having ...
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1answer
140 views
Converting Vocal Line into Guitar - Speed, Dynamics
I'm struggling with creating a vocal-less cover version of a song that does have a vocal line in my digital audio workstation.
I know exactly what's going on in terms of notes/chord progressions in ...
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4answers
1k views
Sources of musical tension
I understand that harmonic tension occurs when you hang on a chord which "wants" to resolve, like a chord with a leading tone or certain dissonant intervals. Are there other sources of harmonic ...
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3answers
50 views
I was wondering about theory when it comes the rhythm and contour of melody lines [closed]
Like i was wondering if theres was any kind of way of making sense on how melody lines move or their rhythm. for examples are there rules when it comes to notes being held across bars.
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2answers
234 views
How do you actually learn how to compose music? [duplicate]
How do you compose a rock song like the person in the video?
I've gone through all the books and video tutorials and I still don't know how to make music.
I just want to make songs like the person ...
2
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1answer
351 views
How do I make melodies out of these chord progressions? [closed]
Key: D Major
I ii IV I
I: D Major
ii: e minor
IV: G Major
I: D Major
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1answer
60 views
What is the maximum time for which same note is used in a song? [closed]
Generally songs have different notes one after one .Which songs had same note continuously many times without interruption by other notes?
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1answer
80 views
Term for improvisation (or Melody) based on specific intervals, not notes?
Is there a term for melodic improvisation where only specific intervals are taken into consideration?
As an example, Beginning on C, the player then has the option of moving either up or down, (Or ...
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2answers
185 views
Eartraining: What to learn after mastering interval recognition?
(This is for relative pitch, absolute pitch gods please don't descend from heaven)
I've been learning to recognize intervals for the past year or so, and I have to say I'm very good at it. (Mostly by ...
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3answers
869 views
Writing a melody that forms second harmonies with a chord progression
When i write a melody over a chord progression, i notice that some of the notes from the melody, form second interval harmonies with the chord notes.
Am i allowed, at least as a beginner, to do this ...
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1answer
93 views
What's a good technical way to come up with melodies in a certain scale?
I'm planning on composing a piece for bassoon and flute. I want to use the whole tone scale mixed with lydian. What are some good practices to come up with melodies?
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1answer
270 views
I can hear the melody, but I can't hear the chords (Lift Every Voice example)
I have been charting chords to gospel songs lately. I did fine on a few but I came up short on "Lift Every Voice" by James Weldon Johnson, version in the key of G. The intro lick is a good example: I ...
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9answers
1k views
Trick to figure out what the proper note to play is when playing in thirds?
Take for example the melody C D E F G A B in the key of c major. If i play the melody in thirds, I have been told that you would play it C E; D F; E G; etc. but some of those form minor 3rds and some ...
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2answers
865 views
Why does O Little Town of Bethlehem have two melodies?
The version most familiar to us doesn't seem to be the original, and it is not favoured as the original tune. The one we are accustomed to hearing starts with the note on the third degree of the scale,...
