Melody Tips and Advice

[drapopolus]

I thought I'd make a thread for advice on melody writing, for those in need (Myself included). I did a search and couldn't find anything comprehensive or recent.

If you are completely new to melody writing, here's an article to get you started: https://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/composition/seven-steps-to-writing-memorable-melodies-part-1/

Basically, the advice consists of: Using tones from the chord the melody is being harmonized with, on the downbeat. The article gives some useful, albeit basic, tips. For example, leaping over a chord tone by a whole step and then resolving to it on the downbeat, as well as the use of leaps of a 6th.

I was wondering if any of the more experienced pianists out there could suggest some other methods for writing a captivating melody. Let's talk in terms of scale degrees, and intervals. 

[hfmadopter]

I started to respond but unfortunately it was turning into a blog article length piece ! I don't know how we can keep this one simple and yet still have it presentable enough so someone could learn something from this thread. I think your article you linked to is as good a beginning as any though.

I don't really make up melodies all that well. I do play what I call nothing music, which includes my own melody played with some arpeggiated chords. Certainly the melody follows the chordal progression much as your article indicates. I use the fifth note of the chord in a couple of different ways ( in the bass as the second note of the arpeggiated chord and in the melody as harmony at times) and 7ths of the chord to step to another key etc. I rarely play big block cords for this stuff, though one certainly could.

Secondly, arranging lighter music. I'd start here ( I also do a lot of this myself for pop music pieces), taking existing music and doing some arranging to make it yours. You will learn a lot from this that you can apply to your own music later on.

Third, pick a song out of your head, one you know well but have never played. Pick out the melody at the piano first, figure out the key it's in and proceed as above with my nothing music section. Doing this will also firm up the thought process to making your own musical melody and filling in the rest of the keys to make it a song. Understand that any song is going to start out in key ( any song, be that from your head or written), so  when you get that first chord to the first part of the melody you also have the key it's written or that you proceed from in your own head . Chordal cadence goes from there in a natural progression.

I should say finally, I write nothing, any of the above is done out of my head or using an easy version of some song I like. I take that easy version, be it out of my head or the writing of a composer and fill in the rest myslf. It all starts from the simple melody. So you might think along those lines. Melody first, then apply the chords in key required, whether they be block or arpeggiated. Add some harmony and so on......
David

[ted]

I don't know, for me melody is an aspect of music which is completely mystical. You can stipulate properties like balance, proportion, phrasing and various things to do with intervals, but then a really good one comes along like a bolt from the blue and makes a mockery of all the planning. I suppose in a sense all music is like that, but what makes a strong melody is particularly unfathomable - well, for me at any rate.

A highly educated musician can live out his life without ever producing a memorable melody while a complete tyro can bang about on an old piano and create a tune the whole world sings.

Sorry, this is no help is it. But I rather think it is true nonetheless.