REWIRE MUSIC THEORY 

Learn

5.4 Melody in Standard Notation

Writing melodies using standard notation illustrates pitch direction and repetition which makes visualizing the contour of a melody easier. Manipulating pitch direction and repetition can be used to alter a melody, to develop melodic ideas, and to create question and answer phrases. These types of melodic mechanisms are used in pop music as well as music for film, commercials, and video games.

  • Watch the walkthrough video.

  • Complete the Learn-alongs below.

Melodic development

A motif is a melodic fragment. They can be repeated over chords in different ways to develop melodies that are very easy to remember. A motif can also be altered by slightly changing the pitches and rhythms to develop an idea even further. Listen to a song you like and find a melodic fragment. Sing it back to yourself with the recording paused and try to alter it using some of these methods. It’s a great way to work on your ability to develop a melodic idea.

  • Listen to the Melodic Development Noteflight learn-along.

  • Complete the exercises to further your understanding of melodic development

Question and Answer Phrases

Motives can be used by themselves or they can be strung together to create partial phrases. These phrase sections can be written to complement each other into question and answer phrases. With this kind of melody writing, the first half of a phrase acts as a question and the second half answer the question through repetition, pitch direction, and rhythmic variation.

  • Listen to the incomplete phrases in the Noteflight score below.

  • Try to hear a phrase segment in your head to complete the phrase.

  • Write your idea in the Noteflight window and press play for review.

HARMONIZing A MELODY

Melodic lines can be harmonized by an additional line above or below the original that has similar rhythms. Harmony lines can vary from one voice to many and are used by vocalists and instrumentalists to add texture to a melody. There are different types motions that harmony lines follow.

  • Use the Noteflight learn-along below to learn how to create harmonies.

  • Complete the exercises within the score to apply that knowledge in a musical context.

 

Listen

TRANSCRIPTION

  • Transcribe a four-measure phrase from the melodic transcription exercises below.

  • Click the Open in Noteflight link to view an audio sync’d score

  • Further apply your transcription ability by choosing a song from the Pop Song Transcription Library →.

 

MELODIC TRANSCRIPTION I

MELODIC TRANSCRIPTION II

MELODIC TRANSCRIPTION III

MELODIC TRANSCRIPTION IV

MELODIC TRANSCRIPTION V

 

Compose

VIDEO GAME COMPOSITION

The music for video games is written the same way that music for film is composedl with strong melodies that develop. Write melodies to these examples using motivic development, questions and answer phrases, and harmonies.

  • Listen to the backing tracks

  • Use the loop between your ear, brain, and heart to write the melody

  • Listen back and make edits to your compositions

  • Add a harmony line to at least two examples

  • Use dynamics to elevate the emotional impact of the melody