In music, melodies have the strength to captivate and resonate deeply with listeners. So, creating memorable tunes requires creativity, technical ability, and ‘magic.’
However, before you start seeing the desired results, you must fall in love with the art. Just like actors have to love their roles, you need to develop a flair for them. When you discover what they do to stay at the top, you will give them more credit.
In this article, we will explain the importance of melodies and how you can take your writing to the next level. By incorporating those effective techniques into your musical journey, you will create tunes that spark genuine interest from listeners.
A melody is a musical phrase or motif formed by a rhythmical sequence of sounds. Most people think melodies are the vocal part of a song. However, it can be the topline of an instrumental drop, a distinct bassline, or even a unique vocal sample.
Melody also influences our perceptions of a song's mood, structure, groove, and personality.
Have you ever had a song stuck in your mind for hours or even days? What part do you sing over and over again? Have you ever seen a concert where everyone sings along to a specific part of the song? That's the melody!
Why are strong melodies desired in music? For starters, it is an excellent tune that causes listeners to sing along, relate to, and remember it. They are a song's most memorable element.
Furthermore, the melodic material in your music is frequently the primary focus or central aspect.
Listen to a handful of your favorite songs and identify the most memorable melodic part. These melodies are crucial in developing the character uniqueness of your music.
The groove, sound design, effects, and sample selection all help to set the tone. As trivial as they all sound individual, they build the framework for your music.
Obviously, learning how to write melodies that get stuck in your audience's head is a game-changer for you as a music writer. Luckily, you don't even have to be a master of music theory to get it down. Here are our top tips you can put into practice today to transform your music-writing skills.
If you start writing without a plan, you have a higher chance of getting writer’s block. So, describe how you want to go about it before you start.
Do you want to start with the chorus or main verses? Will the melody have a lengthy or very short intro? These are examples of things you should map out beforehand.
Although you are bound to repeat certain phrases, try adding certain variations to them so that each time you repeat them, it sounds more creative. A common thing to do is to change the note or rhythm.
However, don’t overdo it; slight variations are enough to create something creative.
One of the best ways to get inspiration is by listening to your favorite artists. Only that this time, don’t just listen to enjoy. Instead, listen to analyze.
By analyzing the songs, you can note the melody of the catchiest part of the song and find out why it is that way. Usually, you will find an extra level of creativity that hooks you. And if you love it so much, you can borrow some of the rhythmic patterns.
Every melody follows a scale, and deciding on what scale combinations you want to follow from the start is best. If you want to understand the basics of how different notes work together, doing some research on music theory for guitar or piano is a great place to start.
But wait, I don't know how to play either of those instruments!
It's okay if you aren't a master guitar player or pianist. Researching how either one of these instruments work will help you understand how and why certain notes sound good together. So as you're coming up with melodies, be sure to thinking about the scale it falls into as well.
Remember to always take it easy on yourself; don’t expect to sit down and write a melodious masterpiece in 30 minutes.
So, don’t rush things. Always let it come naturally by inspiration.
The key range in which your melody falls is likely more significant than choosing a popular key. As a rule of thumb, try to stay within 1½ octaves; it is a good range for most vocalists.
Not all songs require bridges, and bridges aren't as common in popular music as they once were. So, don't feel obligated to include one in every song you write. It is usually better to have a bridge only if it adds something to your music, moves the tale along, and makes it considerably stronger.
Motifs are brief and memorable. Cool motifs, whether instrumental, rhythmic, lyrical, or melodic, will make your music stand out.
So, remember to include motifs in your melodies. Even a basic, non-lyrical "oh la la" might be a good start and serve as the framework for your entire song's melody.
Today, there are several stereotypes among writers that limit creativity. Don’t allow them to affect you; instead, remain flexible and let the creativity express itself naturally. In short, don’t be afraid to try new things.
Above all, remember that repetition is the backbone of mastery. So, keep practicing, and you will become the superstar writer you aspire to be!
