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Robert Walsh
Melody is:
Main Hook:
Opening Motif
Germ
Steps and Leaps
Balance step-wise motion (stability) with leaps (interest).
More often than not, a melody returns to step-wise motion
after a leap (or two).
Melisma
Don’t overdo it (hard to understand lyrics)
Select a word that has some significance (I/he/she/they/why/see,
etc.) rather than a word like a, an, it, or the.
Exercise: Use the following chord progression and create a melody “following
the line”.
Am - D9 - FMaj7 - E7sus
Or :
I – vi – ii - V
Exercise: Write melody and chords using these lyrics:
Verse 1 Chorus
I wish I could see what’s in her head I’m on pause
When she gets that far away gaze (glaze?) But she’s on play
Maybe she leaves the planet Spinning around another universe
Maybe she’ll be gone for days I wonder how long she’ll stay
She always finds her way back to me I’m on pause
And I take what I can get But that’s okay
But I’d love to know the places she goes As long as she lands back in my life
And the characters she’s met She can take a little time away.
Use contour, rhythm, range to create contrasting sections. Ensure you have:
- At least one open ending;
- A good balance of leaps and steps;
- A climax to the melody.
3. Exercise Using Verse/PreChorus/Chorus Form. Try writing a song using these criteria: