Melody Writing

Melody WritingWeek 10

The Plan for Today:Melodic phrasingMotivic Development DevicesRepetition/VariationHow to do Work-in-Progress PresentationsSONGWRITING WORKSHOP

Melodic PhrasingLets begin to think of melodic ideas a little like sentences and paragraphsSentences are a collection of words that, when put together, make senseSentences may have pauses in the shape of commasWe know when a sentence is complete because it has a full stop at the endThe same principles apply to melodic phrases.

A melodic motif is a collection of pitches and rhythms that combine to make a melodic fragment (think of it like the first half of a sentence)Melodic motives can be repeated, developed or joined to other motives to create melodic phrases (sentences)These melodic phrases can be joined together to create melodic sections (paragraphs)

Developing melodic ideasEach melodic motif that you come up with can be developed in a number of ways:RepetitionSequenceInversionRetrogradeRetrograde inversionInterval ExpansionInterval ContractionChromatic Alterations

Motif 1

RepetitionSimply repeat your motif. For example:

Sequence:Repeat your motif on a different scale degreeFor example:

InversionRepeat your motif and turn it upside down melodically.You may have chromatic alterations if you choose. You can also sequence your inversion. For example:

RetrogradeRepeat your motif backwardsYou may also have chromatic alterations to your motifYou may also sequence your motifFor example:

Retrograde InversionRepeat your motif upside down and backwards.For example:

Interval Expansion and ContractionYou can make the intervals in your motif largerYou can make the intervals in your motif smallerYou may also sequence your interval contractions and expansionsYou may also add chromatic alterations to your motif

Chromatic AlterationYou can have chromatic alterations in your motifFor example:

But Remember:

NotRulesTools

Repetition/VariationDo itDo it againGo awayCome backAABAWhat kinds of things does this formula work for?Form Song SectionsChord ProgressionsLyric ScansionRhymeMELODIC MOTIFSMELODIC PHRASES

Stay With Me Sam Smith

Stay With Me Sam Smith

Finding the natural melody in your lyricSpeaking is simply understated singingSinging is simply exaggerated speakingTo find the natural melody in your lyric, simply say it out loud several times overTake note where you are putting the most emphasisBegin to exaggerate the higher pitches of your spoken word where you are putting the most emphasisKeep doing this until you are singing.

ACTIVITYFind the natural melody for the title of your song.Write it down on a piece of manuscript.

For example:

Sha-dow Wo-man

Sha-dow Wo-man

Sha-dow Wo-man

Melodic/Lyric RhythmEach bar of 4/4 has a pulse pattern of S W s w

We need to ensure that all our relevant pitches and lyrics are places on strong pulses

All passing notes and grammatical functioning words need to be placed on weak pulses

SHADOW WOMANI feel the covers rustle as you slip out of bedWhen you think Im sound asleepIts the same every Tuesday at twelve a.m.When you leave for her hotel suiteYoure so crookedI know you got a SHADOW WOMAN

- / - / - / - // - / / - /I feel the covers rustle as you slip out of bed - - / - / - /When you think Im sound asleep- - / / - / - - / / /Its the same every Tuesday at twelve a.m. - - / - - / - /When you leave for her hotel suite - / / -Youre so crooked- / - / - / - / -I know you got a SHADOW WOMAN

7

3

6

3

2

4

x

a

x

a

b

b