The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory
The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory
The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory
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to master a single melodic line before you start stacking multiple notes on top<br />
of each other.<br />
That said, after you’ve read Chapters 9 and 10, you’ll probably want to return<br />
to this chapter and apply what you’ve learned. That’s because one very useful<br />
approach to composing melodies is to come up with a chord progression first,<br />
and then add a melody on top of that. Of course, you can’t do this until you<br />
learn about chords.<br />
After you’ve read Chapters 9 and 10, you’ll better understand how to create—<br />
and resolve—harmonic tension in a melody, using certain chords. For example,<br />
you’ll discover that the most common chord progression is I-IV-V, or some<br />
variation of that. (In the key of C, the chords would be C Major, F Major, and<br />
G Major.) <strong>The</strong> IV and V chords (the V chord, especially) are used to create tension;<br />
you often end the first part of your melody with the V chord. You resolve<br />
tension by getting back to the I chord, which is the reason you almost always<br />
end your tunes with the I chord. When your melodies follow these chords, you<br />
establish the kind of tension and relief that makes for a memorable melody.<br />
Your melody needs to fit within the chord structure of your song, as you’ll also<br />
learn in Chapter 10. This means that, within a specific measure, the main notes<br />
of your melody probably should fit within the three main notes of the underlying<br />
chord. For example, if you have an A minor chord, the main notes of the<br />
melody accompanying that chord should probably be A, C, or E—the three<br />
notes in the chord.<br />
Again, you’ll learn more about chords and progressions in the next two chapters,<br />
so be patient—it will all be explained, in due course!<br />
Follow the Form<br />
Most songs follow some sort of established song form. That means that your<br />
melodies should fit within that form, as well.<br />
You’ll learn more about song forms in Chapter 11, but here’s a brief example: A<br />
lot of popular songs are divided into verses and choruses. <strong>The</strong> verse is the first<br />
melody, which is repeated throughout the song. <strong>The</strong> chorus is a second melody,<br />
often the main melody (containing the hook), which is played between verses.<br />
So a typical pop music song form might look like this: verse-verse-chorus-verse.<br />
That means you’ll need to write two melodies for the song, which must be<br />
related in some way.<br />
After you read Chapter 11, you should return to this chapter to apply what<br />
you’ve learned about form to your basic melodic skills.<br />
Follow the Words<br />
Another factor that can drive a melody is the presence of lyrics. If you’re writing<br />
an instrumental, of course, you don’t have to worry about following the<br />
words. But if you’re writing a popular song, you have to deal with both music<br />
and words—and how they fit together.<br />
Chapter 8: Melodies<br />
107