Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs

Author: Jack Perricone

Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs

Part 1 - Melody: Its Components

Chapter 1 - Melody: Some Basics

melody melodic phrase conjunct/disjunct melodic motion writing for the voice the lead sheet guidelines for lead sheet writing writing tip repeat signs writing tip format

Chapter 2 - Pitch

harmonic series the major scale stable and unstable tones tone tendencies tonally open and closed phrases independent melody unstable tones ending phrases writing tip

Chapter 3 - Rhythm

pulse, meter, and rhythm stress symbols summative stress additional considerations in stress assignment masculine/feminine endings beyond simple prosody writing tip

Chapter 4 - Tone Tendencies

immediate resolution, delayed resolution, and no resolution assignment

Chapter 5 - Symmetry/Asymmetry

compositional variables the number of phrases balance vs. symmetry phrase lengths; phrasal balance the rhythm of the phrase matched, inexactly matched, and unmatched phrases correspondence of matched phrases with rhyme outer matching matched rhythms inner rhythmic matching open and closed exercise assignment

Chapter 6 - Melody in Minor

overtone series the minor scales natural minor or Aeolian mode harmonic minor melodic minor

Chapter 7 - Melodic Outline; Melodic Countour

melodic outline melodic step progression embellishing the melodic outline analysis of structural tones and embellishing tones "Cant Take My Eyes Off of You" melodic contour "Because You Loved Me"

Chapter 8 - Controlling the Speed of Your Song

phrasal acceleration/deceleration use of phrasal acceleration/deceleration in songwriting rhythmic acceleration/deceleration

Chapter 9 - Melodic Placement

phrase endings phrase beginnings pickup notes beginning on the weak part of the measure or metric grouping "Love Is You"

Chapter 10 - Building Sections

the order of the phrases building a symmetric section building a balanced but not perfectly symmetric section: open or closed? creating open sections unbalancing a section creating interesting balanced sections fragmentation assignment

Chapter 11 - Developmental Techniques

motive variety within unity developmental technique #1: retain the rhythmic structure, change the pitch sequence use of developmental technique #1 in the compositional process developmental technique #2: varying the phrase structure; extension and truncation developmental techniques assignment

Chapter 12 - Form

song forms the central statement song sections: the verse the refrain the chorus the bridge transitional bridge primary bridge frequently encountered song forms the "standards" song form the introductory verse the chorus the concept of open and closed and its relationship to form verse/refrain verse/chorus bridge sections assignment

Part 2 - Melody-Harmony Relationships

Chapter 13 - Functional Harmony and Harmonic Progression

tonic function triads subdominant function triads dominant function triads stability/instability in harmonic progression functional harmonic progressions

Chapter 14 - A Unified Theory of Melody and Harmony

melodic progression independent and dependent melodies why a unified theory? assignment "Come Rain or Come Shine"

Chapter 15 - Non-Chord Tones and Tensions

non-chord tones "Killing Me Softly" tensions non-chord tones and tensions writing tip

Chapter 16 - Making Harmonic Choices

harmonic choices

Chapter 17 - Melody/Bass Relationships

motion of the bass to the melody chord inversions consonance/dissonance of intervals

Chapter 18 - Harmony in Minor

traditional harmony in minor the harmonic minor scale the melodic minor scale melody/harmony relationships in minor minor to major/major to minor use in form modal interchange

Chapter 19 - Additional Melodic/Harmonic Considerations

harmonic rhythm harmonic cadence use in form harmony's effect on the phrase the harmonic-metric phrase and the melodic rhythmic phrase "The Long and Winding Road"

Chapter 20 - Starting with a Chord Progression

melodic integrity front-heavy melodic phrases; back-heavy melodic phrases assignment

Chapter 21 - Pedal Point, Sus Chords, and Chords without Triads

pedal point assignment sus chords and chords without thirds chords without thirds assignment

Chapter 22 - Blues/Rock

independence of melody and harmony characteristic rock harmony root motion "Addicted to Love" form in blues and early rock emphasis at the beginning (measure 1) emphasis at the subdominant (measure 5) emphasis on the dominant (measure 9) or on the final cadence adding a bridge to the blues other blues-derived forms stylistic considerations assignment

Chapter 23 - Modes

Aeolian mode or natural minor chord progressions in the Aeolian mode strong cadencing progressions root motion writing tip Dorian mode chord progressions in the Dorian mode Mixolydian mode typical Mixolyidan progressions use of pedal point assignment