Writing Melodies

Question 1

What is a melody?

Answer 1

A series of single tones

Question 2

What makes a good melody?

Answer 2

Coherency
Unity
Interest

Question 3

What are the two Primary Rules the movement of a melody follows?

Answer 3

Melody follows a scale

Melody follows a chord

Question 4

Scale movement is also known as…

Answer 4

…diatonic, conjunct or step-wise progrrssion.

Question 5

What are inactive scale steps?

Answer 5

The pitches of the tonic triad, that form the harmonic center.

Question 6

What are active scale-steps?

Answer 6

The pitches, that fall outside the tonic triad and the harmonic center.

Question 7

How do scale-steps resolve in major?

Answer 7

In order of urgency:

7 upwards to 1
6 downwards to 5
4 downwards to 3

2 is neutral and can resolve to 1 or 3.

Question 8

What are the grammatical building blocks of a melody?

Answer 8

Note
Figure/Motif
Phrase

Question 9

Which notes would normally begin a phrase?

Answer 9

The notes of the tonic triad.

Question 10

There are two ways a phrase can begin rhythmically. What are these?

Answer 10

Accented on the first strong beat.

Unaccented, with a pick-up in the previous bar or slightly delayed, after the first beat.

Question 11

If a phrase begins with a pick-up or delayed, how does it affect its cadence?

Answer 11

The shift is added or subtracted at the end.

Question 12

How does a phrase end?

Answer 12

With a tonic note on an accented beat, preceded by one of the pitches in the dominant triad. (i.e. Perfect Cadence)

Question 13

Within the scope of the first Primary Rule, what kind of moves are possible?

Answer 13

Repetition, step and leaps in thirds, with respect to resolutions of active scale-steps.

Question 14

How can the natural tendencies of active scale-steps be counteracted i.e. delay the gratification of a resolution?

Answer 14

By approaching stepwise from inactive tones from the opposite direction.

Question 15

When approached in the direction of their resolution, how does it affect the natural inclinations of active scale-steps?

Answer 15

The need to resolve is reinforced.

Question 16

How does a leap of a third contrary to the natural tendency of an active scale-step influence the urge of the melody? (According to the first Primary Rule)

Answer 16

The melody desires to turn back with a leap or step.

Question 17

When a melody follows chord, what is the movement called?

Answer 17

Disjunct movement, skip or leap

Question 18

How are scale- and chord-line movement connected?

Answer 18

They are interchangeable almost at any point.

Question 19

What causes monotony?

Answer 19

Uniformity of rhythm
Narrow compass
Frequent return to the same tone on the same beat in consecutive measures

Question 20

In what order must the notes succeed each other in disjunct movement along a chord-line?

Answer 20

They can appear in any order.

Question 21

How do melody and harmony work together?

Answer 21

A well executed melody facilitates a great harmony.

Question 22

While writing the melody, what contextual element is crucial to keep in mind for good melody writing? Why?

Answer 22

The harmony and chords, that the melody reflects or is referencing.

Question 23

Describe the movement of leaps.

Answer 23

They can start from any note, upwards or downwards, but they must follow a chord structure.

Question 24

In chord-line movement, the composer need not adhere to…

Answer 24

…the natural resolutions of active scale-steps, instead they can move freely along the chord.