![]() ![]() Below, I’ve highlighted every chord tone in the melody.Īs you can see, the melody is almost entirely comprised of chord tones.Įvery time a new chord hits, a chord tone is played with it. Let’s look at the which melody notes are chord tones. Non-chord tones want to be resolved to chord tones, especially when they’re played on a strong beat.īelow is a transcription of the chords and melody of the chorus in Swedish House Mafia’s “Don’t You Worry Child”. For clarity purposes, I’ve highlighted the melody. Both add to the overall shape and power of a melody. To summarize: Notes played on strong beats will have more emphasis, while notes played on weak beats will have less emphasis. In general, notes that play on strong beats will have more emphasis, and notes that play on weak beats will have less emphasis.įurther, non-chord tones want to be resolved quickly, especially if they’re played on a strong beat.įor those of you unfamiliar with strong/weak beats, in a 4/4 time signature divided into quarter notes, the first beat is a strong beat, the second and fourth are weak, and the third beat is a medium beat. It is important to recognize the overall relationship between chords and melodies. Thus, C, E, and G will sound comfortable over the C major chord, while D, F, A, and B will add a bit of tension. Conversely, D, F, A, and B, are non-chord tones. In this case, C, E, and G are all chord tones. We’ll start with a C Major chord (C-E-G). We’re in the key of C Major, which contains all white notes, namely C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. To write a good melody, you must have a balance of both: non-chord tones that add tension, and chord-tones that resolve that tension.ĭisclaimer: Even if your song doesn’t have chords, chords are still being implied by the bassline (or another melodic element in your track). Non-Chord TonesĪ chord tone is a note that is in the chord, and a non-chord tone is a note that is not in the chord but still in the scale.Ĭhord tones will sound comfortable and satisfying, while non-chord tones will add tension and excitement.Īnother way to think about this is chord tones are stable while non-chord tones are unstable. When writing a melody over a chord progression, it’s essential to understand the relationship between chord tones and non-chord tones. So how exactly do melodies and chords relate? Think of it this way: I can take your favorite melody of all time and put a chord progression under it that makes your ears bleed. Without this, the melody will be weak and the song will fall short. Want a melody cheat sheet and some popular MIDI melodies from artists like Calvin Harris? Grab our MIDI pack below for free!įirst, I want to talk discuss the most important part of a great melody: it’s relationship to the chords.Ī melody must relate to its chords in a purposeful way. How to take what you’ve learned and apply it to your own music.When and how to fix a melody that just plain sucks.A few popular melodies, dissecting what makes them work. ![]() ![]() ![]() The concepts of space, repetition, chord tones, motifs and much more.How to turn boring melody lines into memorable, catchy hooks that grab the attention of the listener.This guide will teach you the key elements of a great melody and goes far beyond just the basics. The ability to write great melodies is a muscle: you must actively train it, continually growing your knowledge and skillset.īut maybe you’ve written a few, watched a few tutorials, and your melodies still sound lame and cheesy. The success of your music depends on your ability to write strong, unique, and memorable melodies. Want to master melody and chord progression writing? Check out Songwriting For Producers. ![]()
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