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songwriting

What’s in a Melody? Eight Tips to Getting It Right

May 19, 2023 By LDSPMA 1 Comment

Crafting the perfect melody for your lyrics can be tricky. On one hand, you want the music to sound original and fresh. On the other, the melody must be memorable and catchy enough to stick in the listener’s mind. There are many factors to consider when composing a melody from the limited number of notes on the scale. Let’s consider a few strategies necessary to write an unforgettable song.

Stress Less 

There’s a good chance that your initial attempts to write a song will resemble something already written by you or someone else. That’s okay. You can use various techniques to set your work apart, but first consider how well the music fits the lyrics. Next, reflect on the mood you want to create and the emotions you wish to evoke.

Words First vs. Music First

Every songwriter faces the fundamental question, “Words first or music first?” The good news is that there is no single answer to this question. Pre-written words might spark ideas for new compositions, or existing music could be the springboard for creative lyrics. Play around and discover what method works best for you. 

Try New Things

Experiment with your melody! Try playing various versions to find a new and interesting arrangement. Switch up the scale or mode to give your melody a different flavor. Change the rhythms in the song. Do something unexpected! Add variety to your melody to catch the listener’s ear.  Try your melody on different instruments, whether standard or digital. Listening to different timbres of instruments may help you think of new compositional possibilities. Play around with dynamics and make sure there’s enough contrast throughout your song. Variations in dynamics can make the difference between a good melody and a great one.

Syllable Stress 

Carefully consider the syllabic stresses of your text and how your melody emphasizes certain words. For example, the word “father” is spoken with a stressed first syllable, “FA,” and an unstressed second syllable, “ther.” Different time signatures naturally place stress on particular beats. For instance, a song written in three-quarter time creates a stressed first beat, followed by two unstressed beats. Ideally, the stressed syllables or words should fall on the stressed beats in the music. In the above example, the first syllable of “father” should fall on the first beat of the measure so it’s given special emphasis while the second syllable remains unstressed.

Making melodic decisions can be a bit like piecing together a puzzle, but focusing on rhythmic patterns will help your song flow naturally. 

Jumps and Skips

Keep the performer in mind when writing a melody. If you are writing a vocal solo, know what range of notes each voice part can sing. Using a wider range of notes makes singing a piece more difficult.

Also, remember that it’s much easier to sing notes that are next to each other on the staff than those that skip around in large jumps and intervals. Make sure the range and position of the notes match the skill level of your intended performer. 

A Musical Canvas 

Take opportunities to “paint the text” with the accompanying music. For example, songs often use sixteenth notes to mimic the effect of flowing water. A text about fire might use staccato notes to sound like crackling sparks. These effects might not work for every text, but when appropriate, painting the text with music can exemplify the meaning of the piece. 

A Catchy Tune

What makes a tune get irrevocably stuck in your head? No one method guarantees your melody will be “sticky,” but catchy tunes have two things in common.

First, many popular songs repeat words or parts of the tune. Just think of how easy it is to get The Beatles’ “She Loves You” stuck in your head with its catchy refrain of “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” The repetition is effective without being annoying.

Second, a catchy melody is often simple. If a tune is too complex, it will be hard to remember, and you probably won’t find yourself humming it later. This rule also applies to the lyrics. To make your song relatable and memorable, avoid uncommon words that your audience probably wouldn’t know. When in doubt, sing or play your tune for someone else–if they start humming along with the second verse, that’s a surefire sign you’ve written a winner. 

Your Laboratory 

Sometimes, lightning will strike, and you’ll come up with the perfect combination of melody and words in a flash of brilliant inspiration. More often, the process will require experimentation, fine-tuning, and endurance to get it just right. You don’t have to settle on the first idea that comes to mind. If you give yourself time to mull the song over, you will come upon creative revisions you hadn’t considered at first. Just like in a real laboratory, sometimes your creations will blow up in your face, and you’ll have to start over. But occasionally, you’ll find the perfect combination of elements right away and produce a spectacular reaction.

A headshot of Michael Young.

Michael D. Young

Though Michael grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and their three children. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. He is the author of the novels in The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, the Chess Quest Series and the Penultimate Dawn Cycle (The Hunger), as well as several non-fiction works, including An Advent Carols Countdown, The Song of the Righteous and As Saints We Sing. Visit his website here.

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Music Tagged With: composing, lyrics, melody, songwriting

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Cris Conerty

    October 30, 2021 By Spencer Skeen 1 Comment

    Cris Conerty currently lives in Colbert, Washington.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    I created Mary’s Easter Morning (a children’s picture book based upon my original children’s folk song), many hymns, choral compositions, and children’s songs for the Christian church/Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints setting (see http://www.whitepoppycreative.com).

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    It all started at age five with the Christmas gift of the Linus-like toy piano. Many years of piano playing, a variety of college courses, voice lessons, arranging classes and self-study, and a good amount of performance experience has gotten me to where I am today. I have always found a way to make music and let my heart sing. Composing and arranging music for the Christian church setting is one of my favorite things to do, and much of my work is a collaboration with my daughter, Alaina Larsen. I have been inspired by the work of Janice Kapp Perry.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    The highlights of my career thus far have been collaborating with my daughter, Alaina Larsen, since 2018 to compose music and producing creative works for children and adults that help to generate, build, and repair individual testimonies of Jesus Christ. We are a mother-daughter team who love the Lord, His gospel, and the power music has to share His message. We recently celebrated being offered a publishing contract for our first children’s book, which is based on an original song.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Find your own authentic voice and say what only you can say.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    In the area of songwriting, my best advice is to be open to suggestions and input from others—remain teachable—then review and revise your lyrics and creative works many times, so that you can bring your very best product to your audience, publishers, and to all with whom you share your work.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    My age inspires me—as an empty-nester and grandparent I realize life is short. It is never too late to begin the journey of creating and sharing your original, inspired material. I am also inspired by my personal awareness of the gifts God has given me and my responsibility to be a voice of light.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    Through our joint venture, White Poppy Creative, my daughter and I have composed music that highlights time-tested virtues, illuminates the role of women in the scriptures, deepens faith in Jesus Christ, and brings comfort and joy to Latter-day Saint and Christian congregations. Through the power of inspiring music, meaningful word, and impactful visuals, we will continue to bring hope-filled inspirational works to light.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

    https://whitepoppycreative.com/

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Alaina Larsen, arranger, children's book, choral, Christian, composer, Cris Conerty, hymns, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Mary's Easter Morning, music, musician, songwriting, women

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