Range Rule for Better Melodies

Summary

In this episode of Hack Music Theory, Kate and Ray Harmony address the issue of melody range, explaining that a melody's range is the interval between its lowest and highest notes. They demonstrate how a small range can lead to a monotonous melody and provide a step-by-step guide to extend the range for more engaging music. The video also introduces the concept of the 'three' as a powerful note for creating climaxes and emphasizes the importance of creating a singable melody. The hosts encourage viewers to use their melody checklist for further assistance in crafting compelling melodies.

Takeaways

• 🎶 A 'fault' in a melody refers to a weakness or area for improvement, not a mistake.
• 🔍 The range of a melody is the interval between its lowest and highest notes, and a small range can make a melody monotonous.
• 🎵 To fix a melody's range, extend it by moving MIDI notes up and down, but do so thoughtfully to maintain musicality.
• 🎧 The highest note of a melody should ideally coincide with the lowest note of the bass line or one of its lowest notes.
• 📈 The third of the chord below is a powerful note to consider for the melody's highest point, though it's not a strict rule.
• 📉 For the melody's lowest note, consider aligning it with the highest note of the bass line or one of its highest notes.
• 🌟 Use a step-by-step method to create a melody with a large range, ensuring a climax and a flowing contour.
• ⚠️ Large intervals in a melody's contour should be used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the listener.
• 🎤 A good melody should have an ideal range that is neither too small nor too large, and it should be singable.
• 📚 For more guidance on writing melodies, refer to the melody checklist in the Hack Music Theory songwriting and producing PDF.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to teach music makers how to identify and fix a 'fault' in a melody, specifically a small range, which can make the melody monotonous and boring.

What is considered a 'fault' in a melody according to the script?

A 'fault' in a melody is a weakness or area for improvement, not a mistake. In the context of the script, a small range is identified as a fault because it lacks variation and can be monotonous.

How is the range of a melody defined in the script?

The range of a melody is defined as the interval from its lowest note to its highest note. In the example provided, the range is only five semitones from C to F.

Why is a large range important in a melody?

A large range is important because it brings interest and life into the melody, similar to how varying pitch in speech makes it more engaging. It prevents the melody from being monotonous and boring.

What is the key and tempo of the example melody provided in the script?

The example melody is in the key of F Lydian, which consists of all the white notes from F to F, and the tempo is 90 BPM.

What is the first step in fixing the range of a melody according to the script?

The first step in fixing the range of a melody is to decide where the climax of the melody will happen, which is the highest note.

What note is suggested to be used as the highest note in a melody?

The script suggests starting with the 'three' of the chord below as it is the most powerful note. However, it is not mandatory, and in the example, the 'two' of the F major chord, which is G, is used as the highest note.

How should the lowest note of a melody be determined?

The lowest note of a melody should be played over the bass line's highest note or at least one of its highest notes, according to the script's suggestion.

What is the ideal range for a melody?

There is no one-size-fits-all ideal range for a melody. It should be big enough to keep it interesting and full of life but not too big that it becomes difficult to sing.

What resource is available for further help with writing melodies?

For further help with writing melodies, the script mentions a melody checklist found in the songwriting and producing PDF available on hackmusictheory.com.