February 2023 Guitar Newsletter: Write Your Own Melodies!
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Without a doubt a good melody is one of the most attractive things in music. It keeps the listener engaged and compels us to re-listen to the song. Melodies can range from very simple to quite complex and are equally present in all genres of music. Analyzing their structure, seeing patterns and discovering formulas is engaging and educational. Equally, composing your own melodies is also rewarding. Starting in 2023, in an ongoing spirit of self-betterment and musical growth, I set myself the goal of regularly writing and recording a melody.
Composing your own music, along with notating it on paper, can be as easy or as hard as you make it. Where do you begin? Here’s an idea: Keep it basic and give yourself strict parameters. My goal for the melody is around two minutes in length and just challenging enough that I have to practice it for at least half an hour before I hit the record button. Decide on a major or minor key signature, a time signature, and a set number of measures to start out with. Some of the catchiest melodies end up being fairly simple. Just think of childhood nursery rhymes, a hymn you know how to sing, the chorus to your favorite pop song or a commercial jingle.
The melody you make up should not exceed your ability to play it back on an instrument or to sing it. Also, give yourself a time limit for the completion of this project so you don’t overthink it too much. I allow myself no more than an hour to work on the initial melody. The next day I give it a review and make quick, gut instinct adjustments and aim to record the notated melody within half an hour. Try to view this project like you would solving a crossword puzzle, playing seduko, a board game or my wife’s favorite: wordle.
Also keep in mind that being able to notate music on paper is an important engagement with music. Whether transcribing somebody else’s music or putting your own original material on manuscript paper, this is a valuable skill for any musician and a great learning opportunity. A prerequisite for this undertaking is being fairly good at reading music and able to identify the proper pitches. In addition, correct notation requires a good sense of rhythmic understanding.
You might want to start out using very simple rhythms, such as quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. Keep the same rhythm for each phrase, say two quarter notes followed by a whole note. I found that sitting down at my keyboard and limiting myself to playing with only one hand at a moderate tempo is challenging enough. My intention is to stay focused on the melody. I am alarmed at how easily my mind drifts off to other thoughts instead of keeping an eye on the melody and the task. This activity has turned into quite a challenge in regards to staying focused and increasing my concentration! Again, keep the “less is more” motto in mind and simplify. See what you can come up with using only the notes within one octave or a pentatonic scale. It was necessary not to do this on the guitar, thus preventing the temptation to make it more technically challenging than necessary.
This new assignment is worthwhile on several levels. Not only am I engaging with notating music on paper again, but I am also working on reaching goals, setting limits and not being overly critical. Building discipline and getting into a workflow are fantastic side-benefits. It is a satisfactory feeling to accomplish your goals and build momentum, which helps to stay the course.
It is a wonderful sensation finding yourself in a creative state and witnessing what you started out with taking on a life of its own. If you are lucky and not too critical, the melody will almost dictate itself. Without a doubt, a solid understanding of music theory will help you navigate the possible paths of the melody. However, as long as you stay committed to the process, using trail and error, your ears will be the ultimate guide and final judge.
May this month be filled with renewed appreciation for melodies. The next time you hear one, listen to it at least three times in a row and use your imagination to try to comprehend the underlying design and thought process of the composer. Don’t hesitate to have a swing at it yourself. Good luck and have fun!
Chris
