Hallo. I'm new. heh

My question is about melodies. The way I make melodies is this; I find a chord progression, then compose a melody that compliments the chords as they play. It's worked for me a little, but I feel like there could be a "better" way to compose melodies...You could say I'm looking for way to make the melody blend with the chords so they aren't conflicting with each other. When I choose a chord, I seem to end up using mostly the tonic, mediant, and dominant. I'd like to use the other more often than I do, but without creating unnecessary tension during the song.
So how do you make your melodies? I'd like some remarks on the method I use, but I'd also like to hear how you do it.

Oh, and sorry if there's already another topic for this in the forum. I looked but I didn't find anything quite like what I was looking for.

I might add some resources to the OP for other people who are experiencing this issue. I don't know.
Anyways, thanks for your help.

-Annie

I keep my chords, above or below where i am writing my leads. And i make sure that they are different tonal characteristics.

To write leads to the chord progression means that you have to have a clear understanding of what you're playing.

to think to much, is a failure in emotion, to not think enough is a failure in understanding.


You also could be restraining yourself a little to much to the chord progression. Often times, i try to think of things as singular parts when writing it out.

If i go back and listen to it over and over again, i may or may not find something that i'll need to tweak or take out.

What you're dealing with here, is a mix of producer/writing difficulties.

I had to compartmentalize those two schools of thoughts after i was done writing the music. It wasn't until i started messing with arrangement that i realize things would be kept or changed.

This is the best i can do to explain it from a less technical point of view, outside of practice, study, and apply that's my advice really.

I'd also suggest you go and listen to classical music, and maybe even try to make a loop or a song that sounds similar that you can jam out to. It might help you understand what you're missing.

It really depends what genre you're writing for but I'd suggest starting with pentatonics. If you look at a lot of Kygo's melodies you'll see that they're almost always restricted to just a few notes in a pentatonic scale (normally the key's pentatonic). Say what you want about him but his melodies are simple and still very catchy.

Also check out the rhythm in his melodies. A lot of notes are not aligned to a simple grid but are instead using triplets or swing and stuff like that.

swing and triplets go well with the pentatonic scale.

It's provides a good groove as well.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I really appreciate it. I also have some terms to look up now.

-Annie