| What do all the greatest songs and instrumental | | | | severely limited. Do not be afraid to venture out and |
| beats - in any genre of music - all have in common? | | | | listen to lots of different styles of music. Hate pop? |
| They are all driven by a great melody. A melody is a | | | | Listen to it anyway. Can't stand classical music? Que |
| set of single notes in succession that form a musical | | | | up that Chopin piece. In fact, I credit a great portion |
| line. The hook to your favorite song, a guitar phrase, | | | | of my melody-making abilities and musical sense to a |
| and succession of single piano notes in an | | | | band that fits into the genre of "Progressive Metal." |
| instrumental beat are all examples of a melody. | | | | Through my years of listening, my ears have |
| Melodies don't have to be "catchy" to be effective. A | | | | consciously and subconsciously picked up ways of |
| melody that displays a deep, powerful emotion can | | | | combining note sequences to make melodies for my |
| be a great piece of music without being "catchy" or | | | | instrumentals and beats that I never would have |
| "poppy." For example, if you are producing a deep | | | | been able to make had I not been a student of their |
| instrumental beat about a death or lost love, it can | | | | music. |
| be driven by dark, emotional melodies that don't | | | | And perhaps the most important way to become |
| necessarily "stick in your head," but rather portray | | | | better at creating melodies: |
| the emotion of the song successfully through | | | | LEARN MUSIC SCALES: Ok normally someone would |
| effective melodies. | | | | just advise you to learn "music theory." But I find |
| So what can you do as a producer to become | | | | that people can get intimidated when it comes to |
| better ar producing great melodies in their | | | | tackling the entire subject of music theory. The |
| instrumental beats? | | | | aspect that can really help you when seeking to |
| Well I do believe that some of us just naturally have | | | | become better at writing melodies is musical note |
| more of a knack for this sort of thing than others. | | | | scales. Do some research online or buy a book about |
| The best songwriters who have written countless | | | | the different scales used in music. Apply these |
| great melodies are creatively gifted people who can | | | | concepts to an instrument (piano, guitar, etc) and |
| do this a lot easier than some of us. HOWEVER, I do | | | | you will really begin to get the feel of how notes are |
| believe that everyone has the ability to learn how to | | | | associated with one another, which notes combine |
| become better at creating melodies. So I'd like to | | | | optimally together, and which moods are brought out |
| share with you two very powerful tips that will help | | | | by each scale. Learn the major, minor, blues, |
| you to create better melodies for your instrumental | | | | pentatonic, harmonic minor scales....and so on. As soon |
| beats: | | | | as I learned this aspect of music for guitar, I became |
| Listen to Different Kinds of Music: If you always | | | | a much better musician, composer, producer, and, |
| listen to the same type of music, your minds ability | | | | well, melody maker! |
| to expand into new creative melodic ideas will be | | | | |