In-Depth Notes on Melody and Musical Elements

Pitch Melody

• Definition: The main tune of a piece of music.

Register

• Definition: The tonal range of the instrument (low, medium, high).

Range

• Definition: Refers to the extent of notes used in a melody.
  • Narrow Range: Limited distance between a few notes.
  • Wide Range: Covers a larger span of notes (more than an octave apart).

Shape / Movement

• Description: Examines how notes move.
  • Steps: Movement from one note to an adjacent note.
  • Leaps: Movement that skips notes.
  • Combination of both is possible.

Direction / Melodic Contour

• Definition: Indicates if notes are ascending, descending, or a combination of both.

Counter Melody

• Definition: A second melody accompanying the main melody that competes for attention.
  • Must be distinctive and equally important.

Harmony

• Description: The chords that support the main melody.

Accompaniment

• Definition: The parts that provide background for the main melody.

Chords

• Definition: A set of notes played simultaneously to create harmony.

Bassline

• Description: A single bass line reinforcing the chord progression.

Repeated Patterns

• Definition: Melodic patterns that recur throughout the piece.

Melodic Ostinato

• Definition: A repeated melodic pattern in the melody or harmony.

Riff

• Description: A short repeated melodic phrase used throughout a piece.
  • Commonly found in jazz and rock music.

Tonality

• Definition: The key of the piece (major, minor, pentatonic, blues).

Modulation

• Definition: The change of key within a piece of music.

Sequence

• Description: Repetition of a short melodic pattern at a different pitch (higher or lower).

Motif

• Definition: A short melodic fragment that recurs throughout the piece, unifying it.

Melisma

• Definition: A musical phrase where several ornamented notes are sung to a single syllable of text.

Additional Considerations

• Description of Instruments: Instrument roles can be specified in relation to Register, Shape, and Direction of the accompaniment.
  • e.g., The female voice performs the main melody; the electric guitar strums the chords.