Music Term
What is a melody?
Definition
A melody is a sequence of single notes arranged in a musically satisfying pattern -- the linear, horizontal dimension of music that the listener perceives as a tune.
Melody in music -- explained
Melody is what most people mean when they say a song is catchy: the vocal line or instrumental tune that carries the song's identity. Great melodies have shape (they move up and down, with contour), rhythm (the notes are not all the same length), and direction (they feel like they are going somewhere). In vocal music, melody is constrained by the human voice's range and the natural prosody of language -- good melodic writing matches the stress patterns of the words. Melodies can be stepwise (moving in small intervals, which feels smooth and singable) or have large leaps (which create tension and drama). In Western tonal music, melodies tend to emphasise the notes of the underlying chord (chord tones) and treat non-chord tones as passing notes or suspensions that resolve to chord tones. In jazz, melodic improvisation is the primary art form -- the soloist creates new melodies over the chord changes in real time.
Notable examples of a melody
Somewhere Over the Rainbow -- Harold Arlen / Judy Garland
Opens with an octave leap -- the largest melodic interval the voice can sing singably -- establishing yearning from the first note.
Yesterday -- The Beatles
A stepwise descending line that perfectly matches the lyrical subject of regret and loss -- melody and meaning unified.
Coltrane's ballad playing on My Favorite Things -- John Coltrane
Coltrane transforms a simple musical theatre melody through ornamentation, rhythm, and harmonic recontextualisation.
Related music terms
Frequently asked questions
- What is a melody in music?
- A melody is a sequence of single notes arranged in a musically satisfying pattern -- the linear, horizontal dimension of music that the listener perceives as a tune.
- What is an example of a melody?
- A well-known example is Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen / Judy Garland: Opens with an octave leap -- the largest melodic interval the voice can sing singably -- establishing yearning from the first note.
- How is a melody used in music?
- Melody is what most people mean when they say a song is catchy: the vocal line or instrumental tune that carries the song's identity. Great melodies have shape (they move up and down, with contour), rhythm (the notes are not all the same length), and direction (they feel like they are going somewhere).
Rate and review albums on Goat Music
Apply what you know. Score every album on a 1-100 scale and build your music taste profile.