Learn The Rules So you Know How to Break Them...

We discussed "the rules" of writing a melody (or at least some of the "suggested" rules) in class.

• Your key should be reflected in your choice of notes
• The tonic (or naming note of the key) should play a prominent role in your melody (ie. it may begin and/or end the melody)
• The dominant (the 5th note of the scale) will also be prominently featured throughout the melody

Additional "rules" of melody writing might include:

• repetition of the tonic and dominant notes help establish the key
• Placing tonic and dominants on strong beats (like beat one)

Check out this observant blogger and composer as he deconstructs a familiar melody in relationship to some of the "rules" discussed above.

Look back at the most recent melody you composed in this post. Think about the key signature and the chords involved. Does the melody take advantage of the features of that key? Does it adhere to traditional "rules" of melody writing ("rules" discussed in this class, in this post, and through reading the linked blogger post above)?

Edit your melody to try and bring it in line with these rules.

Do you like the transformed/ edited version?

Composers often agonize over a single note choice or rhythmic element. Take a moment to agonize...