The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

Part 3:
Tunes
You want your music to fit with your words. In the simplest sense, this means
arranging the rhythm of the music so that it fits the natural rhythm of the words.
You don’t want your singers to be forced into awkward phrasing to fit all the
syllables into a given space. Most words and phrases have a natural pace, and
will suggest a rhythm to you. Make sure your music’s rhythm fits this lyric
rhythm—in particular, avoid putting an unaccented word or syllable on an
accented part of the measure, like the downbeat.
You also want the flow of your melody to match the flow of the words. For
example, if the words ask a question, you probably want the melody to flow
upward, to imitate the way a human voice ends a question on a higher pitch.
In addition, you want the feel of the music to match the feel of the lyrics. If the
lyrics are sad, you probably don’t want to set them to a happy-sounding melody.
There are exceptions to this rule, of course—mismatching words and lyrics can
create a sense of musical irony that is appropriate in some situations—but in
general, you want your melody to reflect the feel of the lyrics, even when
played without vocals.
Write for a Specific Instrument or Voice
The type of melody you compose might be dictated by the specific voices or
instruments you’re writing for. For example, if you’re writing for flutes, you
probably don’t want to create a booming, bombastic melody—they won’t be
able to play it. By the same token, too high a melody will be difficult for low
male voices to sing. You need to find not only the right range for a given voice
or instrument, but also the right 
feel.
Match the requirements of your melody
with the right voices and instruments to avoid an unpleasant listening experience.
Be Unique
Finally, you should know that a melody doesn’t have to be harmonically or
rhythmically complex to be memorable; it doesn’t have to be long or short or any
certain length. It does, however, have to be distinctive. A memorable melody
might remind us of other melodies, but it can’t duplicate them. The best melodies
have something unique about them, some distinctive hook or motif or rhythmic
pattern that makes them stand out.
It’s difficult (if not impossible) to teach you how to be unique, so this is some-
thing you’ll have to address on your own. Does your melody stand on its own?
Does it sound a little like something else you’ve heard? Does it sound a 
lot
like
something else you’ve heard? As with many aspects of composition, this is one
area in which you’ll have to trust your ears—and one that you definitely have to
listen for.
Learn More About Composing
Writing your own music is fun, but it requires mastery of many musical skills—
of which we’ve only covered a few in this chapter. Whether you want to write
songs or symphonies, the same techniques of composition apply. You have to
108
See Chapter 19 for more
information about instru-
mental and vocal ranges.
Note

---

Chapter 8:
Melodies
start with a good grounding in music theory (which is why you’re reading this
book!), and then proceed from there to learn how to create memorable melodies,
interesting chord progressions, and sparkling orchestrations.
If you’re interested in learning more about writing music, check out my com-
panion book, 
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Composition 
(Alpha Books, 2005).
Think of the composition book as “volume two” of the book you’re currently
reading; it’s a natural progression from music theory to composition, and one
you should explore if you’re interested.
The Least You Need to Know
◆
A melody consists of a logical progression of tones and rhythms.
◆
Melodies typically follow a two-, four-, eight-, or sixteen-measure form.
◆
Melodies typically conform to a specific scale or mode.
◆
The best melodies are often the simplest—in terms of both tune and
rhythm.
◆
Longer melodies can typically be divided into two parts, with the end of
the first part creating a tension that is resolved in the second part.
◆
You should make sure that your melodies are truly singable—and the only
way to do this is to see if you can sing them!
Exercises