(MNS) Composing Short Melodies Lesson

Composing Short Melodies

By using minor key signatures or by writing in the correct accidentals for a minor key signature within the music, you are now ready to compose short melodies written in a given minor key. The term for this is diatonic (notes is a given key). It is always good to begin and end on the tonic note.

Melody from audio 1

The above example would be a 4-measure melody using the notes and accidentals in the key of c natural minor (three flats). There are no tones that are NOT diatonic to c minor. If a raised 7th (harmonic minor) or a raised 6th and 7th (melodic minor) is used, those changed notes would still be considered diatonic to a minor key. Notice how there is a good, singable melody and the notes mostly move by steps. Stepwise motion should predominate throughout your melody. Listen to the audio.

Melody for audio 2

Remember the five elements to be considered in writing a good melody:

  • Contour
  • Range
  • Intervals
    • Structure/Rhythm
  • Scale

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