MELODY

Melody
 It is defined as a series of succession
of usually related consecutive tones
varying in pitch and duration.
 Properties of Melody
There are 5 properties of melody that gives it infinitive
variety. An understanding of these properties will
help the students listen perceptively to this element.

• Rhythm
• Dimension
• Register
• Direction
• Progression
 Rhythm
“Rhythm can exist without a melody but
melody cannot exist without rhythm”
Try to imagine this
 DIMENSION
Melody has two dimension
1. Length - it maybe long or short depending on the composer. It may last only in seconds or minutes.
2. Range – this is the pitch distance from its lowest to highest tone .

Example of Range

Narrow Wide
 REGISTER
The relative highness or lowness of the
aggregate tones of a melody. A melody may
occupy high, medium, or low register. High
registered melodies are usually sung by
sopranos or tenors, while low-registered tunes
are sung by baritones, basses and altos
 Direction
Melody has directions of pitch
(a) upwards- pitches getting higher,
(b) downwards- pitches going lower.

The directions are always present in a melody

and either may predominate in a melody.
 PROGRESSION
Refers to the intervals (pitch distance) between the
tones as a melody moves from one tone to another.
Melody often contains conjunct and disjunct
progression

CONJUNCT
A melody may move mostly stepwise- that is, progressing
only to adjacent notes like do-re-mi-fa-so la-ti-do etc.

DISJUNCT PROGRESSION
contains numerous skips like do-mi-so-do etc
The melody is usually thought of as the basis of
musical composition. It is the musical idea around
which the/a composition is constructed . It is the most
appealing and attractive to the listener.
Workshop time
 Three Little Indian
One little, two little,Three little Indians,
Four little, five little, Six little Indians,
Seven little, eight little,Nine little Indians,
Ten little Indian boys