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Step 4

Musical

Example

 Analyzing the Melody

Even though this sounds like a simple melody, we are using many of the same techniques we learned in Composition 101, Lesson 1 and Lesson 2. Each bar builds upon the previous bar. Notice how the last three notes of the bar climb higher in each succeeding bar:

This technique brings a sense of growth to the melody. Because of the nature of the I-vi-ii-V progression, we can continue using these four chords as we vary and develop the melody.

We can even give the melody an interesting twist by slightly syncopating a couple of notes. See if you notice this subtle but important alteration:

We have left bar 1 exactly the same as before, but bars 2 and 3 differ slightly. In those 2 bars, we have delayed beat 2 by half a beat, so that beat 2 now plays on beat 2-and-a-half:

This helps to make the melody less predictable while, at the same time, adding some momentum to the rhythmic movement. We accomplish this by filling in the hole that previously appeared in beat 2-and-a-half. Now in bars 2 and 3, either a chord or melody note occurs on every half beat (eighth note).