universal qualities of a melody
We listen to music on two levels - the mood or emotional level and the musical or technical level.
The vast majority of people who listen to music have no musical training. As creators, we have to satisfy both our musicianship and the average listener's needs. No small task! It is major achievement to satisfy your own artistic needs and still reach a wide audience.
The following table examines some of the universal qualities of a strong melody. The left side of the table lists some of the most common emotional responses to melody. The right side lists some of the technical-musical components that contribute to and evoke these emotional responses.
Universal Qualities of a Strong Melody
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Mood-Senses fulfillment wholeness touch taste smell sight sound anger love jealousy hope despair humor confidence sorrow passion |
Technical-Musical balance contrast repetition suggestion phrase structure symmetry, proportion articulation dynamics anticipation delayed attacks synchopation accents interpretation embellishment range chromaticism predictability surprise |
irene bom ~ songwriter © 2022