Following on from the post about starting a melody, here are three ideas for structuring a four line tune.

I find when songwriting that inspiration provides me with only one element, a tune with no words or lyrics with no tune. I then have to search around to find the other ingredients. Essentially what you can hear below is exactly that, three different versions of the same basic idea.

I’ve expanding on the lyrics from the previous post, so now we have:

Will we wait ’til men are up there,
Tying ropes around the sun?
Will we still be scared of reason,
Will we walk or will we run?

The last example from 5 ways to start a melody was my favourite, so I began with that. Here’s a reminder of what it sounds like:

[audio http://www.wellwrite.co.uk/songwright/melody6.mp3]

Now on to these week’s ideas.

1. ABAB

My first idea was to structure the melody so the first and third lines were pretty much the same, and the second and fourth lines too.
Here’s how it sounds.

[audio http://www.wellwrite.co.uk/songwright/structuringmelody1.mp3]

2. AABA

To give a less regular shape, and a bit more drive, I tried keeping the first, second and fourth lines the same, but added a higher note in the third line.

[audio http://www.wellwrite.co.uk/songwright/structuringmelody2.mp3]

3. Hitting a high point

I liked the idea of having a high point on the third line, so I emphasised it. Now there’s an even higher note in the third line, the fourth line is elongated and there’s even a chromatic note in there towards the end.

[audio http://www.wellwrite.co.uk/songwright/structuringmelody3.mp3]

The third example sounds the most like a finished melody and has the most interesting shape, so I’ll probably stick with that. What do you think?

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to start a Melody
2. Episode 4 -Song development
3. Songwright Episode One – Pentatonic scales
4. Episode 2 – Tension notes and a one chord song
5. Episode 3 – more chords than 3