any note that is included in a chord (e.g. a C chord has the chord tones C, E and G)

a short section of a melody, often lasting 1, 2 or 4 bars

a non-chord tone that links two chord tones by step

a conjunct melody has small changes in pitch between one note and the next (moving by ‘step’)

Which sounds better? Ex.1

British English CC

Which sounds better? Ex.2

Chord sequence

Example melody 1

Example melody 2

Example melody 3

Example melody 4

The first two bars could look like this

First phrase video

chord tone modelling 2

Third phrase video

Final phrase video

Task A feedback

Melody based on chord tones

Bar 1 passing note

Bar 2 passing note

Bars 1 and 2

Developed to

Adding passing notes

Task B feedback original

Task B feedback developed 

Combining melody and harmony

Music

Melodic fundamentals

Developing a melody

Composing a chord sequence

Developing a chord sequence

This unit explores fundamental components of composition. It embeds and develops pupils' understanding of writing melodies, including idiomatic features and making a melody sound 'melodic'. It also explores effective writing of chord sequences, and how these intertwine with melodic writing.

Fundamentals of composition

should always use a mixture of conjunct and disjunct movement

can use conjunct and disjunct movement in any way that suits the music's purpose

In a C major chord, the three __________ are C, E and G.

Basing a melody on chord tones helps the melody to fit with what?

a non-chord tone that links two chord tones

a non-chord tone that links two non-chord tones

a chord tone that links two non-chord tones

Which of these statements is true for a passing note?

Passing notes help to make melodies use __________ movement, moving by step.

A __________ chord is a standard chord with three notes.

In this C major chord, which note is the root note?

We would describe this chord as being in __________.

Chord __________ must come before chord I to create a perfect cadence?

Why is it important to use mostly primary chords?

Chord __________ is best avoided in a major key.

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Combining melody and harmony

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.