a short musical idea that is heard multiple times in a piece of music

a section of a melody, usually lasting for 1, 2 or 4 bars

the process of lengthening all of the notes in a melody by the same proportion

the process of shortening all of the notes in a melody by the same proportion

a melodic device in which a melodic idea is repeated at least three times, either rising or falling in pitch each time

Melodic shape example 1

Melodic shape example 2

Descending melody

Ascending then descending melody

How would you describe the use of conjunct and disjunct movement here?

We could represent this visually with a steeper line for the disjunct movement

What are the intervals in the descending disjunct section?

Arpeggio 

Scalic

How could you describe the repetition and contrast in this melody?

How could we describe the repetition in this example?

How could we analyse the phrases in this guitar melody?

'Question'

‘Question’ with ‘answer’

Task A ex.A

Task A ex.B

Original melody

Example 1

Example 2

Developed melody with extra notes added

Extended melody with additional notes at the end

Melody with dotted rhythms

Melody with simpler rhythms

Melodic idea

Idea developed with an ascending sequence

Developed with a descending sequence

Original melody 1

Developed melody 1

Original melody 2

Developed melody 2

Task B Q.1 original melody

Task B Q.1 developed melody

Task B Q.2 original melody

Task B Q.2 developed melody

Task B Q.3 original melody

Task B Q.3 developed melody

Fundamentals of melody

Music

Other melodic devices

Tonality and intervals

Chords and cadences

Harmonic devices

Exploring fundamental listening skills across a range of traditions

Understanding melody and harmony

When we proportionally lengthen all of the notes in a melody, this is called {{}}.

When we proportionally shorten all of the notes in a melody, this is called {{}}.

when two phrases contrast with each other.

What is ‘question and answer’ phrasing?

Which of these is not a common phrase length?

If a melody uses a segment of a scale, we call it a {{}} melody.

If a melody moves by leap we call it a {{}} melody.

If a melody moves by step we call it a {{}} melody.

a short melodic idea heard more than once

an extended melodic idea heard more than once

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

Fundamentals of melody

Lesson outcome

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