Strategies to revisit a melody

[JIftekaruddin]

Hello everyone,
I have been amazed by how spot on the critiques that I have received have been. They allow me to look at a song with fresh ears and eyes in a way that I wasn't able to before. For my song: "Million Little Pieces" I have been told on two critiques for two separate listings that while they enjoyed the song to an extent, they felt that the verse and chorus melody could be better and have more "lift."

I'm curious, when you have a song that you have worked hard on the melody but then you find people just aren't connecting it, where do you start to revise the melody? Do you lean on your theory? Do you change up some chords, do you try playing on a different instrument?

I'd love to know what your strategies are.

Million little pieces: https://www.taxi.com/my/artist/songs/iE ... tle-pieces

[DouglasKnight]

Hello everyone,
I have been amazed by how spot on the critiques that I have received have been. They allow me to look at a song with fresh ears and eyes in a way that I wasn't able to before. For my song: "Million Little Pieces" I have been told on two critiques for two separate listings that while they enjoyed the song to an extent, they felt that the verse and chorus melody could be better and have more "lift."

I'm curious, when you have a song that you have worked hard on the melody but then you find people just aren't connecting it, where do you start to revise the melody? Do you lean on your theory? Do you change up some chords, do you try playing on a different instrument?

I'd love to know what your strategies are.

Million little pieces: https://www.taxi.com/my/artist/songs/iE ... tle-pieces

Hey, your link didn't work, so couldn't listen to the track. However, found this Taxi TV video with Jason Blume that may help regarding melody" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEbV9Y2HgRI

Best of luck!
Doug

[AlanHall]

Any Taxi TV episode with Robyn Frederick would be solid gold on this topic, too

[funsongs]

One very simple 'rule of thumb' for getting your chorus to lift - have it start on the IV or V chord of your progression.

If you're doing a song/melody that has a verse/pre-chorus/chorus structure, with the verse starting on the I;
try starting the pre on the IV, and the chorus on the V.
If your structure also has a bridge - you could try 'hanging out on the V'.

(note: I = the 1 chord; IV = the 4; V = the 5; etc.)
HTH,
Peter

[Casey H]

Hi.
Bad link to song. If you can post a proper link, I'll come back with suggestions FWIW.

[DouglasKnight]

PS Here's a video explaining how to share songs in the forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkr96Inx-Vc

[Casey H]

PS Here's a video explaining how to share songs in the forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkr96Inx-Vc

That or use a free soundcloud account.

[SteveAlton]

For me once I have a melody for the tune, I find it very difficult to get that out of my head. I have a song I'm working on now where the Chorus is great, but the Verse melody is just "meh"...Trying not to get married to it, but it's difficult...So I gotta unthink my melody.

As far as lift is concerned. You actually need to write that into your song with Chord choices, & melody Choices to get that soaring hook.

Some songs, just don't have the lift because as one poster mentioned your starting chord for you Chorus didn't allow it...Just don't forget the melody has to soar too.

Also, you can use BGV's high harmony, sometimes even the 2nd to give your tunes the illusion of a bit of a "lift"

[BradGray]

I would suggest checking out Rick Beato on YouTube. His channel is just awesome!

I recall watching Rick talk about great songs, and breaking down ones that work and ones that don't - often due to the melody. But he did it from a technical perspective. If I recall correctly, I believe he pointed out ones that stay around the root, almost never work. Additionally, ones that start around the 9th or 11th, always seem to catch your attention.

Anyway, I'm not doing it justice, but I'd suggest going to check out his channel as he has many great tips, and examples, on this front.

Cheers,
Brad

[JIftekaruddin]

Hey, your link didn't work, so couldn't listen to the track. However, found this Taxi TV video with Jason Blume that may help regarding melody" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEbV9Y2HgRI

Best of luck!
Doug
[/quote]

Hi Doug, thanks very much for taking time to respond and for sending me both Jason's link as well as for that helpful video on sharing songs to the forum.

This should hopefully be "good" : https://www.taxi.com/members/8Xp7u0urRI ... tle-pieces

I will definitely watch Jason's video.