Strategies to revisit a melody

[JIftekaruddin]

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

Thanks Casey for letting me know, very strange as I just copy and pasted from my profile and I am able to use the link without issues (maybe because I'm signed into my account?). This is the link that was generated by the share to email icon: https://www.taxi.com/members/8Xp7u0urRI ... tle-pieces

In case that is still bad, here is another link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjL7Q0kQC2w

[JIftekaruddin]

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

Thank you Peter for this solid advice! This makes complete sense!

[JIftekaruddin]

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

Thanks Alan, I loved her live listening session a few weeks ago. I will check out her other videos.

[JIftekaruddin]

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"

Thanks Steve, yeah that makes a lot of sense. I'll have to revisit the chord structure. I really dig that tip about using a high harmony to give the illusion of lift!
.

[Casey H]

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

Hi
I played it at the fixed link. Beautiful and well produced! The issue is that you don't have sectional contrast, the chorus is melodically too similar to the verse. Love the pause before the chorus after "me". When the first chorus starts, it almost sounds like another verse. It gets better as the song progresses and as it repeats, you get the hook. But we have to really shine at that first chorus especially. Generally, no A&R will listen beyond that if they are not hooked in chorus 1. Have you been reading books on songwriting, watching videos, etc.? Sectional contrast can be done mainly with 2 ways: Go to higher melody notes in the chorus (sometimes lower, but usually higher) and/or change up the length of notes, the melodic shape as far sequence of longer and short notes. You might be able to take those interval jumps to higher notes you use in verse 2 in the chorus. Alternatively, you could change the verse to be different than the chorus. I know how hard it is, I throw away songs when I just can't get it. Try drawing out the shape of the verse and chorus melodies with lines that represent length and relative pitch. I just learned that in a class this past week!

Listened a few times and that hook really does grab you, just a bit late.

What kind of listings have you been submitting to? For Film/TV this might work as is as it's perfect mood setting, but for artist pitches no.

Really enjoyed this!

Best,
Casey

[JIftekaruddin]

[/quote]
Hi
I played it at the fixed link. Beautiful and well produced! The issue is that you don't have sectional contrast, the chorus is melodically too similar to the verse. Love the pause before the chorus after "me". When the first chorus starts, it almost sounds like another verse. It gets better as the song progresses and as it repeats, you get the hook. But we have to really shine at that first chorus especially. Generally, no A&R will listen beyond that if they are not hooked in chorus 1. Have you been reading books on songwriter, watching videos, etc.? Sectional contrast can be done mainly with 2 ways: Go to higher melody notes in the chorus (sometimes lower, but usually higher) and/or change up the length of notes, the melodic shape as far sequence of longer and short notes. You might be able to take those interval jumps to higher notes you use in verse 2 in the chorus. Alternatively, you could change the verse to be different than the chorus. I know how hard it is, I throw away songs when I just can't get it. Try drawing out the shape of the verse and chorus melodies with lines that represent length and relative pitch. I just learned that in a class this past week!

Listened a few times and that hook really does grab you, just a bit late.

What kind of listings have you been submitting to? For Film/TV this might work as is as it's perfect mood setting, but for artist pitches no.

Really enjoyed this!

Best,
Casey
[/quote]

Hi Casey,
Thank you so much for taking to to really listen! It wasn't until I got the critique that I remembered that the only time I change the descending chord shape is in the bridge. I have really been digging into John Braheny's book as well as Pat Pattison and Ralph Murphy. I am going to study up on Sectional Contrast...I wrote this song more just going with the flow and now when I look back with 20/20 hindsight, I see so many other opportunities.

I am going to go back to the drawing board, thanks again for your golden input!

I haven't submitted to any Film/TV bc this song didn't seem to match any of the examples. I will keep that in mind though!

[Casey H]

Before you go too much back to the drawing board and do major surgery, I would do these things:

Submit it for Taxi Film/TV listings when it's a fit.

Get qualified pro feedback specifically as it relates to Film/TV sync for the song. A Taxi custom critique is only $20 and well worth it. The same thing cost much more on the outside. When you submit, make sure you are very clear that you want the critique to be specifically about Film/TV and include a list of questions. I've been very pleased with the quality of the custom critiques, they are leaps and bounds beyond the mini ones you get with submissions. Good luck!!

Casey

[JIftekaruddin]

Casey this is a brilliant idea. I am going to keep on the lookout for a film/tv placement where it could fit and def request a custom critique...totally forgot about that option. Really appreciate you taking the time!

[Casey H]

Listened again on better speakers. It's really beautiful. May not need anything except some mix tweaks. The strings might be too loud at the start. But see what the custom screener says. Good luck!

I can't get it out of my head now! Hooked!

Casey