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1. Short motifs repeated at different points 2. Rise and fall strategy 3. Start with an interval that inspires you and repeat it in different parts 4. Make a melody then walk away and try and recreate it the way you think it went and what you change it to naturally

@devarni

5 ай бұрын

and... 5. limit the range to 1 to 1/2 octaves ;)

@nooffencebut8175

5 ай бұрын

@@devarni thanks, I really just left the comment for myself to reflect on later, I didn’t expect anyone to see it. I didn’t include 5 because that’s something I already do (:

“Misremember and adjust accordingly”, nicely done.

5:23 man improvised the most perfect and soul-wrenching melody and thought we wouldnt notice

@emilyrln

Жыл бұрын

Joe Hisaishi meets Howard Shore 🥰

@samthestupido

11 ай бұрын

man almost made me cry by complete accident

@7riXter

11 ай бұрын

fool of a took

@kiwij1424

11 ай бұрын

YES I THOUGHT HOBBITS TOO

@TheGararar

11 ай бұрын

Sounds like the Billy Madison theme to me

I've been using that remembering trick for years and always wondered how often other people came up with and used that same technique. It's simple but very effective.

@Xonatron

9 ай бұрын

I just stumbled upon this accidentally! I just got back into making music from 20 years ago and tried to recall an old riff that came back to me. And I tried and got it almost correct. There was value in my new version!

@macrocosm4442

8 ай бұрын

Fuaysdfugr❤r

@macrocosm4442

8 ай бұрын

Bhjfvejbhfvdbjhbhr❤r

@aretwodeetoo1181

8 ай бұрын

I just heard the idea to do that on purpose for the first time, it's genius.

@SaltSpirits

7 ай бұрын

I use Bandlab to write a lot of melodies on my phone. Just to sketch ideas that come to me for different chord progressions, etc. When I sit down at my DAW later to make a more focused track, I always try to write them again from memory. At worst, I can always just go to bandlab and copy it, at best, I either get it perfectly from memory and get to be proud of myself, but what usually happens is that I get distracted and turn that idea into a different one, usually one that i’m far more proud of. It’s truly a fantastic exercise.

I somehow read the title as how to craft a forgettable melody 💀💀💀

@peridot4600

3 ай бұрын

I need a tutorial for this

@retrogamer7543

2 ай бұрын

It’s destined for doom at this point 😭😭

@Falaxuper

Ай бұрын

I don't need a tutorial for that, comes completely naturally to me :P

@thepotatoportal69

Ай бұрын

@@Falaxuper Well, if you want to make an unforgettable melody then, all you have to do is not what would do.

I noticed that the melodies I like the most have a lot of the time a special tone that goes out of the standard minor or major scale. Williams does it almost all of the time with using the lydian mode for example. It helps to memorize the melody too because it sound less generic and more surprising in a good way. Especially when that "special note" hits on an accent or has some kind of an important place inside the melody.

@floofytown

Жыл бұрын

I totally agree. Surprise "out" moments are so important. I like to do the same thing with chords...like, write a harmonically diatonic piece, and have like one big "surprise chord" that exists outside the tonality set up so far...usually a chord that supports an important note in the melody! It can really open up a piece and make it feel much bigger and deeper than it would be otherwise.

@silverhandle

Жыл бұрын

Totally! And I think it’s important to do this further along in the song (later than sooner) so that a pattern can be clearly established before it’s “broken”. Of course, it can absolutely be done sooner and be effective as well :)

@liimlsan3

Жыл бұрын

The example I'll always think of is the surprise raised fourth in "Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection." The kind of thing that makes you need two harmonicas.

@all_bets_on_Ganesh

11 ай бұрын

I agree with this. The melody of greensleeves comes to my mind. In the last or so measure it hits the raised 6th just once, but if you took that note away it would not be the same at all.

Wow! The third part, "misremember and adjust" is really mind-blowing. I find it particularly useful and would definitely keep trying it in my futuring song writing.

"Use your [own] memory as a process of extracting what is memorable about your melody." Fantastic, Zach. Succinct, intuitive, and powerful. I'd love to hear your thoughts on development and building out larger forms! Keep up the excellent teaching!

I've been trying to "learn" how to create my own music lately, and as someone who spent most of my life playing music by others, but never learning music theory myself... I'm incredibly jealous of anyone who can do what Zach did while giving this tutorial. It felt very, "Oh, this old thing?" *Proceeds to ad lib an homage to Howard Shore* "That'll just end up on the cutting room floor." Meanwhile I spend 3 years playing audio garbage on my keyboard because creating music might as well be developing a practical theory of time-travel as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who has ever produced anything that could be considered music within a DAW; You have my undying respect.

@ganglestank

9 ай бұрын

People put way too much emphasis on theory, you really don’t need it unless you’re communicating between musicians. The way we talk about music is so disjointed; we feel the need to put into words what can be intuitively understood by being played and listened to.

@sfglim5341

9 ай бұрын

Theory is a good way to break things down but ultimately its not how music is made. I would not rely on music theory if you want to make good music

the memory trick is how I make songs. I intentionally dont record or write it down I trust that when I have an idea and I still have it a while after without noting it down its good. Works every time

5:43 the aboslute excitiment at his creation when he looks up, smirks, and giidly saids "so i changed it a little bit" good energy + passion

Zach, I wouldn’t leave the idea with the interval of a 7th as a mere example for this video. It’s astonishingly beautiful, please use it!

I found myself humming your #2 melody after the video ended, so I guess... mission accomplished. Very clever tips Zach and misremembering seems like a good way to impart soul into what at first seems like a clinical process.

9:32 According to your watch, you were gone less than 2 minutes, not 30 minutes. Got you 🤘🏼🤣

@unsightedmetal6857

Жыл бұрын

He's a liar!! 😮

@Diggo84

Жыл бұрын

@@unsightedmetal6857 No, he's not, he's a great musician, and he's already proven it.🤘🏼

@Xlimzzybohkarzzy

6 ай бұрын

@@Diggo84yeah bro he is

Zach you not only lecture but you also demonstrate wonderfully. Thank you for posting these videos they’re very helpful.

I love your videos, and I'm envious of how effortless you make this entire process seem.

This is so good and the tip about using memory to make things memorable is just fantastic.!

The whistle factor. I love it. Your piano playing is on hit too.

Great video. You pack so much information in such a short time. It felt like 30 minutes of knowledge. Very nice job.

Fantastic video as always. Thank you Zach!! ❤

Great hints to create a good melody. Whistle makes all sense, as well the octave limits thing.

Awesome video mate! This is possibly the hardest part of writing music and not coincidentally my biggest struggle. This is great advice particularly taking break and coming back to it later. So many times this brought me to the realization that my melodies where too weird or impossible to follow 😅

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

Thank you dude!!

Melodies is always what I struggle on, this video came in at a great time, so thank you! Keep up the great work👍

After hearing you play that ET harmony a couple times across different videos, I realized I’d never thought about the chords of that tune which I’d heard a million times as an 80s kid. But man…gosh that’s so pretty… so happy you shared this.

Thank you Zach for these amazing advices and all the great videos you make for us so we can learn from you. Your way of teaching is how I always wished my teachers at school to do it. While watching and listening to your examples it somehow clicks in my mind and after you composed a phrase I instantly get thousands of ideas how to continue it and develope the idea further. I don't know how you achieve that effect while you teach us these things but I'm really thankful for all what you do. Have a great day!

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

So glad to hear it Niclas, and thank you!

Really great points! When I watched your video, I was like "of course." But then at the same time I was "YEAH, INDEED". These are the kind of points that can be so easily overlooked but yet so powerful. Thank you for sharing.

I'm amazed by your content!! You deserve millions of subscribers and I'm sure you get there. The last tip about what's memorable it's incredible. I like to forget my music and go back to it to have a "fresh" ear and listen to them as if it was the first time and judge it better, but trying to remember it to figure out what's more catchy about them it's such an useful and smart thing to do. You're helping many people here, and you have a gif on teaching that makes everything clear and easy to understand. Thank youu❤

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Starfish!

4:37 my brain is fried, I thought bro was gone start playing Jennifer’s Body 💀💀

@russdidntdoit386

6 ай бұрын

fuck 🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I love this video! The first part of this video is exactly the stuff we discuss on The Melodology Podcast! Over the Rainbow and Raiders March, which you reference, have even both been featured so far. Range, motifs (cells), rising motion/arc, are all part of what we discuss. We also point out how melodies often follow an upward or downward scale or chord as their "skelatons". The winner of the "rising" melodies probably goes to the Force Theme, which is amazing to examine.

Thank you very much and I'm now using your technique in composing my own music.

I love that misremembering technique, that's brilliant and so very useful.

Zach you have the heart when you touch the keys…my brother was a prodigy and I know a natural when I feel one. The notes are the vehicles to the spirit energy-

your amazing at what you do. literally the best music channel ive seen in a while

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

That's super kind, thank you :)

Best KZread video I’ve seen explaining actually making melodies for beats

3 min in and I've already learned more musically than I have all week. You have a new subscriber 🔥💪

Excellent ideas. I have watched many videos like this and this one is the best! 😊

The idea of rebuilding again after 30 minutes seemed very practical and wonderful to me. Thank you!

Great video! I find I subconsciously use opening 7ths alot and generally rely on intervals as a main construction technique,, but I tend to fall my melodies alot earlier than you suggest, so theres tons of top advice here I can start experimenting with. Cheers

Great video. Loved the concepts especially the last one!

The memory trick is quite good, I might try it. Ive noticed this sort of happens naturally if you remove the ability to record your initial ideas from the writing/develop process. Eventually the ideas sort of simplify out of almost necessity. But also at the same time can sometimes loose the unique ness as you end up in mores muscle memory spaces

This was really cool, thank you!

Thank you for this video, this is very helpful 👍

I couldn’t help but notice that when you went away for 30 minutes the clock read 5:20, but when you came back it still read 5:20. You must have a short memory! Nevertheless, despite that petty gripe, I’ve been composing for 41 years and I still learned some new stuff here. So you got yourself a new subscriber. X

Wow I've really just was blown away with this knowledge I'm nowhere near playing but I really believe this will get me started in the right direction I really mean this was the most informative and well explained video on melody I've seen on KZread ty ty ty ty and yes I've subscribed and looking forward to more tools to help me become a compososer

4:37 “two things I ain’t ever seen”

Thanks dude!

A technique that works quite well for me is to use the third of the chord on the emphasised notes and beats in the melody!

Thank you for the video, Zach! Very valuable info.

Amazing stuff Zach :-) learned a lot from this 👌🏻

Thank you for the great quick lessons. It's very useful!

Again a great video. Good melodies come up quite intuitive in my case. But it's good to know some guidelines that are used unconsciously. These will definitely improve the quality. I really like the "unmemorize" tip. You may not need to choose one idea over another but using both (or more) as variations. What about a follow-up to this video digging into terms like period form, call/response. Would be interesting.

Great tips and amazing talent!!

You give very good explanations on the different kind of melody forms :) makes it feel less daunting to me 😊 thank you!

I like your first Melody it sounds like a really nice graduation commencement prelude

Fantastic. Will share this with my students!

This is a very interesting video with very good teaching in it thank you Zach

Fantastic one thank you for the insight!

Really great misremembering technique! Thank you for sharing!

Great video! I always found that writing melodies is easier to me then writing the supporting chords. I would love a video on how to write chords based on a melody, unless you already have one! also your clock seems to be broken, it barely moved in the thirty minutes ;)

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

😂😂🤫

@felixmarques

Жыл бұрын

Yup, good melodies always come to me with the implied chords. But then it's lots of fun to reharmonize, so the second or third time it shows up the emotional texture different.

Ooh the memory trick is really neat! I'm definitely going to try that in the future. I even have a new melody I thought of a few days ago and haven't re-listened to since! Edit: whoops, I remembered it exactly the way it was 😂 I guess it's a good sign that my Monday morning musical musings stuck in my head this long…

Really man love your videos like I was just struggle with a melody and then went to insta for a break then saw your story and the rest is history . excited waiting for birthday livestream . just realised what a promo ..🤣🤣🤣

Love your content, have been watching your videos for the past month now every day on the train (1 hour commute). Just about done following your video on creating a template (took me a lot longer than it took you because of my beginner level composer skills xD) I'll be sure to apply this knowledge alongside any other goodies you have coming our way as well! Also, thank you for introducing us to Anne-Kathrirn, her videos have also been super helpful! Side note: I think of Adam from Viva la Dirt League everytime I see you and vice versa haha Keep being awesome!

Hey Zach, great video as always! I was wondering if you could make a follow up video to this on how to make a good supporting harmony? I feel I can write melodies fairly well, but I often can only think of single-note bass lines to go along with it, so I have difficulty writing a harmony/orchestration (and don't even get me started on countermelodies) to support the melody. Would love if you had some sort of approach to hashing those parts out?

@ZachHeyde

Жыл бұрын

Good suggestion!

Enjoyed this video man! Great tips

Great help Zach, thanks!

Thank you.

Must say, this was quite helpful. Thank you so much men❤️💯🔥. I usually don't comment on videos but this was worth it

@ZachHeyde

11 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Simple concept that we learn early in our studies, but one rock musicians, like myself, tend to forget when writing. Great lesson!

This is incredible

This video is helpful and inspiring!

This is an excellent video 👍🎵

The interesting, thought-provoking and useful. Thanks!

You’re a great teacher man! Thanks from Switzerland!

Very helpful! The interval approach is very interesting Thanks

I pray that most of the professional songwriters on the Billboard charts looks at this video for inspiration and learn how to create a good melody! Thanks Zach Heyde for teaching us! I'm a decent melody writer, but i can't help but notice that many of the top songwriters tend to write very monotone sounding melodies and they really need to shape it up! Masters like Beatles, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Freddy Mercury etc turn around in their graves crying over the chart "hits" of today, most likely!

Nice composition on the fly!

Thank you!

Nicely done -- beautiful melodies, and quite a bit to think about.

@silverhandle

Жыл бұрын

Don’t think too much ;)

I use a trick a lot, that works similarly as the memory method. As I am a hobby musician and most of my compositions and songs are just for myself, I love to use accidental "false" notes, misremembered lyrics etc. to change the (until then) final melody/lyrics that way. I have songs that have quite different versions, decades apart. But at this point I even change those, that have already been performed. And I have to say, every time I like them more in the end.

Thanks, very helpful

this is super useful and concise thanks!

Very helpful. Thank you.

Great video! Thanks!

Very helpful. Thanks

Not sure it will be useful for somebody who never composed anything, but it gave names to things I do and made more sense to it, good job.

Beautiful video! I learned so much! Thank you 🙏🏻

Excellent advice!

That memory tip is fantastic!

Fantastic, Zack! 🍻

I feel like I always struggle to make worthwhile melody’s. This video did help though. It definitely gave me some cool ideas

What works for me when writing is to sing melody while playing chords. Seems to be a more direct line to finding magic

I'm going to share this with my Music Production students.

that memory trick actually blew my mind

I like to let a proto-melody repeat in my head over and over while walking, driving, or doing housework. It will slowly refine itself over a couple hours. Often, orchestration will begin, as well, so that I can enter a fairly complete composition into a notation program when I get a few moments.

Good tips, Thanks

Very good. I have found the same thing happening when I find myself misremembering my own song melodies.

All the great melodies have been written.

Great informative, entertaining video thank you 🙏💯

That last technique is the best. Thought I was the only one!