Are you looking to level up your melody game? Writing melodies can be tough, but with a little practice and some helpful exercises, you can improve your skills and come up with some truly amazing melodies.
Here are five melody writing exercises to help you get started – all of which can be done on an instrument such as piano or guitar, or using a digital audio workstation:
1. Just two notes
This exercise is all about simplicity. Choose a chord progression and pick two notes to play on top of it. Then, try playing around with different rhythms and melodies using just those two notes. This exercise will help you focus on the basics of melody writing and develop your ear for melody.
2. Vary the chords
This one is the reverse of the first exercise. Pick a very simple melody (it can even be a melody from an existing song), and try changing up the chords in your chord progression. This will allow you to see how different chord changes can affect the melody and help you come up with new ideas.
3. Go up and down the scale in different ways
Choose a chord progression and try playing around with different ways of going up and down the scale. Feel free to change directions at any time. As simple as they are, scales are an indispensable tool when it comes to melody creation. Understanding them on a deep level will surely help step up your melody game.
4. Vary the rhythm
Pick a chord progression and a pitch sequence and try varying the rhythm. You can try playing the same pitches in different rhythms, or you can try changing up the pitches while keeping the rhythm the same. This exercise will surely help you invent more interesting melodies.
5. Make a melody with only your voice
This exercise is all about getting connected with yourself. Choose a chord progression and try making a melody with only your voice by humming or singing. You can try singing different pitches and rhythms, or you can try singing a melody that you’ve already written on an instrument. This exercise will help you develop your ear for melody and help you come up with new ideas – you’ll likely end up with something quite different from what you write on an instrument.
In conclusion, these five melody writing exercises are a great way to level up your melody game and improve your skills as a songwriter. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these exercises will help you develop your ear for melody and come up with fresh, exciting ideas. So grab your instrument or open that DAW and get started. Happy writing!
