When people think of music, and memorable songs they have heard in the past, generally they think of the melody. This illustrates the importance of the melody and also brings up three questions. What is the purpose of music? Why is the melody the most important? What makes a melody memorable? If you wish to learn the secret of composing memorable melodies, then keep reading! :)

What is the Purpose of Music?

The purpose of music is to create an emotional atmosphere of your choosing. Warriors would chant songs in order to motivate and uplift themselves in preparation for battle. A boy may play a song to serenade a women of his choosing in order that she will swoon for him. Being able to mold a melody to suit your purpose is the goal of a composer. A composer chooses which emotions the listeners are to feel and then composes a song based off those emotions. Certain chord progressions and intervals are attached to certain emotions. By choosing which tones are to be played, a composer and send the listener on the chosen emotional journey.

Why is The Melody the Most Important Aspect of Music?

Melody is important because it is the central theme a song is built around. Certainly there are different composition methods in which you might create the harmony first, or create the harmony and the melody simultaneously, or create the melody first, but the most memorable classical songs of the past are remembered due to their melody. When a person thinks of a favorite song, what part of the song do they remember? The melody!! The melody is the most important aspect of music because it is the part that is most remembered. Harmony and rhythmic elements help to reinforce the central melody.

What Makes a Memorable Melody?

When you think of favorite songs, or very memorable melodies, what do they have in common? Think of twinkle twinkle little star, Mary had a little lamb, or even more popular songs such as "You had a bad day" by Daniel Powter. All this songs have their melodies repeated over and over again! One way to make your melody more memorable is to have it played incessantly. Of course, with this technique, one has to ensure that their melody is pleasing to the audience and not irksome.

Composing the Actual Melody

Composing the actual melody of a composition is similar to telling a story. First an introduction occurs in which the ambiance of the piece is set. Next, a character or two are introduced as a simple melodic motif. As the composition piece develops, the characters develop and interact with one another. The audience hears how these characters interact which creates the intended emotions. The development of the characters (motifs) is the most important aspect of the piece, as it is with stories as well. How the characters grow and change through the duration of the art is what makes the melody pleasing.