Hey, I used to have the same difficulty.

So basically I wanna reply just to give you some tips, hopefully these will help.

With a melody you need to base it on a scale (melodic minor, major etc). Arpeggios and other types of trance melodies are based on certain chords and scales, and U can even chop a chord with the Chop function in the piano roll, take a chord highlight it goto File Chop or something like that and choose one of the trance presets (you can also make you own scores and save them for chopping). I find that a good way to start for that kind of melody.
You need to really get creative.
Now for progressing a melody, always make some sort of accomponing melody, and pads that are in harmony work also.
And the most obvious tip is to listen to tracks over and over again and try to reproduce the synthline, structure etc.

A website i have just discovered is from a post on this forum, of a new production magazine, serious sounds. they have an excellent tutorial section that will soon build..
http://www.serious-sounds.net/forums/index.php?act=Tutorials
Really Check that site out for updates, and it will help with not only Melody Production, but production as a whole.

Also i can help you if you would pm me some contact info and I could show u some actual FLP files and help u out with your "great introductions"

Hope you pull some valuable info from my post.

___________________

robelectric
http://www.robeyee.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/robeyee
http://www.twitter.com/robeyee

Last edited by dj-rob on Oct-27-2003 at 21:04

I've been working in multiple forms/genres of music from classical through to dance and there are similarities within so many of them.

You may not find trying to come out with a melody immediately is your best option. Chord schemes are your best basis to a solid ground, as was just mentioned by DJ Rob. Almost every tunefull form of music has grasped the temptation of a certain chord sequence called I VII VI VII in a minor modal key. Very vague for someone who hasn't worked with traditional music theory. Basically each roman numeral is a one of the individual main chord triads on the key you are working.

If we say you're in A Minor modal these chords are:
Am (notes A, C and E)
G (G, B, D)
F (F, A, C)

They can be the basis for something really complex, because you can develop a top melody naturally and suspend notes all over the place! Don't be affraid that the chords may have been used before.

Another alternative is by developing the bassline with the melody by harmonising the notation. There is no definite way of doing anything, so always trust your ears. One bad note to you will tend to be the same for others. Good luck with your discoveries... best appreciated when you find your own, believe me

Ben