quote:

Avoiding 'cheesy' melodies

I say embrace the cheese.

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quote:

Originally posted by Beatflux How many melodies are there in the universe?

I`d say it is as many as there are words to make out of letters.

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quote:

Originally posted by Beatflux How many melodies are there in the universe?

Unfortunately, he doesn't take into account western tradition and tone hierarchy and well as the limiting notion of harmony again in relation to wester tradition that makes those numbers sort of meaningless.

I'm pretty sure if contemporary world class composers in their 60s aren't making melodies that have been borrowed from previous material, trance producers with a limited knowledge of western music theory using a limited set of harmonic possibilities are probably not going to either. I think your resistance to the possibility stems from a general lack of knowledge outside of your domain which accounts for approx 0% in regards to actual musical content.

My point really is that you shouldn't worry about making a melody that is new. What people should be focusing on is using melodies in a context that makes the final outcome something that is new in some way.The age of remixing isn't a coincidence. It is correlated with the general acceptance that almost every melodic line , and when i say melodic line i am solely referring to notes, have been already used. The task is to use old melodies in a new way.

Last edited by RichieV on May-04-2009 at 17:53

Perfectly stated RichieV. I was contemplating writing a similar response, but yours was probably much more concise!

While we're on the topic of melodies, I find it pretty surprising how many EDM producers (particularly newbs) don't really know what a melody is. In the past week alone, I've read at least 3 song critique threads on other forums in which the song had no melody - usually just a repeating sequence of plucks or sidechained pads playing the same 2 or 3 chords ad nauseum - and they were getting responses about how great the melody was! Anybody else observe this?

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Perfectly stated RichieV. I was contemplating writing a similar response, but yours was probably much more concise! While we're on the topic of melodies, I find it pretty surprising how many EDM producers (particularly newbs) don't really know what a melody is. In the past week alone, I've read at least 3 song critique threads on other forums in which the song had no melody - usually just a repeating sequence of plucks or sidechained pads playing the same 2 or 3 chords ad nauseum - and they were getting responses about how great the melody was! Anybody else observe this?

Lol. Melody doesn't even have to have a chord progression. In my song "Is This Thing Broken?" I only use iirc two chords, but I write a long melody for them so there is little to no repetition.

Having 4 chords with an arpeggio on them repeating every 4 chords is hardly a melody. 9000% of Trance House and Psy do this.

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Originally posted by cronodevir Lol. Melody doesn't even have to have a chord progression.

chord progressions come from counterpartoint and the rules of voice leading concerning progressions usually imply that each voice is a melody. Now as far as what most would consider melody, the upper voice is without exception framed by the harmony. That is why you can take a melody line and by using alternate harmonic progressions make a melody sound completely different.

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips A cheesy melody is usually one which is simply too melodic.

Bang on!

Slap on some decheeser in your chain.

On a serious tip...i'd also be watching the frequencies of the sounds chosen, they can add a bit of cheese to a melody. So cheesey melodies to me are a mix of the sound chosen as much as it is the placement and timing of the notes.

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Originally posted by Kismet7 Slap on some decheeser in your chain. On a serious tip...i'd also be watching the frequencies of the sounds chosen, they can add a bit of cheese to a melody. So cheesey melodies to me are a mix of the sound chosen as much as it is the placement and timing of the notes.

So basically if a melody is bad, it's because the melody is bad . Way to go!

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quote:

Originally posted by ponsshin So basically if a melody is bad, it's because the melody is bad . Way to go!

So basically if you fondle my nuts, your hands will smell. Way to Go!

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commercial and underground electronic music (house/techno/trance/other) will surpass today's hip hop/pop/rock/country in worldwide interest...if it has'nt already.

quote:

Originally posted by Kismet7 So basically if you fondle my nuts, your hands will smell. Way to Go!

If your balls were as big as your mouth, they'd reach across the Atlantic so I'd have a chance!

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