Melody with Yeo
In this video...
Yeo talks about the melody in the song The One That Got Away by Al Parkinson.
The song uses notes from the C Major pentatonic scale to build a melody line.
Getting started
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- Start improvising and sing your lyrics a cappella (just your voice, no instruments)
- Sing your lyrics over the chords you have chosen or any chord shape you know
- Try repeating one or two lines and improvise new melodies each time
- Record voice memos as you go. It’s easy to forget
- Try not to judge your melody ideas. Just generate lots and workshop them later
Talking already has rhythm and melody.
Try this:
- Say a line from your lyrics out loud, like: “I don’t want to see you again.” or “I miss you.”
- Notice which words:
Go up or down in pitch
Are emphasised
Are spoken quickly or slowly - Now sing it the same way — just follow your voice.
Play any chord shape you know (or loop your progression) and sing on top.
Can’t think of a chord progression? Try one of these.
Experiment with the Ableton Playground.
Need some inspiration? Listen to a song made with it.
Watch Sia show how she writes a melody — a great example of the process in action.
Want some theory? Try pentatonic scales
Not interested in theory? No worries. You can still write great melodies without it.
A LOT of melodies use notes from the pentatonic scale.
Pentatonic scales only have 5 notes which usually sound good together.
The melody of Broken Leg by Bluejuice only uses the pentatonic scale.
Minor Pentatonic
Minor Pentatonic includes the following notes from the major scale: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7.
Example: A minor pentatonic = A C D E G
Major Pentatonic
Major Pentatonic includes these notes from the major scale: 1, 2, 3, 5 6.
Example: C major pentatonic = C D E G A
C Major Pentatonic and A minor pentatonic have the same notes (they just start in different places).
That’s true for all major/minor relatives:
- G Major ↔ E Minor
- F Major ↔ D Minor, etc
Creating your melody with a pentatonic scale
Making your melody stronger
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Melodic shape is the outline or contour of your melody. Different shapes can create different moods:
- Rising (goes up): The melody moves higher in pitch. This can create energy or a sense of build-up
- Falling (goes down): The melody moves lower, which often feels calm or resolved — like the end of a phrase
- Wave-like (up & down): This shape can keep a listener’s attention and add movement
- Flat line (same notes): This can feel intense, tense, or focused.
Try this:
- Choose a song with a melody you like
- Draw the melody as a line across the page to show its shape
Need inspiration? Try “Chandelier” by Sia.
- Can you identify the shape of the melody in the chorus?
- What would it sound like if the melody moved downward instead of up? How would that change the feel of the song?
Most melodies have a peak – the emotional high point. Often in the chorus.
A high note, a powerful chord, or a moment where the music builds to a strong emotional point.
Try this:
Listen to your melody and identify where it feels like the music is building to a peak (usually in the chorus).
Play through your song and mark where the energy feels highest. Is it at the start of the chorus? Or maybe when the lyrics hit a key moment?
Need inspiration? Try “Chandelier” by Sia.
Where are the climax points in this song? The song gradually builds up to the chorus, listen and see if you can hear the climax in the chorus.
Strong melodies often use a short, catchy idea that repeats – like a hook.
- Repeating it helps your song stick in people’s heads
- You can repeat it exactly or change it slightly (shift it up, down, or tweak the rhythm)
- If you use it too much, it can get boring – try mixing in some variation to keep it fresh
Try this:
Hook Test!
Got a melodic idea you like?
- Try singing it a few different ways, change the rhythm, shift it higher or lower, or repeat part of it
Which version sticks in your head? That’s your hook
- Can you sing it back straight away?
- Would someone else remember it after one listen?
- Does it stand out from the rest of your melody?
Hooks Aren’t Always Melodic
Not all hooks live in the main melody. A hook can also be:
- a rhythmic idea
- a riff or bass line
- or even a lyric
In “The Less I Know the Better” by Tame Impala, the bassline is one of the main hooks. It repeats throughout the song and is instantly recognisable — even before the vocals start. But there are other hooks in this song – what melodic and lyrical hooks can you hear?
Got lyrics? Your melody should support your message. Happy lyrics over a sad sounding melody probably won’t get your message across.
- Emphasise important words, put them on strong beats or on higher notes
- Match the melody’s shape and energy to the emotion of the lyrics (A gentle line might stay low and smooth; an angry one might leap or use shorter punchier notes)
Try this:
The better your melody fits your lyrics, the more your message will land.
- Take one line of your lyrics
- Circle the most important word
- Now sing the line a few different ways — try putting that word higher, louder, or on a stronger beat
Which version tells the story best?
If you need help finding a rhythm
Create a visual version of your melody by dragging notes into place. Try moving them to different parts of the bar until you hear a rhythm you like.
(B) Clap it out
Play your chord progression and clap or tap different rhythms over the top. Once something clicks, try matching your melody to that rhythm.
Stuck? Try one of these
Random Melody Generators
Try using a random generator to get you started! This works best if you have a rough idea of the rhythm for your melody in mind, but it’s not required.
- Choose 5 notes from your pentatonic scale
- Add them to a wheel (like this one)
- Spin to choose notes in a random order
- Don’t remove notes – repeating notes is great
- Not loving the result? Swap notes out for ones you prefer
Using Chord Tunes
You can also build a melody using notes from the chords.
Example Chord progression
G – D – Em – C (I – V – vi – IV)
Here are the notes you can use from each chord:
G = G B D
D = D F# A
Em = E G B
C= C E G
Try this:
- Start by picking a note from the first chord (like C, E, or G)
- Then move to another note in the same chord or jump to a note from the next chord in the progression
- Keep going until you find something you like!
Once you’ve got a melody, try singing your lyrics along with it.
I have a melody, but i want to change the rhythm/timing
The importance of space
Remember that music is the combination of sound and silence. Good melodies have both sound and silence. Sometimes fewer notes = more impact.
TRY A RHYTHM SHIFT
Instead of starting right on the beat, try starting it just after.
This small change can make your melody feel different and interesting.
Moving the melodic phrase
Consider beginning your melodic phrase either before or after the bar has begun. See this video for some different examples of how this could sound.
