1.3 Pitch and Melody

Pitch and melody form the backbone of musical expression. These elements shape how we perceive and connect with music. Understanding pitch relationships and melodic structures helps us grasp the emotional power of songs and compositions.

From simple scales to complex melodic contours, pitch and melody create the musical language we hear. Exploring these concepts opens up a world of musical possibilities, from analyzing classic tunes to composing our own melodies.

Pitch and Melody

Understanding Pitch

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  4-4-4 Pitch Pattern | Wiki | The Music Notation Project View original

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  Melody | MUS 101 – Elliott Jones View original

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  Intervals – Open Music Theory View original

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Top images from around the web for Understanding Pitch

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  4-4-4 Pitch Pattern | Wiki | The Music Notation Project View original

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  Melody | MUS 101 – Elliott Jones View original

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• 

  Intervals – Open Music Theory View original

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  4-4-4 Pitch Pattern | Wiki | The Music Notation Project View original

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  Melody | MUS 101 – Elliott Jones View original

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• Pitch represents the perceived frequency of a sound determined by sound wave vibration speed
• Musical staff notation depicts specific pitches corresponding to particular frequencies
• Human ears generally perceive pitches ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
• Pitch relationships between successive notes create a sense of musical movement and direction
• Combination of pitch and rhythm in melodies contributes to overall character and emotional impact (joyful, melancholic)

Melody Fundamentals

• Melody consists of a sequence of single pitches that are musically satisfying
• Melodies often serve as the main theme or tune in a musical piece
• Melodic sequences typically follow a specific scale or mode (major scale, minor scale)
• Memorable melodies balance repetition and variation to maintain listener interest
• Cultural and historical contexts influence melodic construction (pentatonic scales in East Asian music)

Pitch Intervals and Scales

Intervals and Their Characteristics

• Intervals measure the distance between two pitches in semitones
• Categorization of intervals includes consonant (harmonious) or dissonant (tense)
• Common intervals
  • Unison: same pitch
  • Second: two adjacent notes (whole step or half step)
  • Third: spanning three notes (major or minor)
  • Fourth: spanning four notes (perfect or augmented)
  • Fifth: spanning five notes (perfect or diminished)
  • Sixth: spanning six notes (major or minor)
  • Seventh: spanning seven notes (major or minor)
  • Octave: spanning eight notes (doubling of frequency)
• Interval qualities include major, minor, perfect, augmented, and diminished

Scales and Their Structure

• Scales organize sequences of pitches typically spanning an octave
• Major and minor scales dominate Western music with specific whole and half step patterns
  • Major scale pattern: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (C major: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C)
  • Natural minor scale pattern: W-H-W-W-H-W-W (A minor: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A)
• Other scale types
  • Pentatonic: five-note scale (C-D-E-G-A)
  • Chromatic: all twelve semitones in an octave
  • Whole-tone: composed entirely of whole steps
  • Modes: derived from the major scale (Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian)
• Key signatures indicate scale and tonal center determining consistent sharps or flats

Musical Notation

• Clefs (treble, bass, alto) establish pitch reference points on the staff
• Ledger lines extend the staff for higher or lower pitches
• Accidentals (sharp, flat, natural) modify pitches within a measure
• Time signatures indicate rhythmic organization (4/4, 3/4, 6/8)

Melodic Analysis

Melodic Contour and Motion

• Melodic contour describes overall shape or direction of a melody
  • Ascending: pitch rises over time
  • Descending: pitch falls over time
  • Static: pitch remains relatively constant
• Conjunct motion involves movement by steps between adjacent pitches
• Disjunct motion involves leaps between non-adjacent pitches
• Range of a melody spans from its lowest to highest pitch affecting character (wide range for dramatic effect)

Phrase Structure and Cadences

• Phrases function as musical units comparable to sentences in language
• Clear beginnings and endings define musical phrases
• Cadences mark phrase endings providing resolution or continuation
  • Perfect cadence: strong sense of resolution (V-I)
  • Imperfect cadence: less conclusive (I-V)
  • Plagal cadence: softer resolution (IV-I)
  • Deceptive cadence: unexpected continuation (V-vi)
• Analysis of melodic structure identifies repeated motifs, sequences, and variations

Cultural and Historical Influences

• Musical traditions shape distinct melodic characteristics (Indian raga, Japanese gagaku)
• Historical periods exhibit unique melodic tendencies (Baroque ornate melodies, Romantic expressive melodies)
• Folk music often incorporates regional scales and patterns (Celtic, African)

Melody Composition

Foundational Elements

• Select a key and corresponding scale to provide pitch material
• Tonic (first note of the scale) often serves as starting and ending point for stability
• Incorporate rhythmic variety using different note durations and rests
• Balance repetition and variation in melodic patterns for coherence and interest
• Consider melodic range for vocal comfort or instrument appropriateness

Harmonic Considerations

• Melodic structure implies underlying harmony even in single-line compositions
• Strong beats often align with chord tones of implied harmony
• Anticipate future accompaniment possibilities in melodic choices
• Experiment with non-chord tones for tension and release (passing tones, neighbor tones)

Creative Approaches

• Explore different pitch sets or scales for unique melodic characteristics (whole-tone scale for dreamy effect)
• Evoke specific moods through melodic choices (minor seconds for tension, perfect fifths for stability)
• Draw inspiration from cultural or historical melodic traditions (Klezmer, Blues)
• Use technology tools for experimentation (digital audio workstations, notation software)