What’s the Most Crucial Melody Mistake Songwriters Make? Discover Now
One might think that the biggest melody mistake songwriters make would be something that’s directly related to melody. For example, some might think it has to do with the repetitiveness of a melody. Meanwhile, others might think it has to do with the number of intervals or notes.
The truth is that the biggest melody mistake songwriters make has nothing to do with pitch. Rather, it’s related to what we’ve dubbed “The Body Language of Melody”. Here, we’ll discuss everything from the problem itself, how to fix it, and examples of it being used in popular songs.
This article is a summarised transcript of our video “The Biggest Melody Mistake Beginner Songwriters Make”. Click here to watch the video for more details, explanations and examples.
Identifying The Problem
Let’s take a look at these two phrases when they’re arranged over a 4/4 count in different ways. Here’s Version 1:
And here’s Version 2:
Notice how in Version 2, delaying the second phrase to start on Beat 2 helps create space in the melody. Through this space, emotion can flow in a different manner. As songwriters, we have to know when to vary the timing of our melodic phrases.
Unfortunately, many beginner songwriters often do the exact opposite of this. In fact, many choose to begin every melodic phrase on the first beat of the bar. In turn, this causes the emotion to drain out of their song, since it feels as if its body language is stuck in one position the entire time.
Plan your song’s direction before you start writing with our free Song Map Template PDF here:
How to Fix It
Now that we know what to watch out for, we can discuss methods to help us circumvent this habit which most of us have ingrained in ourselves.
The easiest way to do so is to simply speak a line of lyric over a 4/4 beat, and practice entering the melody on different beats. For example, take the line “How do you say goodbye”. Here’s what it would look like if we slowly moved the line so that it starts on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively:
This can also be done with an entire section of lines. For example, take the below two sets of lines, where the one on the left has all the lines starting on Beat 1. Meanwhile, the one on the right has lines 1, 2, and 3 starting on Beat 2, and line 4 starting on Beat 1:
What you’re experiencing in all of the above examples is that there are different kinds of body languages which can be achieved based on how you position your lines within a beat.
There isn’t any one right way to use this effect. It’s all about understanding that the entry point of our lines are under our control. Then, experimenting with the entry points of the lines in our sections, until we find one which best supports the meaning, emotion, and intention of our lines.
Examples of Popular Songs Which Use Body Language
Smash hit song “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus is a great example of a popular song which uses body language to great effect. If you map it out, each section of the song starts the melodic phrase at a different point in the bar. In Verse 1, the melody lines start before Beat 1. Then in the Pre-Chorus, all the lines come in on Beat 1. Finally in the Chorus, we can hear that the song’s hook has a delayed entry which comes in after Beat 1.
Even songwriters as far back as the American Songbook have used body language to amazing effect. For instance, the classic song “Dream a Little Dream of Me” has only the hook come in on Beat 1. Here’s what that looks like:
Conclusion: What’s the Most Crucial Melody Mistake Songwriters Make? Discover Now
As a final note, be sure to always ask yourself the question: “What emotion am I trying to convey here?”. Don’t just push and prod around the lyrics across the bar lines hoping for the best. Place impactful lines on strong beats to help emphasise them. Similarly, put lines on weak beats if you want to convey a sense of instability or doubt.
At the end of the day, the tools are there to help you emphasise the meaning and emotion of your song. So, use them to your advantage.
If you would like more details, explanations and examples, then be sure to check out the video now.
