Mission 022
Writing a Melody
Contour, phrases and what makes a hook.
A great melody is rhythm first, contour second, notes third.
+50 XP
// WHAT IT DOES
Melody is the part you hum after the song ends. It has a rhythm (when each note happens), a contour (the up-and-down shape over time), and a note selection (which pitches fill that shape).
Most beginners obsess over notes and forget contour and rhythm. But ask anyone to sing 'Happy Birthday' — they remember the shape (up, up, down, down) before they remember the exact notes.
Write the rhythm first. Then sketch the contour. Then pick scale-friendly notes to fit the contour. The result will be memorable.
Think of it like → Melody is a story. Rhythm = pacing. Contour = plot arc. Notes = exact words.
▸ WHY YOU CARE
- • Memorable melodies are how people remember your song.
- • Catchy melody trumps harmony in pop.
- • Strong contour reads across instruments — a good melody works on piano, guitar, vocal, or synth.
// SEE & HEAR IT
C5
B4
A#4
A4
G#4
G4
F#4
F4
E4
D#4
D4
C#4
C4
B3
A#3
A3
Click cells to draw notes. Press Play to hear them.
▸ HOW IT WORKS
▸ Signal flow — watch the dot
▸ SIGNAL FLOW
Glowing dot = your signal travelling through Live.
▸ LISTEN FOR
- • Singability — can you hum it after one listen?
- • Phrase rule of 3 (state, restate, depart).
- • Strong cadential resolution.
▸ WALKTHROUGH (5 steps)
- 1. DO: Tap a 4-bar rhythm on a table.▸ LISTEN: That's the melodic rhythm.
- 2. DO: Hum a contour matching that rhythm — up, down, up, end low.▸ LISTEN: Shape is set.
- 3. DO: Play the shape using scale notes, resolving to the .▸ LISTEN: You have a melody.
- 4. DO: Write a 4-bar phrase that ends on the tonic.▸ LISTEN: Sense of completion.
- 5. DO: Repeat the phrase but end on the 2nd degree.▸ LISTEN: Open, unresolved — invites a continuation.
▸ COMMON MISTAKES
- ✗ Writing melodies on the keyboard before checking if they're singable.
- ✗ All stepwise motion — sounds like a scale exercise.
- ✗ Too-wide range — listeners can't follow.
// QUIZ (QUICK)
Question 1 / 40 correct
Melodic contour refers to