In this post we utilize the way to create a melody , from a chord progression (as in the harmonic method of composition in post 9 ) and then we extend it to create 3 more parallel melodies (in total 4) that fit to the chord progression. In order to create 3 parallel melodies it is best of the chord progression consists from 3-notes chords , while in order to create 4 parallel melodies it is best of the chord progression consists from 4-notes chords. The key here is the simplicial sub-melody that will be the centers of the melody . We must utilize also and the types of melody morphology we want to use (as in posts 18,19). Again the guiding principle are the intended plot of emotions, and the relation of the harmony of the chord progression and melody morphology to the emotions, of sadness, joy, serenity anxiety etc. If J. S. Bach was living right now, he would have given us excellent hints and discussions, but he is not living and we have to figure it out ourselves.
See for Bach fugue and 4 voice harmony e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFDx-L7PcrY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddbxFi3-UO4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikYa01tuJPs
IN MY APPROACH IN THIS BOOK I FAVOR MIXTURE OF AN IN ADVANCED COMPOSED MUSIC PIECE AND A LATER IMPROVISATION OVER IT, RATHER THAN A 100% PRIMA-VISTA IMPROVISATION. THE REASON IS OBVIOUS. THERE ARE ADVANTAGES OF MUSICAL COMPOSITION THAT WILL TAKE MORE TIME THAN THE DURATION OF THE MUSICAL PIECE OVER A DIRECT IMPROVISATIONAL CREATION OF IT AS WE LISTEN TO IT. THE FORMER GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY OF A BETTER QUALITY MUSICAL CREATION AND A BETTER BALANCE OF THE PREVIOUS TRIANGLE OF MUSICAL MENTAL IMAGES, SOUND FEELINGS AND FINGER ACTIONS WHEN WE IMPROVISE LATER ON THE ALREADY COMPOSED MUSICAL PIECE.
1) An obvious and simple way of course would be to arrange the chords in normal position of the chord progression in sequence with their timing , and conceive each note of the chord (1st 2nd 3rd or also 4th according to the pitch order ) as the note of one of the (1st 2nd 3rd or also 4th) voices or melodies. As these note change from one chord to the next (or remain the same of the successive chords are relatives with common notes) we define faster in time melodic moves (scaling, or waving, or spike or isokratic) that bridge as transient notes a note to its new position in the next chord. (see e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o Or see e.g. how one melody could be created parallel to chords where in this example we eliminate the chords and leave only the one melody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhLhsbza1Ic or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U ) In this way we have 3 (or 4) voices or melodies. The freedom here is the pattern that will move one note to its next. We may even break the duration of each note of each chord to many times repeating same note and then create fast waving melodies from all these small notes that both make an trill harping of he chord (extrapolated refinement) and the same with the bridge to the next chord.Different variations of doing it create different voices but alraedy harmonized due to the initial chord progression. (See e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoqFH-i7jYY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2aR9eq1fzQ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbWqPnRbq3M&index=1&list=RDtbWqPnRbq3M ) We may chose such patterns that repeat from one voice to another with delay giving the effect of what is known as fugue contrapuntal . In this simple method it is not used the concept of simplicial submelody. We have also some additional degrees of freedom in choosing the chords as inversions not in their normal position, and also not all in the same octave. Notice that we did not use here the concept of scale. Maybe the chord progression consists of chords that are not all in the same scale. This can be easily checked by placing these chords on the 24-cycle of chords , and see if they are within an arc of 4 major and 3 minor chords.But also if they are not we can find in this way the smallest number of diatonic scales that contains the chords of the chord progression. If a single scale is defined in this way, we obviously prefer to define the bridge melodic moves from one note of the chord to its corresponding next, with steps only from this diatonic scale. It is not very difficult to modify slightly the 4 voices so most often either only one sounds at each note , or only 2 sound , in an interval of the used scale or move with notes very fast, in which case the ear does not hold harmony, and rarely when all three or four have notes that sound simultaneously , called the centers of the melody where notes sound more time, then it is always a 3-notes chord or 4-notes chord of the scale. If an initial chord progression is defined in advanced this is not as easy to design for the 3 or 4 voices-melodies but becomes easy if we allow fo rthe chord-progression repetitions of the chords and probably extension with more chords (chords butterflying). Of course it may be easier to create at first one melody, then vary it without changing its centers to different melodies with different morphology, and then put them together according to their centers and the chord progression , possibly modifying them slightly. Another simpler idea is to take only the basic theme of the melody, and create many simultaneous harmonic variations of it (extrapolated refinement) that when played simultaneously create at the centers different chords of the scale and of the chord progression. Do it for all the chords in the progression and label all the pieces according to the chord. Then combine in sequence the theme and its variations according their harmony and the order of the chords in the chord progression, and pass the theme to another voice when the variations of the first voice sound, and continue with variation pieces according the following chords. And the same with all the other voices. When Bach was creating his fugue the music composition based on chords was not popular or well understood, but nowadays we can create easier fugue contrapuntal with chord progressions. If one is sophisticated he even create the same theme in different time scales (like a fractal) and thus embellish harmonically the larger theme with itself in shorter time scale.
See for Bach fugue and 4 voice harmony e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFDx-L7PcrY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddbxFi3-UO4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikYa01tuJPs
IN MY APPROACH IN THIS BOOK I FAVOR MIXTURE OF AN IN ADVANCED COMPOSED MUSIC PIECE AND A LATER IMPROVISATION OVER IT, RATHER THAN A 100% PRIMA-VISTA IMPROVISATION. THE REASON IS OBVIOUS. THERE ARE ADVANTAGES OF MUSICAL COMPOSITION THAT WILL TAKE MORE TIME THAN THE DURATION OF THE MUSICAL PIECE OVER A DIRECT IMPROVISATIONAL CREATION OF IT AS WE LISTEN TO IT. THE FORMER GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY OF A BETTER QUALITY MUSICAL CREATION AND A BETTER BALANCE OF THE PREVIOUS TRIANGLE OF MUSICAL MENTAL IMAGES, SOUND FEELINGS AND FINGER ACTIONS WHEN WE IMPROVISE LATER ON THE ALREADY COMPOSED MUSICAL PIECE.
In order to create the melody over a chord progression we may proceed in a simple way as follows.
1)We compose a simplicial sub-melodies one for each part of the song , with one note per chord, over the chord progression preferably at a chromatic sequence ascending and descending .
2) We create moves or waves or cycles for each note of the simplicial sub-melody by sequencing during the chord with two types of notes a fast (usually outside the chord) and a slow of double duration on the notes of the chord again ascending or descending with smaller waves. I this way more than 50% of the time of the duration of the melody will be notes of the chord.
3) We arrange a continuous sound instrument to play the simplicial sub-melody only and a discrete sound (guitar mandolin etc) to play the full waves melody.
1) An obvious and simple way of course would be to arrange the chords in normal position of the chord progression in sequence with their timing , and conceive each note of the chord (1st 2nd 3rd or also 4th according to the pitch order ) as the note of one of the (1st 2nd 3rd or also 4th) voices or melodies. As these note change from one chord to the next (or remain the same of the successive chords are relatives with common notes) we define faster in time melodic moves (scaling, or waving, or spike or isokratic) that bridge as transient notes a note to its new position in the next chord. (see e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o Or see e.g. how one melody could be created parallel to chords where in this example we eliminate the chords and leave only the one melody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhLhsbza1Ic or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuxVS3CI3U ) In this way we have 3 (or 4) voices or melodies. The freedom here is the pattern that will move one note to its next. We may even break the duration of each note of each chord to many times repeating same note and then create fast waving melodies from all these small notes that both make an trill harping of he chord (extrapolated refinement) and the same with the bridge to the next chord.Different variations of doing it create different voices but alraedy harmonized due to the initial chord progression. (See e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoqFH-i7jYY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2aR9eq1fzQ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbWqPnRbq3M&index=1&list=RDtbWqPnRbq3M ) We may chose such patterns that repeat from one voice to another with delay giving the effect of what is known as fugue contrapuntal . In this simple method it is not used the concept of simplicial submelody. We have also some additional degrees of freedom in choosing the chords as inversions not in their normal position, and also not all in the same octave. Notice that we did not use here the concept of scale. Maybe the chord progression consists of chords that are not all in the same scale. This can be easily checked by placing these chords on the 24-cycle of chords , and see if they are within an arc of 4 major and 3 minor chords.But also if they are not we can find in this way the smallest number of diatonic scales that contains the chords of the chord progression. If a single scale is defined in this way, we obviously prefer to define the bridge melodic moves from one note of the chord to its corresponding next, with steps only from this diatonic scale. It is not very difficult to modify slightly the 4 voices so most often either only one sounds at each note , or only 2 sound , in an interval of the used scale or move with notes very fast, in which case the ear does not hold harmony, and rarely when all three or four have notes that sound simultaneously , called the centers of the melody where notes sound more time, then it is always a 3-notes chord or 4-notes chord of the scale. If an initial chord progression is defined in advanced this is not as easy to design for the 3 or 4 voices-melodies but becomes easy if we allow fo rthe chord-progression repetitions of the chords and probably extension with more chords (chords butterflying). Of course it may be easier to create at first one melody, then vary it without changing its centers to different melodies with different morphology, and then put them together according to their centers and the chord progression , possibly modifying them slightly. Another simpler idea is to take only the basic theme of the melody, and create many simultaneous harmonic variations of it (extrapolated refinement) that when played simultaneously create at the centers different chords of the scale and of the chord progression. Do it for all the chords in the progression and label all the pieces according to the chord. Then combine in sequence the theme and its variations according their harmony and the order of the chords in the chord progression, and pass the theme to another voice when the variations of the first voice sound, and continue with variation pieces according the following chords. And the same with all the other voices. When Bach was creating his fugue the music composition based on chords was not popular or well understood, but nowadays we can create easier fugue contrapuntal with chord progressions. If one is sophisticated he even create the same theme in different time scales (like a fractal) and thus embellish harmonically the larger theme with itself in shorter time scale.
2) Chromatic simplicial sub-melody. A second a but more sophisticated way is to do exactly the same except that the 1st voice is defined not by the highest note in the chords but through the simplicial submelody. The simplicual submelody is defined by the next rules.
2.1) When two successive chords of the chord progression have notes that are one semitone distance only, we chose these two notes as notes of the simplicial submelody. This happens for all cases that the two consecutive chords are at roots distance of an interval of pure 4th (5 semitones) or pure 5th (7 semitones) or if they are mutually complementary chords (with roots of one step of the scale apart). In general it is a good idea to chose as notes of the simplicial submelody for two successive chords in the chord progression, two notes, one from each chord with the minimum distance in semitones from the notes of the two chords. And alternatively for a 2nd voice we may take the 2 notes in the chords respectively with the maximum distance between them for maximum action of waving movements! This in general may lead to two notes per chord in the chord progression, the second note is reserved for the 2nd voice etc. The more correct rule to find the simplicial submelody is as few notes per chord as possible that give the basic feeling of the melody.
2.2) If the two consecutive chords are mutually relative with two common notes, the notes of the simplicial submelody for each chord are the notes that the other chord does not contain!
The previous rules of minimum distance notes and disjoint notes of relative chords for two consecutive chords of the chord progression, determine at least one simplicial submelody for each chord progression! Then we extend as in 1) the simplicial submelody to the full melody where the original simplicial submelody are centers of the full melody. This means notes that sound more time than the other notes. The rules of the simplicial sub-melody give a more passionate melody with conflicts and resolutions according to the chord progression. After we defined fine the notes of the simplicial sub-melody, then we create the full melody by composing bridges between its notes , with other sizes of intervals.
3) Harmonic simplicial sub-melody. Finally a third and probably best method is based on creating first the simplicial sub-melody in a different way which is based on preffering intervals distances of the notes of the simplicial sub-melody (opposite to the previous method) that are large intervals ,namely intervals of 5ths , 4th 6th or 8th. . The simplicial sub-melody is somehow the centers of the final melody and most often it is one note per chord of the chord progression . It can also be considered as a very simple bass line parallel to the melody. So the rule to choose the simplicial sub-melody is the next
3.1) If we have two successive chords X(1) -> X(2) in the chord progression, and a is the note of the simplicial sub-melody belonging to chord X(1) , and b is the not of the simplicial sub-melody belonging to the chord X(2), then a->b is an interval in the following order of preference 5th, 4th, 8th, 6th.
If the X(1) -> X(2) are in the relation of resolution (succesive in the wheel by 4ths) e.g. G->C then we have 3 choices for a->b, the g->c, or b->e, or d->g. If the X(1) -> X(2) are in the relation of relative chords (two common notes) e.g. C->Em then we have 2 choices for a->b,
c->g, or e->b. And if the X(1) -> X(2) are in the chromatic or complementary relation of chords (roots that differ by one step of the scale) e.g. C->Dm, then we have one only choice or a->b, here the c->f. After we have defined the simplicial sub-melody then we create bridges between its notes by smaller intervals e.g. 3rds or 2nds.
2.1) When two successive chords of the chord progression have notes that are one semitone distance only, we chose these two notes as notes of the simplicial submelody. This happens for all cases that the two consecutive chords are at roots distance of an interval of pure 4th (5 semitones) or pure 5th (7 semitones) or if they are mutually complementary chords (with roots of one step of the scale apart). In general it is a good idea to chose as notes of the simplicial submelody for two successive chords in the chord progression, two notes, one from each chord with the minimum distance in semitones from the notes of the two chords. And alternatively for a 2nd voice we may take the 2 notes in the chords respectively with the maximum distance between them for maximum action of waving movements! This in general may lead to two notes per chord in the chord progression, the second note is reserved for the 2nd voice etc. The more correct rule to find the simplicial submelody is as few notes per chord as possible that give the basic feeling of the melody.
2.2) If the two consecutive chords are mutually relative with two common notes, the notes of the simplicial submelody for each chord are the notes that the other chord does not contain!
The previous rules of minimum distance notes and disjoint notes of relative chords for two consecutive chords of the chord progression, determine at least one simplicial submelody for each chord progression! Then we extend as in 1) the simplicial submelody to the full melody where the original simplicial submelody are centers of the full melody. This means notes that sound more time than the other notes. The rules of the simplicial sub-melody give a more passionate melody with conflicts and resolutions according to the chord progression. After we defined fine the notes of the simplicial sub-melody, then we create the full melody by composing bridges between its notes , with other sizes of intervals.
3) Harmonic simplicial sub-melody. Finally a third and probably best method is based on creating first the simplicial sub-melody in a different way which is based on preffering intervals distances of the notes of the simplicial sub-melody (opposite to the previous method) that are large intervals ,namely intervals of 5ths , 4th 6th or 8th. . The simplicial sub-melody is somehow the centers of the final melody and most often it is one note per chord of the chord progression . It can also be considered as a very simple bass line parallel to the melody. So the rule to choose the simplicial sub-melody is the next
3.1) If we have two successive chords X(1) -> X(2) in the chord progression, and a is the note of the simplicial sub-melody belonging to chord X(1) , and b is the not of the simplicial sub-melody belonging to the chord X(2), then a->b is an interval in the following order of preference 5th, 4th, 8th, 6th.
If the X(1) -> X(2) are in the relation of resolution (succesive in the wheel by 4ths) e.g. G->C then we have 3 choices for a->b, the g->c, or b->e, or d->g. If the X(1) -> X(2) are in the relation of relative chords (two common notes) e.g. C->Em then we have 2 choices for a->b,
c->g, or e->b. And if the X(1) -> X(2) are in the chromatic or complementary relation of chords (roots that differ by one step of the scale) e.g. C->Dm, then we have one only choice or a->b, here the c->f. After we have defined the simplicial sub-melody then we create bridges between its notes by smaller intervals e.g. 3rds or 2nds.
A very useful remark for improvisation of melody within a particular chord is the next.
Suppose we are at a note y1 of the melody which fits the underlying chord with notes x1x2x3 (whatever that may mean), then depending on the particular position of y1 relative to the x1x2x3, a shift by an interval of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th wil lead to a note y2 that will again fit the chord!. This is because the relative positions of the notes x1x2x3 of the chord are intervals of major, minor 3rd and pure 5th, and their complementary intervals relative to the octave are minor or major 6th, and pure 4th
We may connect the previous remark with the next
LATIN JAZZ AND HARMONIC BUTTERFLYING
This butterflying is very often utilizing intervals of 3rds (3 or 4 semitones) and 4ths (5 semitones) thus it is ascending or descending chords (chord-scales or chord-arpeggios , that is why it is called harmonic butterflying) and it is thus chord-harping too, but it involves also intervals of 2nd (1 or 2 semitones) which correspond to chord transitions. A hidden simplicity or invariant in this butterflying is obviously the underlying chord. This butterflying maybe of waving type of melodic move but the amplitudes of the waves may be intervals of 3rds (3 or 4 semitones) and 4ths (5 semitones), instead of intervals of 1 or 2 semitones as in eastern folk music butterflying. And it can be of course of non-waving and monotone scaling type of melodic move . Obviously this butterflying prefers changing strings tuned by 4ths, rather than moving along a single string as in the Greek Bouzouki butterflying.
Summarizing in simplistic way the correspondence of melodic pitch dynamics and the 4-basic emotions in music (joy, sadness, anxiety, serenity) we have
1) Up pitch moves correspond to joy
2) Down pitch moves to sadness
3) Small pitch intervals of 1 or 2 semitones (chromatic or interval of 2nd) correspond to anxiety
4) Large pitch intervals (e.g. 4th, 5th octave etc) correspond to harmony and serenity.
More instructive remarks in creating the final melody based on the chords are the next.
1) In the part of the chord progression with minor chords, utilize descending melodic moves so that sadness from melody and sadness from harmony fit
2) In the sad melody parts of the melody (and minor chords) utilize rhythmic patterns that start with faster notes and end with slower notes, and the reverse for the happy part (and major chords).
3) In a triad or 7 nth 4-notes chord the most characteristic notes are the middle 2nd note (in 1-3-5 interval notation is the 3) and the 7 nth (if it exists). So for the anxiety part of the melodic moves we may utilize 1-semitone trills around these two notes, or waving with 1 or 2 semitones steps and notes outside the chord in the interval of minor 3rd (3 semitones) of the chord. Alternatively instead of trill or small amplitude waves we may utilize chromatic monotone scaling by steps of 1 semitone , or scaling with steps by intervals of 2nd of the scale, that go from these previous notes of the chord to the same such notes in the next octave. But always make sure that the notes of the chord sound in the average longer, than the notes of these anxiety transition moves with notes outside the chord.
4) Alternate up (happy) and down (sad) pitch moves , or chromatic moves (anxiety), with harmonic (on chord notes) moves (serenity-harmony).
5) Utilize at least 2 octaves, or even 3 for the melodic moves repeating the notes of the underlying chord on the next octaves , so there is sufficient space for melodic moves, to express with sufficiency the emotions.
6) For the duality of emotions anxiety-serenity, it may be utilized also harmonic waves or monotone scaling over 2 octaves at least, on the notes of the chord, but also chromatic trill wave over the notes of this wave or scaling (modulated wave on wave or move) and then return to the pure harmonic wave or scaling on the notes of the chord.
7) A chromatic wave by 1-semitones steps or all notes of the scale (steps by intervals of 2nd) that goes up and down at least 2 octaves, corresponds to a chord sub-progression of the song , of our choice that utilizes almost all the chords of the scale!
More instructive remarks in creating the final melody based on the chords are the next.
1) In the part of the chord progression with minor chords, utilize descending melodic moves so that sadness from melody and sadness from harmony fit
2) In the sad melody parts of the melody (and minor chords) utilize rhythmic patterns that start with faster notes and end with slower notes, and the reverse for the happy part (and major chords).
3) In a triad or 7 nth 4-notes chord the most characteristic notes are the middle 2nd note (in 1-3-5 interval notation is the 3) and the 7 nth (if it exists). So for the anxiety part of the melodic moves we may utilize 1-semitone trills around these two notes, or waving with 1 or 2 semitones steps and notes outside the chord in the interval of minor 3rd (3 semitones) of the chord. Alternatively instead of trill or small amplitude waves we may utilize chromatic monotone scaling by steps of 1 semitone , or scaling with steps by intervals of 2nd of the scale, that go from these previous notes of the chord to the same such notes in the next octave. But always make sure that the notes of the chord sound in the average longer, than the notes of these anxiety transition moves with notes outside the chord.
4) Alternate up (happy) and down (sad) pitch moves , or chromatic moves (anxiety), with harmonic (on chord notes) moves (serenity-harmony).
5) Utilize at least 2 octaves, or even 3 for the melodic moves repeating the notes of the underlying chord on the next octaves , so there is sufficient space for melodic moves, to express with sufficiency the emotions.
6) For the duality of emotions anxiety-serenity, it may be utilized also harmonic waves or monotone scaling over 2 octaves at least, on the notes of the chord, but also chromatic trill wave over the notes of this wave or scaling (modulated wave on wave or move) and then return to the pure harmonic wave or scaling on the notes of the chord.
7) A chromatic wave by 1-semitones steps or all notes of the scale (steps by intervals of 2nd) that goes up and down at least 2 octaves, corresponds to a chord sub-progression of the song , of our choice that utilizes almost all the chords of the scale!
Here simple such 3-voices music by Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wOEBuhhsLQ
Bach fugue and 4 voice harmony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRgpKfhquME
We summarize the basic concerns in the melodic improvisation and composition of a voice or melody (similar to the syntax of phrase with subject verb and object etc).
2) Transform these melodic themes or moves which will be the invariant of their transformations. The simpler the themes the easier the transformations.
3) Close it by returning to the initial theme.
The ways to transform a theme are at least the next 5 and combinations of them
1) Translate it in different pitches (within a scale or not changing possibly the pitch distances )
2) Translate in time (repeat it)
3) Invert it in time or change its rhythm (if at the begging is slower and at the end faster it will be now the reverse etc)
4) Invert it or distort it in pitch (Create 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th voice versions, utilizing the chord progression as rules of transformation of the theme, or if it is ascending now it will be descending etc)
After the chord progression and simplicial submelody we chose,
THE DEFINITION OF MELODIC BRIDGES THAN LINK TWO SUCCESSIVE CHORDS BETWEEN THEM AND START AND END AT THE NOTES OF THE SIMPLICIAL SUBMELODY.
1) WHICH CHORD-TRANSITIONS (PAIRS OF CHORDS) WILL HAVE A MELODIC BRIDGE! (Usually the chord-trasnitions that are in resolutional relation, or resolutional-like relation)
2) THEN WHICH BRIDGES WILL BE ISOMORPHIC IN PITCH AND RHYTHMIC DYNAMIC SHAPE AND WHICH DIFFERENT, DEFINING THEREFORE A PARTITIONING IN THE BRIDGES.
3) THEN IF IN EACH EQUIVALENCE CLASS OF ISOMORPHIC MELODIC BRIDGES IN THIS PARTITIONING, THE BRIDGES ARE EVENTUALLY ASCENDING OR DESCENDING (This besides the emotional significance, determines also where to play the chord in one of the 3 neighborhoods of the fretboard)
4) FINALLY HOW IN EACH EQUIVALENCE CLASS OF ISOMORPHIC MELODIC BRIDGES IN THE PARTITIONING, THE COMPLICATED PITCH DYNAMIC SHAPE OR WAVING AND RHYTHM WILL BE AS A REPETITION OF SUCH PATTERNS OF PREVIOUS ISOMORPHIC MELODIC BRIDGES, OR VARIATION OF SUCH PATTERNAS S SO NOT TO BE TOO BORING. (This pitch dynamic shape has again a significant emotional meaning)
Here is also a quite standard way to create a melody from a chord progression
DEFAULT MELODIES FOR A CHORD PROGRESSION.
Given a chord progression it is direct how to create a melody that fits the chords, with the following rules
1) During each chord, the entry note of the simplicial submelody , is the middle note of the chord.
2) During each chord, the exit note of the simplicial submelody (two notes per chord here), for major chords (including 7nth chords and extensions) is the upper note of the chord, for minor, diminished and augmented chords it is the lower note of the chord.
3) During the chord the melody follows an harmonic theme in one or more octaves span, in other words from notes of the chords, and is walking the chord by a spike, straight scaling or waving (these are parameters for the composer or improviser to choose) from middle and down to up (joy) if the chord is major, or from middle and upper to down (sadness) if it is minor, diminished or augmented. If the chord is simply major or minor we may enhance its harmony by extending it with its upper and lower relatives thus by an interval of 3rd at the highest note and up , or at the lowest note and lower (in normal position). In other words making it a chord with 6th and/or 7nth.
Another characteristic of the happy and joyful melodies is to define two notes (or interval) for the simplicial sub-melody for each chord so that in aver all the melody is maximally harmonic (see post 40) and we may use almost exclusively the maximum large intervals (within a scale) that exist in the chords of the song. And this would be intervals of 8th, 6th (for triad-chords) , 5th and 4th. In other words we use almost exclusively the maximum harmonic melodic speed that the chords allow (see post 68).
This idea of maximum harmonic speed in melodies is also an idea that can give pretty directly improvisation melodies over a chord progression! This is good for happy melodies. It directly defines improvisational beautiful melodies from the chord progression, because the maximum intervals of a chord are unique or very few for each chord! In fact a single large such interval from each chord can define the melodic-rhythmic pattern for each chord!
The standard preference is to use
a1) For a major chord x1-x2-x3, the 1st x1-3rd x2 notes interval of pure 5th (7 semitones), or the 1st nx1-2nd x2 notes interval of major 3rd (4 semitones)
a2) For a minor chord x1-x2-x3, the 1st x1-3rd x2 notes interval of pure 5th (7 semitones), or the 1st x1-2nd x2 notes interval of minor 3rd (3 semitones)
a3) For a dominant 7th and major 7th chord x1-x2-x3-x4, the 1st x1-3rd x2 notes interval of pure 5th (7 semitones), or the 1st x1-4th x4 notes interval of minor 7th (8 semitones), or of major 7th (9 semitones).
An interesting case of simplicial submelody is the first choice always (interval of 5th or 4th).
An interesting case of simplicial submelody is the first choice always (interval of 5th or 4th).
Or we may allow this interval of 4th or 5h of each chord sound 2/3 of the time of the chord sounding and 1/3 of the time the other middle x2 note for minor or major , or 7th note of the 7th chords.
Still another case is the minimal harmonic simplicial submelody (but always with notes of the chords) where we take always the 2nd choice (the x1-x2 interval of 3rd, or x1-x4 interval of 7th) where this sounds 2/3 of the time and 1/3 of the time the 3rd note of the chord. This simplicial submelody gives emphasis to the character of each chord, that is being minor , major or 7th etc.
Still another case is the minimal harmonic simplicial submelody (but always with notes of the chords) where we take always the 2nd choice (the x1-x2 interval of 3rd, or x1-x4 interval of 7th) where this sounds 2/3 of the time and 1/3 of the time the 3rd note of the chord. This simplicial submelody gives emphasis to the character of each chord, that is being minor , major or 7th etc.
But another more maximal harmonic method is based on the next rules
b1) For each chord the simplicial submelody consists of at least two notes one entry and one exit (that may though coincide)
b2) Complementary chords (e.g. Cmajor, Dminor) can transition with intervals of 5 or 7 semitones (e.g. exit note of Cmajor is the c, and entry note of Dminor is the f).
b3) Successive chords in the cycle of 4ths or 5ths, and relative chords have common notes, this the exit note of the first chord and the entry note of the 2nd chord are identical.
b4) If the entry note of the a chord and its exit note is an interval of minor 3rd (3 semitones) we may add two more notes during the chord which is twice the 3rd note of the chord, but at one octave distance, and convert the minor 3rd interval to major 3rd (4 semitones) which has higher harmonic score (see post 40). E.g. G7-->C-->E7 , entry of C=g3, exit of C=e2, so we add c2, c3, and the simplicial submelody goes like this g3-c2-c3-e2, duringthe chord C. We converted the minor 3rd interval g-e, to a major 3rd c-e.
b5) Itis prefered that intervals of 1,2,3,4 semitones are converted to their complemntary of 11,10,9,8 semitones, by changing octave.
The so derived simplicial submelody singles less melody than the chord progression itself!
E.g. forthe Chord progression Am->F->G7->C->G7->C->G7->C->E7->Am, the sumblicial submelody with these rules would be a3-a2a2-f2f2-g3g3-g3g3-g3g3-g3g3-g3g3-c2c3e2e2-e3e3-a3.
This simplicial submelody can the centers of full melody over this chord progression
This simplicial submelody can the centers of full melody over this chord progression
5) THE 2/3-CHORD HARMONIC METHOD As more general alternative to the above rules 1)-4) , we may define melodic moves not for each chord but for each chord-transition, and preferably for the X7-->x+1 type of transitions (see the symbolism of post 34) e.g. E7-->Am.
Then the chord X7 has only one note x1 for simplicial submelody the starting note of the melodic move, and the end note x2 of the melodic move is the next simlicial submelody note and one note of the chord x+1 not common with the chord X7. If the latter note x2 is not the root of x+1, it is created a tension that has to be resolved later where x2 would be the root of x+1. In between the x1 and x2, the rule is that at least 2/3 of the notes belong to the underlying chord, and this can be achieved by repeating notes of the underlying chord if necessary. The move x1->x2 may involve each of the chords X7, x+1 , twice in two octaves each instead of once in one octave only, which may create very impressive melodic effects. This gives an even better opportunity to use in the melodic move, intervals of 8th, 4th and 5th (high harmonic speed, see post 68) , that have higher harmonic score than the other intervals (see post 40). The at most 1/3 of the total duration of the move x1->x2 ,of notes that play with underlying the 1st chord but may be outside the starting chord, might be unusually at chromatic and diatonic speed (see post 68), and sometimes might belong to the next chord or even to none of the two chords. The chromatic or diatonic speed applies usually when approaching the ending note of the melodic move. The melodic moves x1-->x2 can be called chord-transition melodic moves and must have an element of repetition in length and rhythm. In the traditional Irish melodies that utilize 2-3 only major chords, while the melodic moves are 4-5 or 6-7 , but also in the traditional Greek music of the Aegean Islands, the starting and ending point of the melodic move is during the duration of a single chord and are notes of the chord! But still the rule 2/3 -1/3 for notes internal and external to the chord still holds, and the starting and ending notes of the melodic move may define the simplicial submelody.
6) The harmonic move lasts longer than the transitional dense (chromatic or diatonic harmonic speed) melodic move , as the latter takes less than 30% of the duration of x, and y.
7) From the rule of local fitness of a melody to a chord progression , such a default melody will fit the chord progression.
Here is an example of a simple but beautiful melody almost directly generated by the next chord progression (here by the chord-transitions in pairs of the chord progression)
1) (Am E7 Am) 4 times
2) {GmA7-Dm
G7-C
F-E
E7-Am} 2 times
and then 1),2) 2 times over all
It is the Andes song Cuerdo de la Plata (Silver string).
The way it is composed among other ideas, is that we shift the melodic pattern which is usually at the chromatic and diatonic speed (see post 68) and a simple scaling or wave, till it has as much common notes as possible with the 2-chords desired transition chords-scale (possibly modifying a bit the pattern) and we proceed in this way for all chord-transitions. As the chord-scales are at the middle and high harmonic speed, the total melodic pattern will be in all 4 speeds! At chord-transitions we have the chance to be at chromatic or diatonic speed in the melodic pattern and still mostly within the notes of the chords! In this example it is given equal time to each note in the melodic moves . The requirement here is therefore that while we ascend or descend at diatonic speed (=within a scale) at least 2/3 or even 4/5 of the notes are notes of the underlying chord. This may achieved by interpolating repeating notes that of course are chosen to belong to the underlying chord. We may start e.g. with an oscillation of the minor 3rd interval of the chord then the major 3rd and end with the pure 5th. But the oscillations can involve also notes outside the chord as long as by repeating notes of the chord, we keep the time ratios of sounding of them as above. The selection of such moves is easy. E.g. the move from a root of a chord to its 3rd note a 5th away, is a move that belongs to the chord. And if the chord is an R7 it already has 4 from the 7 notes of a diatonic scale. There are moves that belong both to the two chords of a chord transition. E.g. the straight move e,a,e,b,e,c.c,d,e,e belongs both to the Am and E7. Of course we prefer moves that as morphology of ups and downs of pitch they repeat. We may continuously descend the pattern or ascend it or do both, by shifting the chords also among the octaves. The choices of such moves with the previous requirements that we can make are pretty many for the same chord progression. Here the moves start at a note of a chord an end at a note of its transition next chord. Usually start at the middle 2nd note of the chord and end also at the middle 2nd note of the next chord, as they ar the most characteristic of the chords. But also this may happen with the roots or the 4th note of 7th chord. If the chord progression with its chord transitions is beautiful, and the chosen melodic moves have a measure of repetition of morphological pitch moves , then the melody so created will be bound to be beautiful too!
In the example below the chord progression is Am E7 Am E7 Am E7 Am E7 Am A7 Dm G7 C F E7 Am and the centers of the melody are correspondingly for each of the above chords the E E E E E B A B A A F G E F D A . The melody-moves consist of 10 notes ,the first 9 belong to the first chord and the last 10th to the next. All the moves are on the chord transitions of the form X->(x+1) in the symbolism of the cycle of 24 chords (see post 34). E.g. E7->Am, or Am->E7, or A7->Dm, or G7->C. An exceptions is the transition F->E7. The notes that belong to the chord for each of these moves are 6 from the 9, that is 2/3 of the notes. They achieve it ,as we said , by repeating notes of the chord. And even in the transition F->E7 the notes hat do not belong to the chord F, while F sounds , do belong to the next chord E7 and so they prepare the ear for the next chord. The melody has all the 4 harmonic speeds (see post 68). They start (ignoring the repeating notes) from the root A of Am and end to the root E of E7,they go back and forth, then from the root A of Am go to the dominant B of E7 and back to the root A of Am. Then they repeat. Then from the root A of Am which is also of A7, they go to the middle note F of Dm. Then from the root G of G7 to the middle E of C. Then from the root of F to the chord F to the 4th note (7th) D of E7, and close back to the root A of Am. Starting from the root of X7 and ending in the (2nd note) or dominant (3rd note) of (x+1), (e.g. starting at a of A7 and ending at f of Dm) creates a tension, which resolves at the end of the cycle of 16 moves by ending at the root of minor chord (x+1) (here at a of Am).
Here is the result.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEPsAIqnVao
(The post has not been written yet completely)
