402. REVIEW OF SIMPLE RULES TO COMPOSE A NICE MELODY WITH A CHORD PROGRESSION.

We summarize here some simple rules to compose a nice melody after a chord progression.

 

1) The rule to fit the melody to an underlying chord is that at least 50% of the time the notes of the melody  that sound during the underlying chord must be notes belonging to the chord.

2) The chord progression must be so that each melodic theme, has as underlying chords 1, or 2 or 3, and this is the same time duration though out the song Thus the chord progressions may be partitioned in to pairs or triads of chords which are called melodic phrase chords. Each such pair or triad of chords is the local "scale" on which the melody is running. Usually it is a good quality relation of chords e.g. harmonic, melodic or harmonic chromatic. The number 3 for the melodic theme cords is a critcal value as it defines also a mode (see post 222) and a diatonic scale, so that translations of the theme may be considered modulations (see post 405 )  in other words changes of the mode. After all , all 12-bars blues utlize for their melodic themes 3 chords which is neither poor harmony neither too complicated harmony .

3) It is good that each chord has duration of time unit or half or double this time unit throughout the song. In other words the time duration of the chords is a simple and not complicated numeric  pattern.

4) The span-range of the melody with its highest note and lowest note is a good simple chart for the emotions that go parallel to the height of the notes of the melody.

5) It is good to create the melodic themes first from its centers , one per chord, so that the centers make the simplicial submelody, and then enhance it to the full melodic theme.

6) The main 4 variations here from melody theme to melody theme are of course the translation-modulation over the chord, or pair or triad of chords with which it is accompanied, the pitch or time inversions, and the mutations, The expansions contractions are much more rare. As the transaltion is the more often variation, this  applies also to the melodic phrase chords. Therefore the relation of the melodic phrase chords amomg themselvs is important too and preferably they are also good quality like harmonic. 

7) Topological concepts of the dynamics of the variations of the melodic themes and the melodic themes themselves (Dolphin words) like cycle, up move, down  move etc are useful for creating corresponding psychological feelings. 

8) Morphology of the parts of the melody like "couple"=first verse , "refrain"=resolving chorus are also useful in integrating the final melody of the song. 

After the above rules the creation of melodies after their harmony or chord progression is as easy as writing a text. We may call this method "Bach's method" . The reason it becomes easy is because we proceed from the simplicity to the complexity,and here the simplicity both in harmony and melody is the a) melodic phrase b) melodic phrase chords. 

 The above rules lead to the next 6 steps in composing a nice melody

1) CHOSE THE TYPE OF CHROMATIC-TONALITY HARMONY 

2) COMPOSE THE CHORD PROGRESSION AFTER THE CHOSEN CHROMATIC TONALITY

3) PARTITION THE CHORD PROGRESSION TO SINGLETS, PAIRS, TRIPLETS ETC OF CHORDS THAT  WOULD SUPPORT BRIDGING MELODIC THEMES

4) COMPOSE THE SIMPLICIAL SUBMELODY (A DEFAULT IS THE MIDLLE NOTES OF THE CHORDS) . For each partition segment of chords, the last note of the simplicial melody ofthe last chord is the main note of the simplicial submelody for this segment. 

5) COMPOSE THE MOVE OF THE BRIDGING MELODIC THEMES BY THE TRIAD UP-DOWN-STATIONARY BY FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES OF BALANCE AND THE EMOTIONS OF THE UNDERLYING PARTITIONED SEGMENT OF CHORDS. ONE POLARITY FOR EACH PARTITIONED SEGMENT OF CHORDS. E.g. partition segments ending in minor chord may be down-moves and those ending in major chord an up-move. If we assume the x-axis the time and the y-axis the pitch (the simplicial submelody set as basic pitch zero level) we may symbolize a rhythmic melodic bridge with a flag. Glag symmetric to a vertical axis are melodic bridges with inverse rhythmic pattrn. So such arrangments of the melody are like geometric frieze patterns and their 7 types of symmetry (see link below) . Of course most melodies are asymmetric. Furthermore we may utilize the rule of melodic-cromatic scale alternation of melodic themes as described in post 421. In short we play a melodiv theme within the chord and in the melodic version of the scale (steps by alternating minor-major 3rds) and the chromatic version ofthe scale as bridge to the next chord. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frieze_group

6) COMPOSE THE RHYTHMIC PATTERN OF THE BRIDGING MELODIC THEMES AND THEMSELVES TOO.

Here is an example of a paritioned chord progression with chords from 3 tonalities related harmonically (this is common inthe harmony of brazilian songs) e.g. C-F-G.

I have improvised at first these chords inthe ukulele,soI that i like them and make the necesary corections

The melodic phrase chords are 3 , and I write the chord progression so that each line is a traid of melodic phrase chords. 

For simplicity all chords have the same duration

1st verse minor feeling, the translation of t he melodic theme is upwards. It is inthe tonalitis C and  F (with harmonic minors)

Dm      E7      Am

Gm      A7      Dm

1st chorus resolution to a major triad, which is alower shift ofthe melodic theme

Bb       C7       F

Here the next verse moves to the tonality G

E7       Am        Am

B7       E7          Am

Again a chorus resolution to major triads of the toanlity G

C        B7         G

Am   D7          G

Chromatic shift to the 7nth degree of the toanlity G as a new verse

F#7    Bm     Bm

B7     Em      Em

And a resolution to tonal of G tonality

D7      G        G

Now we add the simplicial submelody notes of the melody , one note per chord

We try it in a convenient instrument . I did so in the ukulelel and also on the digital ukulele (Geoshred) in the tablet.  I try to whistle also  threr simplicial submelody

1st verse minor feeling, the translation of t he melodic theme is upwards. It is inthe tonalitis C and  F (with harmonic minors)

Dm  (f5)     E7  (g#4)     Am (c5)

Gm   (Bb5)   A7  (c#5)    Dm  (f5)

1st chorus resolution to a major triad, which is alower shift ofthe melodic theme

Bb  (d5)     C7   (e5)    F (a4)

Here the next verse moves to the tonality G

E7  (e5)     Am    (a5)    Am  (a4)

B7   (f#5)    E7    (g#5)      Am  (e6)

Again a chorus resolution to major triads of the toanlity G

C   (e5)     B7    (d#5)     G  (b4)

Am  (c5)    D7   (f#5)       G  (g5)

Chromatic shift to the 7nth degree of the toanlity G as a new verse

F#7   (F#5)  Bm   (b4)   Bm  (b4)

B7    (f#5) Em   (b5)     Em  (B5) 

And a resolution to tonal of G tonality

D7  (d5)    G (g4)       G (g4)

Finally we write all these in a midi editor and and we enhance the simplicial submelody to an actually rhythmic melody with transition notes also outside the chords. 

In this way it is as if we write a text first fromthe verbs then the subject  and obkect ofthe verb and then the relations of the phrases. 

401. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ROLE OF THE SPAN-RANGE OF THE MELODY IN A SONG.

400. SIMPLICIAL SUB-CHORD-PROGRESSION BESIDES SIMPLICIAL SUB-MELODY IN IMPROVISATION

 The simplistic invariant in our emotional subconsious is not only creating the simplicial sub-melody by the melody centers, but also the  simplicial sub-chord-progression

E.g. when in diatonic scale we play a chord progression involving 1M , 2m, 3m, 4M 5M 6m , we may

realize that the 3 minors 2m , 3m, 6m, are lower relative chords ofthe 4M, 5M, 1M and so we actually may havea salternative well fitting also chord progression one that has only the 3 majors 1M, 4M, 5M. which can of course be called the simplicial sub-chord-progression.

An example is to try to improvise melodically on the next quite long piece of gypsu jazz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy9LiSeDQiU&t=412s&ab_channel=LewisLuongRelaxationCafe

It becomes after some time easy, because it is as if improvising over a simple chord progression involving only the 1M, 4M, 5M. 

399. CLASSIFICATION OF THE METHODS TO LEARN IMPROVISATION THROUGH 3 CENTERS IN THE HUMAN PERSONALITY . MENTAL, KINAESTHETIC, EMOTIONAL.

 A VERY GOOD CLASSIFICATION PRACTICE OF THE METHODS TO LERN IMPROVISATION AND  MAKING FREE MUSIC SIMILAR WITH THE EASINESS WITH WICH WE SPEAK IS TO CLASSIFY  THE METHODS BY 

THE MENTAL CENTER (New concepts of musical theory. E.g. Chromatic tonality, harmonic, melodic , chromatic multitonality, statistical rules of intervals, chords types etc) 

THE KINAESTHETIC CENTER (Appropriation of the musical instruments with new convenient types of tuning, etc The triads chart of the  fretboard etc). The kinaesthetuc center we may analyze further to the 3 external sences of  

1) touching   

2) seeing  

3) listening 

THE EMOTIONAL CENTER (new techniques of training the emotional center through listening ,whistling etc)

We have mentioned elsewhere that the types of improvisation that we include are

 

1) Single instrument with or without chords

2) Predetermined harmony and chord progression by a musician , and improvisation in the melody by another musician

3) Improvised harmony by a musician and improvised melody my another musician

4) Two musicians improvising parallel counterpoint melodies within one or more scales. 

5) A musician improvising a new adoption , with melody and even chords over a predetermined song.

ETC.

Then with such technique we apply the 4 phases

MIMICKING

ASSIMILATION

INNOVATION.

398. 12 bars blues with power chords

 In  this interesting twist, we do not utilize to major chords 1M 4M 5M but the power 2-notes 3 voices chords  1P 4P 5P . Where 1P=1-5-1' , 4P=4-1-4" and 5P=5-1-5'

 

Similarly as in the post   396    may substitute the 1P 4P 5P with relative power chords like  2P 3P 6P 7P 

Why we do it? Because either if we are in the natural minor of the scale or the harmonic minor or the double harmonic minor, the chords remain the same and we have stable harmonic background with very rich melodic variations and transitions to other minor chromatic scales.

397. Brazilian choro chromatic tonality by 3 consecutive diatonic scales in the wheel by 4ths, with their harmonic minor aeolian modes.

 By studying the bazilian choro songs , and also the songs by Jacob do bandolim, which are consideed of expecially complicated harmony , a frequent pattern appears in the chromatic harmony.

There are 2 ways to perceive the patterns. A simple one which neverthless doe not reveal all the secretes and a more complicated which does.

The simple one is that chords utilized are a connected arc of 7 or 8 consecutive chords in the wheel by 4ths. We have commented in previous posts for such 7 cycles or 8-cycles And for  each such chord either the major or the minor or both are  ustilized.

A more revealing perceptions is the next : They are utlized 3 diatonic scales consecutive onthe wheel by 4ths. E.g. [G major C major F major] , or [f major , Bb major, Eb major] etc.

And furthermore each of these diatonic scales are in chromatic tomality derived by the harmonic minor version of its aelonian natural mode , or the double harmonic minor of its aelonian natural minor mode. 

When the harmonic minor version is utilized the 3m chord becomes 3M, and when the double harmonic minor version is utilized then the 7d becomes 7M chord as well. 

We may compare this type of complicated chromatic tonality with that of the post 373 which also utilizes 3 diatonic scales but in melodic not harmonic relation. 

As in the case of reharmonization as in the Gypsy jazz,so with choro, a simple chor progression, to reharmonize it within the choro harmony might require rules like

1) When a chord A  transitions to a next chord B and this transition is melodic (interval by 3rd) or chromatic (interval by 2nd) we reharmonize it by interpolation a 3rd  chord  major 7nth that resolves to B. (harmonic relations like G7->C) 

2) We substitute a major chord with its relative minor and vice versa  if this keeps the local sequence of the chords progression to a connected arc by 4ths in the wheel by 4ths.

With  this 2 rules we create a bias and preference to harmonic chord transitions rather than melodic or chromatic chord transitions.

396. CHROMATIC TONALITY AND ALL 7 MODES MODULATIONS OVER THE RHYTMIC AND HARMONIC PATTERN OF 12-BARS BLUES.

 

CHROMATIC TONALITY AND ALL 7 MODES MODULATIONS OVER THE  RHYTMIC AND HARMONIC PATTERN  OF 12-BARS BLUES.

In the blues (that may be somehow considered a type of rapsody concept collective composition and improvisation) the rhythm is  also standardized to e.g. 12-bars blues, which corelated the rhyrhmic measures with the sequence and duration of the 3 chords 1M, 4M 5M or  1M 2m 5M.

1M 1M 1M 1M 4M 4M 1M 1M 5M 5M 1M 1M    It is standard in tonal harmony that we may substitute a chord with another which is usually one of its minor relative chords. Thus here in this pattern we may substitute 1M  with 6m or 3m 4M with 6m or 2m  e.g. if we substitute 4M with 2m then  1M 1M 1M 1M 2m 2m 1M 1M 5M 5M 1M 1M

And we may subtitute 

5M with 3m or  7d

But more generally in chromatic tonality we may substitute one of the basic 3chords with some ofthe chords of the chromatic tonality thus we may substitute

1M  with 3M or 6M (besides 3m, 6m)

4M with 2M or 6 M (Besides 2m, 6m)

5M with 3M or 7M. (besides, 3m, 7d) 

e.g. 

1M	1M	1M	1M
2m	2M	6M	6M
3M	5M	1M	1M

When making the substititutionw it is good to keep the rule of the previous article, that is

 60% harmonic chord transitions, 30% melodic transitions, 10% superchromatic transitions. 

As alternative methods we have that the chord progression of the 12 bars blues can be shifted to all the 7 modes ofthe diatonic scale, so that it can produce different tonal or chrmatic tonal 12-bars blues 

Here are all the 7 modes of the chord progression for the 12 bars blues

IONIAN                  1M 4M 1M 5M 1M 

DORIAN                 2m 5M 2m 6m 2m

FRYFIAN                3m 6m 3m 7d 3m

LYDIAN                  4M 7bM 4M 1M 4M  (chromatic tonality because of the 7b)

MIXOLYDIAN        5M 1M 5M 2m 5M

AEOLIAN                6m 2m 6m 3m 6m

LOCTIAN                7d 3m 7d 4#M 7d  (chromatic tonality because of the 4#)