This One Melody Tip Will Make Your Melodies GREAT

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Writing great melodies can seem like a dark art - in this video, I show you ONE incredibly powerful element of melody writing that can transform a stale melody into one that dances.
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[@pseudonymlifts2]

This is why I record every second of jamming/songwriting that I do. Often you get a rhythmic improvisation that works so, so well that it makes the entire melody, but the thing is it's very hard to actually remember such subtleties. If you don't have it down, you'll probably remember a more 'square' version of what you did and wonder why what seemed to exciting suddenly feels lame and stale. It's also why it's so important to rehearse a lot and play in front of people a lot. When you get stiff and scared, your rhythm is the first thing to suffer. When you're comfortable, phrasing flows.

[@ericleiter6179]

You articulated that very well...I have also experienced this phenomenon, and you're right about the need to capture those sparks as they happen, or else the subtleties that make it good get lost.

[@PianoDentist]

This! Very true.

[@secularZoo]

Great observations. I quit writing down my guitar riffs and melodies for this same reason

[@andrewhertzberg6889]

This is a great suggestion. I usually don’t do this because I tend not to have the patience to go back and carefully sift through the long monster jams I do before I hit record. But I think I’m probably losing a lot for this laziness.

[@niloo_atribecalledlove]

THIS👆🏽

[@officialWWM]

I’m a vocal coach. This topic is something I spend so much time on with my students. Starting the vocal either a beat early or a beat late, can really push and pull a song. To me, it’s the difference between good and great singers.

[@iwritethehooks]

Kurt Cobain was the master of melodic phrasing.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Certainly a master, yes

[@justinbeck4197]

Makes the difference between what you might hear in coffee shop and what might hear on the radio

[@rideshareglobalprotest]

I have watched hundreds of videos of music. This is the first time I was given permission to start off beat. THANK YOU!!!!

[@OurgasmComrade]

Neil Young started his phrases just after beat one of bar one in so many of his songs because he knew the ear-catching effect of it!

[@creampopsongs]

Most of my songs get like a few dozen views on KZbin. I watched your video here, changed the beat where I put the lyrics of this children's song I wrote so that the emphasis for the first word of each phrase is on the off-beat (actually beat 3.5 of a swing beat) instead of on the more predictable pickup beat, beat 4, and it made the song so much more fun. It is now by far my most popular song with more than 5,000 views in just one week. Is that the reason? I don't know. But you have a great idea here. Thanks!

[@SilvanusJoseph-oc8xf]

Pls, make a video on how to write songs with musical note rather than mere words 🙏

[@iluvsyphonfilter]

I always struggle with melodies, thanks for making this video!

[@YourFavouriteColor]

aside from accent structure's "body language" which is an interesting way of putting it, I like the phrase "downbeat headroom." Accenting a melody on the downbeat is very strident. it's like a splash of cold water in the face. "cause this is THRILLER" "STRUMMING MY PAIN with his finger" etc. In both of those examples, the verse in Thriller starts on the and of 3! "it's close to midnight." "you start to scream" has a long pickup and accents on the "a" of 4. There is so many dynamics in the accent structure, that there is still oodles of headroom left when that big accent on 1 "THRILLER" comes in. hits you like a truck. Same as "killing me softly." on the verse "I heard you sang a new song" it's accented on beat 2, and other weak "ands." There is no downbeat accent until you get to the chorus "STRUMMING MY PAIN." again, hits like a truck. there is a DISEASE these days of singer-songwriters spamming accents on every downbeat. Every 2 bars. New chord, NEW phrase, new chord, NEW phrase, all on beat 1. By the time you try to take a big beat 1 swing in the chorus, it already feels like i've been bludgeoned to death with a hammer. phrasing is an extremely important and robust topic andthis video only scratches the surface!

[@edwinbrown9951]

This is so great. Thank you for another fantastic video Keppie.

[@gerrithdutoit835]

I love your channel! This is so practical and it really makes a difference. Thank you very much!

[@kiillabytez]

A perfect example is The Searchers' Needles And Pins, in which the lyric starts on the 2nd beat and continues this way, (even through the Bridge) throughout the song.

[@TimE_5150]

Great tip Keppie, your teaching is tremendous!! Thank you.

[@alexcantelou2469]

Absolutely golden insight. Shed light on so many questions I've had for so long. Cheers!

[@mr.skinskull3148]

Your insights are fantastic, accurate and immediately applicable

[@Timsimmonds1]

Great tip which I do by accident as I'm often concentrating on the guitar chord changes then sing on the down beat. Thx for sharing a cool song too!!

[@timothyreynolds6255]

Your consideration videos are wonderfully informative and inspiring! Thanks from northern Nevada.

[@QualityTBD]

I love your channel, I've been writing songs for a long time, I went to school for it (and I would like to believe I've gotten pretty good at it). But I've only recently started teaching songwriting, and being a good writer is very different from being a great teacher. Your videos have been a HUGE resource for me in learning how to express these concepts in an effective and accessible way.

[@MusicalVenture]

This first trick fits better for melancholic lines, to put it on the bit for energetic and the third option I cannot describe yet Thanks! Such a great quality of the vid and video editing and light)

[@PloumidisMusic]

Loved this! Definitely going to try this in my next songwriting session I really like to start from bar 4 and land on the 1 as a way to shift the emphasis of my lyrics!

[@eddywinter5153]

Great lesson (as always)! One of my favourite examples is S&G's 'Bridge over Troubled Water' where in the verse each line it starts 'late' on the 2, but the chorus switches to starting on beat 1 for impact.

[@ronmorey3475]

Great lesson and lovely singing!

[@SilvanusJoseph-oc8xf]

I really enjoyed it❤

[@cvd63]

Excellent advise. Thank you!

[@PrincesaRapunzel]

I've discovered this channel recently and definitely is one of my top discoveries of the year, and we are still in february! Thanks for your priceless content (:

[@johnlind5819]

I am genuinely happy for you .. I remember how my enjoyment of music was enhanced when I found this channel!

[@johnlind5819]

One word for this video: WOW! It is somehow liberating to have someone clearly articulate something you know intuitively. In practice, I play/sing other songwriter's tunes this way and I consciously enjoy it - even if the song wasn't written this way originally. It is just the way I sing and the tool I use to make the song more interesting to myself. But for some unknown reason, I have literally NEVER applied this to the songs I am writing. DUH! Thanks so much (seriously, you two are the best, most positive, thing going on social media!) John - Gig Harbor, WA 🤓

[@andrewhertzberg6889]

Fantastic video. Thank you.

[@petermuller6923]

Brilliant. I intuitively did this often, but understanding it helps, using it in a controlled way and for polishing existing songs. The things said about dynamic phrasing do not only apply to sung melodies, but to every melody, also guitar solos, piano. The video reminded me of the most beautiful improvised guitar solo, i ever played :)

[@stephenrojepulidocastillo3706]

Love the video! Have yall ever considered putting ur tutorials on Spotify? Maybe a longer version like a podcast :)

[@TigerRogers0660]

Excellent video!! I have done this in some of my previous songs. But i've never been really aware of it - or done it deliberately!! It's more a case of a word or 2 that didn't sound right - & the emphasis had to be shifted!!

[@Sian_Brimms]

Sweet! Thanks! You're awesome!

[@isaacwu4995]

Thank thank you so much

[@vivianrendall7099]

Thank you love this video 😊

[@yonedelcastillo4491]

This Channel is very useful. Thanx.

[@cozxmos]

Nice one, great advice as always. But lord what a killer voice you've got!

[@jgannon1637]

Amazing song! Thanks.

[@glennyyo7321]

Very well demonstrated

[@StratsRUs]

Sweet singing, nice and full.

[@christopherhudson3551]

Bing Crosby attributed his success to his phrasing, which he said he learned from Louis Armstrong … good on you for bringing this to the forefront … you’re doing great things.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci for your tips. It's above my pay grade for now, but as I learn the key and fret board and practice, I like to keep this in mind. I'm starting after 65 years old and joking my whole life that I was born with two left ears.

[@PJmusic1981]

That was a great insight

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Great video. Phrasing is equally important in instrumental music or solos within songs. And one of the most important things to remember in both, is: don’t forget to leave some empty space. Empty space allows musical storytelling, an endless river of notes becomes an abstraction, which can be exhausting.

[@ThomasHope73]

Top notch teaching! 👌👏

[@dannyshortmusic]

Your a good singer 👍

[@meghamallar-cr5if]

Lovely !

[@tieukhavu8832]

Thank you Keppie. It sounds better like some 2010s mainstream pop melodies

[@gasparucciox9706]

melodies it's the main thing in a song

[@bobertrobertson130]

good example of this recently would be Alex Turner, his melodies have very syncopated and catchy rhythms

[@Yahoomediaclub]

Liking this 🎸

[@notyetskeletal4809]

Watching Axl do this live at first I thought he was just mixing it up but then also it would have the advantage of giving more time to prepare his breath. A dual usage.

[@daltonhobson6982]

Dam you are a very good and passionate teacher I wish I could spend 6 months learning from you personally. I have to tell you I used this on a song that I been playing with for years ,I just couldn't fig. out what was wrong with it. (big change wow). But you have to be careful not to use it to much it can become addictive. Thank you

[@jz5005]

Fascinating…. So if rhythmic variation among sections is a key principle, what are the principles that connect the melodies of various sections within a song? i.e. why does a particular chorus fit better with a verse melody than any other random chorus that is rhythmically different?

[@OliviaOdame]

I'm now a beginner and I'll need more..

[@ChristianBurrola]

The first one grooves more and feels better to me. It reminds me of Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers.

[@domenicosorrentino1972]

it seems to me, not only that controlling the exact placement of words on strong or weak stresses, or beats within the meter give a particular effect. i've read in some books that to give emphasis to words of the lyric, is necessary even tonal activity, with melodic and harmonic progression. Tonally adjoined progression, produces one effect; complex tonal movement, such as when melody is fairly stable and harmony is fairly unstable, produces another effect.

[@binnydholani1866]

Plz tell me how to use modes to add new chords in a song

[@SoraiaLMotta]

1) use syncopation to bring fluidity to the melody and be less harsh / more softh. Full on beat sounds more imperative / military chant. 2) after the strong beat. "More relaxed started" Before anticipation / hurry. 3) use the variety to change the type of emphasys, and bring more moviment to the song. Ex fire works by katty perry, circule post malone.

[@migrantfamily]

The first time I heard …growing like a lie. That’s a great line.

[@melof4160]

show!!!

[@chasebethersonton5169]

I liked both versions tho. :-P

[@ChristianBurrola]

The first one is more syncopated and feels better to me.

[@TheAlgomix]

💖

[@franksylva9031]

Sounded exactly the same to me.

[@RadovanVrska]

Perfect❤

[@kimseniorb]

its a call response situation

[@ZARATHOUSTRAM]

Good idea to talk about melody. But here I don't hear a «melody» (in terms of intervals) difference. I hear a different rhytmic feel. Did you heard what Lyle Mays said about a melody? It really woth to hear that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXOygIChpth6pZI It's such a infinite topic

[@BDS-now]

good, its more expression of the melody rather than the creation of the melody mmm

[@user-xq5qn8mf9k]

any one can help to find a lyrics writer and good melody maker for english song i need to create a good song im from srilanka please help me

[@Grihel]

Hmmm… I like 1st one more…😮

[@user-bb8sw1jo6o]

I find melodies ridiculously easy, but I 100% rely on intuition. It's the same reason I suck at lyrics, because I over think it to the point of being brain-dead. Everybody knows what sounds good, some are too paralyzed with fear and doubt to get there. Anyway, rules are programmable. Hopefully emotion is not (perhaps it's just more complex...). It's the only thing that seemingly separates us from AI music.

[@abbeydawnsoulfire4512]

1 234 I don't understand 4:49

[@mr.k905]

Cool! ...But doesn't this make the melody less memorable?

[@felixmarques]

Not really. I don't think that's a priority for her here, because it could be fine-tuned, but I don't think the first example is more memorable.

[@mikemolaro4198]

Beat 1 discrimination! ;) Cant say i agree. Tons of amazing melodies start on beat 1. Sure. If every melody on your album all starts on beat 1 you might have a problem. But beat 2, or the "and" of beat 1 is no better or worse than beat 1. Its like saying a C major chord is wrong and you shouldn't start a song on it.

[@cecilia_mackie]

I love you! Reach out to me.

[@jimmym841]

Its more phrasing than melody

[@clintongallagher]

Damn. I did not know Alfred E. Neuman had such a talented sister.

[@duanekilgore9130]

I’m currently at 2:10. Totally knew she would take the phrases off the downbeat. Less square and more in accordance with the African American music innovation of backbeat. In other words take the stick out let your hair down and try taking your feelings seriously and dismissing your intelligence (rather your need to broadcast that you are intelligent which nobody but your mom cares about

[@chasingcuriosity1]

Editing is good but honestly its a little over the top

[@liamoconlocha3264]

Why not 'choke me like a vine'

[@jasonbourne488]

Why not “pour me a glass of wine” or “ why do you always whine”

[@liamoconlocha3264]

@@jasonbourne488 because then tbe sgrangling, suffocating aspect of a relationship would be lost

[@izio4408]

pro-cesses

[@psalms6539]

OMG. Tom Perry. Don’t do me like that.

[@danhamilton1920]

Melody is Magic. It comes from a place none of us understand, you haven't made a melody. You've vomitted nonsense x

[@bjarnyg]

these are just cosmetics. it doesn't make an ok melody great, you need a great melody to start with.

[@Aussie413]

You are not a songwriter !! What makes you think that you have the correct information on how to teach someone how to write a song???

[@recordman555]

Yeah . . .yrea . . . I geit it, and yet, I find your Channel completely useless .

[@EyesOpen369]

😮wow youre voice is beautiful 😍 as you are too ❤ wow im blown away ❤