I guess melody IS pretty important. How many of us whistle the bass part for Can't Buy Me Love (which is, by the way, a wonderful bass line)? We whistle the melody. That's what sticks in our heads long after the song arrangements fade away.
How do YOU write a song? When do you write the songs melody? Here are a few thoughts on the matter.**
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Write Better Songs Part III
Writing Better Songs Part I (writing in major keys)
Writing Better Songs Part II (writing in minor keys)
This is a great site! Tips For Young Songwriters (but much of it is great for us slightly less young songwriters as well).
Here are a few of his tips on melody.
Tip #1: Use and existing melody to write a new song.
Tip#2: Elements of a melody.
**For the record...I can't tell you how many times I FIRST came up with a chord progression and then a melody. Many times I write them at the same time (singing into my favorite Radio Shack tape recorder.
