Pitch and Melody

Melody is a sequence of single notes that creates the main tune of a piece. It is the part of the music we are most likely to remember, sing, or hum. A melody is shaped by both rhythm and pitch, giving it a particular contour or shape as it moves through time. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a musical sound. Pitches are organized into scales, and when arranged in sequence, they form melodies. In pop music, melody is often a central expressive element, combining rhythm, pitch, and phrasing to give a song its emotional and musical identity. In essence, melody = rhythm/meter + pitch.

An example of a memorable melody is "Love Me Do" by The Beatles. The verse melody is simple and repetitive, staying within a narrow range of pitches and following a clear rhythmic pattern. The vocal line primarily moves stepwise, which means it moves between notes that are next to each other in the scale, like moving up or down one step at a time, rather than jumping over several notes. This creates a smooth and connected flow. For example, the phrase “Love, love me do” features a gentle rise and fall that is easy to sing and instantly recognizable. The melody’s phrasing is short and conversational, often emphasizing the strong beats, which makes the song especially catchy and accessible to listeners.