The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75088 Message #1315585
Posted By: GUEST,chinmusic
03-Nov-04 - 03:38 PM
Thread Name: Songwriter's Melodies
Subject: RE: Songwriter's Melodies
I agree with you, Jerry, that melody writing is not only intuitive, but also an underrated aspect on discussions about music. Some folks just have a facility it, while others seem to have more of an inclination towards lyrics. Of course, the best of both worlds, is the combination of the two. For example, Gordon Lightfoot is an excellent wordsmith, but what stands out for me are his captivating melodies. The first thing that has to grab my ear when I listen to music, is always the melody. There are exceptions to this rule, particularly when the words are just so well crafted, and then I can live with less than a stellar melody. I do love great songwriting, but I need melody to connect and invite me into the song. I think we can learn and improve our skills as songwriters through experience and the benefit of workshops, but I don't think this may be true for writing good melodies. However, if some folks have discovered the opposite is true, I'm all ears.