How To Write A Melody On The Piano (For Beginners)

This one is for all the songwriters and composers out there. I’m often asked how to write a melody, so I’m going to share some tips that I have which might help you.

Before I start - it’s important to state that these are some of MY ideas, but there are many more out there, and when it comes to music there are exceptions to every rule.

So here we go.

- Start with a chord progression - 0:22
Every great melody has a chord progression built underneath it. It's kind of like the foundation we'll use, and it helps give us guidance to choose the notes for our melody.

When you're starting out, it helps to choose a simple chord progression that sounds nice. If you've watched many of our videos you'll know some of the most common chord progressions out there. Today we'll use the 1-6-5-4 progression in the key of D major.

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- Play the scale over each chord - 0:58
This step helps us explore all the notes in the scale so that we can identify the ones that we like. During this step you'll probably hear notes and think, "Oh I like that!" or "That sounded bad."

It's a good idea to make a mental note of which sounds you DO like, but make sure to play the scale over ALL the chords because the notes will have different characteristics depending on which chord they are played with.

- Think about the 'role' that each note plays - 2:09
In Western music, every note in a scale serves a role, or a function. Some notes create tension, while others create resolution.

Learning a few simple things about what role the notes of the scale play will help you put them together in an order that makes sense and is nice to listen to.

- Pick a combination of tones - 5:10
This is the fun part. Think about the notes you heard in step two that you liked, and try combining several notes over the chords, thinking also about their role.

This step involves a lot of trial and error, but that's ok! And remember you don't have to get too complicated to create a really beautiful and memorable melody. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

So those are a few steps you can use to help you get started. As I said at the beginning these are just some guidelines. When you start to play around with melodies you might find notes and sounds that you love -- which are NOT in the scale you're working in.

There are always exceptions to every rule.

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Have fun!

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ABOUT LISA:
Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for +20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. She is a songwriter and recording artist. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited to practice and return to the keys for your next lesson. Her teaching style focuses on you, making lessons encouraging and fun.

#pianotutorial #pianolessons #pianote #melody

[PianoteOfficial]

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[kuyakoi]

Guide:
1) Create your chord progression. A repeated four chord progression is very common u may start in any chord u like


2) find a melody by playing the whole scale of the Key note of your choice. Play the melody while continously playing the chord progression

3) find your favorite three notes in the scale while listening your chords Be creative on this step.

4) once you have the three notes. Play that over and over with the chord progression you made. The beat, tempo, genre will come along depending on your muscial influence.

5) now create a hook line (chorus melody) by:

a) repeating the step one (make new chord progression)

OR

b) step number 3 (keep your original progression)

Thank me later

[eriust]

me: watches two piano videos
youtube: simply piano adds on the next 10 videos

[Slang_Forever]

Honestly speaking when I watch you tutorials they just revolutionize the way I play, thank you for making this available to us.

[indmnltr]

Hey there,
I'm a beginner in music. I have no idea on music theories or anything. But I love to make music in FL Studio. I made 1 or 2 music using that with no music theory in mind at all. And now I'm stuck in same melody and cord progression. I have no clue what to do next or make new fresh melodies and stuff. After watching your videos, I got some inspirations.
Now I'm asking youtube, WHY THE HECK YOU DIDN'T SUGGEST THESE CHANNEL EARLIER! Your a great teacher. very simple to understand, easy to pick up. But I gotta learn some at least some basic music theory. And that's ok. Love your content. Keep making them.

[taoronaldo]

Why does everything that you play sound so good and catchy? 😅

[BasedRichard]

I understand the basic of chord progressions but had a rough time with melodies until this video, I shed a tear because I'm learning & to get a better understanding of something I'm so passionately wanting to learn puts my mind as ease.. Thank u miss

[sanchezcontabilidadyfinanz]

This video
it's pure gold, just with almost 7 minutes you was able to teach me more than few courses that i've taken.

[nt_matilda]

Wow. I’m a little late, but I’ve been playing piano for 3 years and I’ve never tried composing music. I decided to watch some videos, and I think I’m gonna give it a try! Your video really helped, really straightforward and easy to follow! You just gained a subscriber, thanks a lot 🖤🥰

[YudiMuchanis]

YOU... ARE... AMAZING! I've been giving up on piano for 20+ years. And with a couple of you video, you have successfully light up the fire to re-learn it!

THANK YOU and bless your beautiful soul

[sanjaycolaco]

I like your concept of playing the scale against each chord, to see how they sound, and find the melody notes that could go well with each Chord— eventually leading to the completion of the melody line. Thank you, for sharing this video. Have a Blessed day !!!

[rickyguitarman]

that moment you realize how incredibly simple James Horner's "Titanic" - was! It's not about the chord progressions BUT the melody that's it, R.I.P. my favorite composer!

[MasonHatfieldLogorrhea]

She reminds me of Snow White from Once Upon a Time lol

[williamclark]

Wow. As an aspiring singer/songwriter, I've been struggling with ways to come up with fresh melodies and this is a fantastic tool.

[amiteshkumar]

I've been following Pianote lessons from previous 2 weeks and now I feel that I'm making progress that I hadn't made in last 2 years in playing piano . Thank you Pianote.Awesome and Easy to follow lessons 😍🥰

[edsstuffs]

I love that part where you do that small twist to avoid making the song boring. It’s awesome!

[leonardgrosso]

I have watched 20 different people doing piano lessons and I always come back to lisa!!! Seems so sweet, down to earth and patient!
I have only been playing keyboard for 7 month but I have learned the most from Lisa and Pianote!! Thank you for the great lessons

LG

[enfachnick]

im 22 and i startet making beats 3 years ago and i feel just making drums over samples is cool but i want to make real music. so i search on youtube to find tutorials to learn more about playing the piano and i always come back to this channel, and i learn something every time.
good channel <3

[bhavnabaliyan]

The video and the comment section is the best place for a fresh new lover of am trying to understand music....and i found i am not the only one finding it difficult....so comforting 😂

[brb]

as a visual artist appropriating music, that “color pallete” comparison actually really helped.