Melodic Figuration Theory: The Hidden Logic of Melodic Behavior

by David Fuentes, Ph.D. Melody is the playful art of making and combining tone gestures to capture and convey what we feel, experience, desire, and believe. — The foundational premise of Melodic Figuration Theory If you sing the opening of “What a Wonderful World,”

The Vocabulary of Melody

Melody has a vocabulary. Composers have been speaking it for centuries without knowing it. Here it is—laid out, interactive, and ready to transform the way you write.

What is a Melodic Figure?

Composers rarely think about melodic figures, and that’s a shame because they offer so many ways to unlock your melodic potential.

Genius Melodic Gestures #2
Adore You

words and music by Amy Allen, Thomas Hull, Tyler Johnson, and Harry Styles WHAT MAKES THIS MELODY GENIUS? AN OVERVIEW At first, “Adore You” seems like yet one more “simple pop tune” about infatuation. But if we listen closely to the melody of the

Don’t Stand So Close to Me

In 1980, a rock band called The Police recorded a song about a raging infection and the social distancing it required. “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” tells the story of an adolescent girl who becomes lovesick over her teacher. But rather than giving
DNA helix with musical notes

The Building Blocks of Melody

This interactive table introduces the 36 foundational building blocks of melody, offering a versatile toolkit for crafting expressive, memorable melodies.

What is an Arpeggio?

To produce an arpeggio, a musician performs the notes of a chord one at a time rather than all at once. And this presents a conundrum. While most people think of a chord as a “block of sound,” an arpeggio retains its “chordiness” even