Riffs and Hooks (Part 3)

Learn about riffs and hooks (part 3): improvise a melody over a given chord progression

🎵 Stage Brief #77

Improvising a melody means making one up in real time.

🎯 Your mission

Hear the line. Hum it back.

⚡ The twist

Every great melody is just a few notes used really well.

What you'll learn

Improvising a melody means making one up in real time. Start with a pentatonic scale and let your ear guide you.

Remember

🎧 Listen

Listen for this

🎧 Hum along. Where does the tune feel like it lands?

🎼 Notes on the staff

Tap a note to hear it

🌟 Artist spotlight

🌟 Paul McCartney woke up with the melody to 'Yesterday' in his head. He thought he stole it from someone.

🤯 Mind = blown

🤯 Earworms (songs stuck in your head) usually last 15 to 30 seconds and loop forever.

Check your understanding · 1 of 3

What does 'conjunct motion' mean in melody?

Check your understanding · 2 of 3

What is melodic contour?

Check your understanding · 3 of 3

What is a motif?

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

🎯

We'll pick a music lesson that matches exactly where your ear is right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you hear this: The melody you can't get out of your head right now is the result of years of someone else's practice.

🏆 Try this week: Make up a 4-note tune. Hum it three times. See if you remember it tomorrow.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Hum the first notes of a song you both love. Can your kid finish it?”

Send it to a parent who wants 5 minutes of music with their kid — no instrument required.

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