Contents
5. Melodic Density
Through the analysis of latecoming melodies you understand that the absence of a melody is also one of the effective ways of developing music. You can utilize empty spaces between phrases for expressions like quietness, clearness or the moods of stagnancy, hesitation, etc.
Let’s have a look into the density of melodies.
Intermittent Melodies
“My Way” by Frank Sinatra has characteristic melodic structure; relatively large rests are inserted between every phrase. Since the lyrics are about looking back over his life, intermittent melodies gives verisimilitude as if he’s really recalling his memories while singing.
The phrases from 0:56- are especially remarkable:
Regrets, I’ve had a few. But, then again, too few to mention.
Anka, Paul (lyrics), François, Claude (song).”My Way”.Frank Sinatra.1969.
This part is unique in that the contrastive conjunction, “but”, withdraws the words before it. Here the spaces between words make up the mood that he’s really wavering whether to speak of his regrets and eventually decides not to.
Calculating how dense the melody line is in this part, only 54% of the total time is filled with the vocal melody.
“Regrets” ~ “to mention”Almost half is rest! Such “intermittent speech” style results in slow story telling, which can be utilized for producing gentle, quiet or meditating moods. You can find more songs using this technique…
- Imagine by John Lennon
- Every Breath You Take by The Police
- Default by Atoms For Peace
- Perth by Bon Iver
Let me take one more example.
“Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan also has intermittent melodies in its chorus part. The case is peculiar in that the lyrics include interrogative sentence, “How does it feel?” So the space after the sentence works as if he’s really waiting for an answer.
The melodic density here is very low but in this case it is the manifestation of “silence is gold”.
Also notice that the spaces are filled with organ melodies. Though instrumental melodies are of-course a kind of melody and are within the scope of the theory of melody, they must be distinguished from vocal melodies as they don’t convey lyrics.
Such vocal/inst alternating strategy is very useful, for it can keep catchiness while lessening the vocal density. It can be found often in rock songs where guitar riffs are of great importance.
- Black Dog by Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California by Eagles
- American Idiot by Green Day
- Rich by Yah Yah Yahs
- Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet
Or Tears In Heaven, again, is notable in that the song uses the same two techniques (interrogative phrases followed by blank spaces filled with the guitar).
Dense Melodies
On the other hand, dense melodies are nothing wrong. Let’s have a look at an opposite example.
“Beautiful Now” by Zedd is fully filled with vocal melodies—The densest one as much as I can think of.
Over 90%! Only small rests are inserted between phrases, where the vocalist can barely take a breath. Such melodies with less rest will be suitable for creating restless moods, literally.
In terms of horizontal placements, the song has all lines from verse to chorus in the preceding form, which reinforces the sense of hurrying feelings and driving force.
Art of Subtraction
Once you’ve learned the theory of melodic progressions like “motive”, “ascending leap” or “tendency tones”, your attention may naturally be drawn to how notes connects and how a motif develops. Focusing too much on what you listen, however, might cause you to overlook what you cannot listen—The blank. That’s why I introduced some interesting patterns utilizing blank spaces. Music is temporal art and is very much art of subtraction.
Summary
- Rhythmic placements of a melody is one important factor for musical expressions.
- Anacrusis is a strong strategy for a melody to draw attention.
- The density of melodies is also one of the factors to control the hastiness of a song.
