Quick 'n' Dirty Songwriting Tips: Writing Melodies

Want to write stronger, more memorable melodies? Try these quick, non-musical-theory tips:

- Can your melody stand on its own? Test it by singing it in the shower or playing it on a piano, without accompaniment. If you find yourself repeating the same note over and over again, you may want to think about changing it up a bit (although, admittedly, sometimes the monotone thing works really well).

- For a four-line verse or chorus, employ the classic "Happy Birthday" structure: line 1 - introduction; line 2 - continuation; line 3 - escalation; line 4 - resolution. Sing the Happy Birthday song to yourself and you'll understand what I mean. Or, listen to this example. Or this one.

A picture of a guitar

So what are you waiting for? Get writing!