From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

Unlock the full course today

Join today to access over 22,600 courses taught by industry experts or purchase this course individually.

Rule #13: Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus

Rule #13: Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus

From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

Start my 1-month free trial

Rule #13: Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus

“

- Rule number 13. Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus. This is a cue for your listener that you're headed to the main message of your song. Melodies are full of unspoken cues and this is a classic one to pay attention to. In the song example, "To Have and To Hold," the melody in the chorus builds to a peak, and the highest note of the song is in the middle of the chorus to create a real sense of drama and release and then descends back down into the hook as a way of letting people know that you've arrived at a really warm sort of wonderful moment in the song. But the pitch rises at the dead center of the chorus, and that's what makes it powerful. So, let's give a listen to that example now. ♫ In love ♫ Lo and behold ♫ I've been a fool ♫ but only a fool ♫ Would hang onto hope long enough to know ♫ There's no letting go ♫ To have and to hold you ♫ - And for our Grammy Award winning song example, give a listen to Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own by U2.

Contents