What is a melody?

What is a melody?

• A. A rhythm with no pitches
• B. A chord progression
• C. A series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole
• D. A random sequence of sounds

Answer: (C)

A melody is the sequence of pitches arranged in time to create a recognizable musical line. It’s the tune you can hum or sing, giving music its horizontal shape and sense of direction. A good melody has contour—rising and falling pitches—and phrases or motifs that feel cohesive and expressive, even when sung or played alone. This sets it apart from rhythm, which is about timing and duration without pitches, and from a chord progression, which stacks notes simultaneously to create harmony. A random sequence of sounds wouldn’t have the clear idea or memorable shape that defines a melody.

A melody is the sequence of pitches arranged in time to create a recognizable musical line. It’s the tune you can hum or sing, giving music its horizontal shape and sense of direction. A good melody has contour—rising and falling pitches—and phrases or motifs that feel cohesive and expressive, even when sung or played alone. This sets it apart from rhythm, which is about timing and duration without pitches, and from a chord progression, which stacks notes simultaneously to create harmony. A random sequence of sounds wouldn’t have the clear idea or memorable shape that defines a melody.