So what do we add to make music taste better?
Would it surprise you it’s ‘wrong‘ notes?
But it is.
It’s the notes we generally think of as being wrong.
This only means our brain doesn’t associate these notes with the base.
And this means the spice in melodies are ‘wrong’ notes!
But how does our brain know they’re ‘wrong’?
It doesn’t think in terms of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. But in terms of predictable (topping) and unexpected (spice). Based on ‘base’: what is already there.
Wrong notes aren’t base or topping. They are all other tones. And they cause a ‘harmonic conflict’ that can be easily heard.
Harmonic & rhythmic TENSION
You can use the chord tones as a base for a melody.
However, you won’t be adding harmonic tension, nor color, nor surprise. These notes are already in the chord. You could be adding rhythmic tension, simply by not playing on the beat. You see, the rhythmic recipe is quite similar!
The rhythmic recipe
- Base: adds no tension – creates rest: notes played on the beat – usually the quarter notes – the basic division of the measures;
- Topping: adds some tension/variation/color: notes played on logical subdivisions of the beat (depends on the rhythm: mostly when the beat is divided by a factor 2 (like 2,4,8,16 – eight notes, sixteenth notes, etcetera) but in rhythms like 12/8 it’s the eight note triplets;
- Spice: adds a lot of tension/excitement: notes played elsewhere/ on ‘unexpected places’. In jazz this mostly boils down to forms of polyrhythm (one or more rhythms on top of each other). For example using triplets over a beat divided in eighth notes.
The combination of rhythmic & melodic tension
The melodic and rhythmic tension of a note don’t add up! It’s the other way around. A spicy (wrong) note creates LESS (!) tension on a spicy (wrong) rhythmic spot than on the base of the rhythm: on the beat.
- That’s because the more ‘right’ the rhythmic placement of a note is (base – beat) the more a ‘right’ note is expected (!) there (base – chord tones)
- The more ‘wrong’ the rhythmic placement of a note is (spice – offbeat) the more a ‘wrong’ note is expected (!) there (spice – ‘wrong’ notes).
Lazy or hasty
You could place notes just a little late – after the beat. That makes it sound lazy. Which can create a relaxed mood. For a while. Then it becomes tiring. Every friction – every tension – costs energy.
You could place notes just a little early – in front of the beat. That makes it sound hasty. Which can create an energetic mood. For a while. Then it becomes tiring. Every friction – every tension – costs energy.
THE REALLY GOOD NEWS!
If you have any talent for music, you’ll naturally sing at least mostly right notes!
In the right ratios as well!
So mostly base and some topping.
And mostlky on the beat as well.
In fact, it is scientifically proven people have that talent.
We ‘automatically’ hit the 5 notes that cause the least tension: predominantly from the (or a) pentatonic scale. And we tend to ‘automatically sync’ with existing rhythms.
So, for singers, the biggest challenge is spice. It’s not natural for us to sing wrong notes. We naturally avoid them.
The best advice I can give you is to go look for wrong notes. This is demonstrated in the final chapters.
CONNECTORS
I wouldn’t just start a melodic phrase on a ‘spicy note’ unless you already know it will sound well and fits the style. Spice is more suited – extremely suited even – as a way to connect base with topping and vice versa. Again, this is demonstrated in the final chapters.
Sustain
How long you sustain the tension of the harmonic conflict spice causes is a matter of taste and style. In blues, jazz and modern classical music, for example, tension can be sustained longer without feeling ‘wrong’. Now you know and feel what base, topping and spice do, you can consciously cook to your own taste!
So let’s see if we can ‘cook’ us some tasty melodies.
But not before we’ve listened to some spice examples. Just to make clear what spice does. It creates a distinct, clearly noticeable, feelable, painful, harmonic conflict! A conflict that really demands a solution. The release of tension. As long as that happens logically – more on that later – spice can even be used a lot. Like in jazz.
