What is pitch?
In music, we use the word pitch to describe how high or low a sound is.
Listen carefully to this low pitch followed by a high pitch. Can you try and sing them?
What instruments can play a melody?
If an instrument can play different pitches, then it can play a melody.
A violin, flute and trumpet can play a melody but a shaker, drum or woodblock can't.
The flute and violin are perfect for playing high pitch sounds.
Instruments like the double bass or the tuba are best for playing low pitch sounds.
The piano and guitar can play both low and high pitch sounds.
What is a melody?
A melody is made up of a mixture of high and low pitch sounds played one after the other.
It's easier to remember that melody is the tune. It's the part of the music that you often find yourself singing along with.
Listen to this simple piano melody. Can you sing, hum or whistle it after?
Watch: Melody and pitch
Bob Marley explains melody and pitch to the band, with one of his most famous melodies.
Boy 1: Sorry I'm late, I had this weird dream about cannons and loud bangs!
Girl 1: Awesome!
Boy 1: It was scary! BUT I think I came up with the lyrics for our song. We're gonna go out with a bang bang, boom boom… Well?
Girl 2: It's… different.
Girl 1: You know, those lyrics could work. We just need something to make them catchy.
Girl 3: Why don't we just sing them and see what happens?
Girl 1: Ok, everybody!
The Band: BANG BANG BOOM BOOM! BANG BANG BOOM BOOM! BANG BANG BOOM BOOM!
Bob Marley: Yo man, take it easy!
Boy 2: Bob Marley! Cool!
Bob Marley: NOT cool, man. Your lyrics need…hmm, let me think what it need…?
A sweet, sweet tune. A MELODY!
They're the same thing you know, man.
Let me show you what I'm talking about…
Boy 2: Whoah! Let's get this melody started!
Bob Marley: Hold your horses, man!
First we got to learn about a little thing called pitch.
That's a nice low pitch, man.
And that's a high pitch.
You can put different pitches together to make a melody.
Why don't you try stir it up?
Girl 1: We’re gonna go out with a bang bang boom boom, yes we are, we really are, we're totally going out with a bang bang boom…
Bob Marley: Mmm, it's good, but it's a little bit long, man.
Boy 1: It's a bang bang, boom boom. Boom boom, boom boom.
Girl 2: Bang bang, boom boooom.
Bob Marley: Okay, okay, don't worry.
Here's a few tips from old Bob to make your melody sweet.
Melodies have a nice shape and don't stay on the same note.
Like this…
Don't worry, about a thing. Cos every little thing, is gonna be alright.
Ya see, the melody is nice and short, easy to sing.
The pitches don't jump around like a frog, man.
Boy 2: Oh, the pitches are close together!
Bob Marley: Now try it on your lyrics!
Boy 2: We're gonna go out with a…
Boy 1 …bang bang…
Girl 1: …boom boom?
Boy 2: That's…actually good!
Bob Marley: Now we're jamming!
The Band: We're gonna go out with a bang bang, boom boom!
Bob Marley: Don't worry, every little thing's gonna be alright.
Describing different melodies
When the tune goes from low to high pitch, the melodyrises.
The melodyfalls when the tune goes from high to low pitch.
Catchy and memorable melodies often use pitches that are quite close together.
Using different pitches in a melody can help the listener feel a certain way.
How do these two very different melodies make you feel?
Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird - suite (1911) (Finale) from Ten Pieces. Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Modest Mussorgsky - A Night on the Bare Mountain from Ten Pieces. Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
You can watch and listen to Stravinsky and Mussorgsky on BBC Ten Pieces.
Activities
Guess the tune
Find a friend or family member and play guess the tune.
One person has to hum a well known tune, while the other person has to try and guess what it is!
Quiz
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