A melody is made up of a sequence of notes, which forms what is called the melodic line. This line has a contour, made up of ascending, descending, or static notes.
Goals
In these exercises, you will learn to differentiate whether a melodic line is ascending (from low to high) or descending (from high to low).
Tips for success
Here are two images to help you visualize these movements:
- A vertical ladder: low notes at the bottom, and high notes at the top : is the melody going up or down?
- The weight of an object: low notes seem heavier, high notes seem lighter : is the melody getting lighter or heavier?
Musical examples
Rhapsody in Blue -
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
Classical music
George Gershwin
In this example, the virtuosic solo clarinet rapidly rises from the low to high register.
Isn't she lovely -
Stevie Wonder
R&B/Soul
Stevie Wonder
The motif played by the bass and Rhodes is built on an ascending pentatonic (five-note) scale.
Isn't she lovely -
Stevie Wonder
R&B/Soul
Stevie Wonder
The same example but slowed down, to hear each note clearly.
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, RV 315 "L'estate": III. Presto -
Janine Jansen
Classical music
Antonio Vivaldi
In this example, the violins play several descending melodic lines successively. This creates a cascading effect, like flowing water.
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, RV 315 "L'estate": III. Presto -
Janine Jansen
Classical music
Antonio Vivaldi
The same example but slowed down, so you can hear each note played by the violin.
