Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Being able to write a good melody is a really useful musical skill, but people often go about it the wrong way. In this tutorial I look at the basics of composing great tunes, and explore three easy techniques you can use to create tunes either at the piano or away from it.
The tutorial covers how to write a melody before you have a chord progression, and also how to take an existing set of chords and create a tune that will fit them. You don't need to know a ton of music theory to write a great melody — you don't even need to be sat at a piano or any other musical instrument. However, it's really useful to understand some of the principles of melodic construction, which I cover here.
BILL'S BOOKS AND PIANO PACKS:
My 3 Ebook Bundle: billspianopages.com/bundle
Check out my Piano Packs here: billspianopages.com/pianopacks
My new book, How To Be A Better Musician: bettermusicianbook.com
Bill’s Patreon: patreon.com/billhilton
LINKS TO TUTORIALS MENTIONED IN THIS ONE
Suspensions and anticipations: youtu.be/I7kSOoP3f2Y
How To Write a Classic Jazz Song: youtu.be/uUDqyPI1Hn4
How to Work Out The Chords to a Song: youtu.be/ilcfgQ3lZus
BILL’S SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: fb.me/billhiltonpiano
Twitter: twitter.com/billhilton
Instagram: instagram.com/billhilton
PHOTO CREDIT
Сергей Лабутин/Adobe Stock
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Melodic theory basics
02:24 Melodic structure
05:06 Phrases, and why they’re important
09:11 Building melodies 1: vocal improvisation from a chord progression
14:07 Building melodies 2: analytical approach from a chord progression
17:54 Building melodies 3: melody before chord progression
Being able to write a good melody is a really useful musical skill, but people often go about it the wrong way. In this tutorial I look at the basics of composing great tunes, and explore three easy techniques you can use to create tunes either at the piano or away from it.
The tutorial covers how to write a melody before you have a chord progression, and also how to take an existing set of chords and create a tune that will fit them. You don't need to know a ton of music theory to write a great melody — you don't even need to be sat at a piano or any other musical instrument. However, it's really useful to understand some of the principles of melodic construction, which I cover here.
BILL'S BOOKS AND PIANO PACKS:
My 3 Ebook Bundle: billspianopages.com/bundle
Check out my Piano Packs here: billspianopages.com/pianopacks
My new book, How To Be A Better Musician: bettermusicianbook.com
Bill’s Patreon: patreon.com/billhilton
LINKS TO TUTORIALS MENTIONED IN THIS ONE
Suspensions and anticipations: youtu.be/I7kSOoP3f2Y
How To Write a Classic Jazz Song: youtu.be/uUDqyPI1Hn4
How to Work Out The Chords to a Song: youtu.be/ilcfgQ3lZus
BILL’S SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: fb.me/billhiltonpiano
Twitter: twitter.com/billhilton
Instagram: instagram.com/billhilton
PHOTO CREDIT
Сергей Лабутин/Adobe Stock
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Melodic theory basics
02:24 Melodic structure
05:06 Phrases, and why they’re important
09:11 Building melodies 1: vocal improvisation from a chord progression
14:07 Building melodies 2: analytical approach from a chord progression
17:54 Building melodies 3: melody before chord progression
