Create a Melody and Master Your Vocal Track – Vocal Recording and Producing Studio Secrets
Are you a music producer that is curious as to what makes a good melody? Are you a singer/songwriter that wants to learn a few tips and tricks that will optimize your creativity and master the best vocals?
The melody of the song is usually carried by your voice, a unique and powerful instrument that is capable of communicating with your audience at a very deep level of understanding and depth.
Creating a melody that is catchy and emotionally engaging is tough, and there are many factors to consider in its construction.
Finding the perfect backing track may land you on a lo-fi stream, but you are curious as to how to emotionally connect with your audience through an extension of yourself, your voice. You may want to learn how to master making the perfect melodic line.
If you are looking for a few answers to your secret recording studio questions then we are happy to tell you that you have come to the right place.
Construct a Memorable Melody That Captivates Your Audience
Building a dynamic melody can be the cornerstone to your next pop hit.
There are many ways in which an artist can use their voice to keep their fan’s heads turning, and providing the vocalist with an engaging melody to riff off of can be the root to sonic gold.
Consider the Key and Create a Unique Scale
Many people are familiar with the common major and minor scales that are used to construct most melodies, but there are many different scales that you can use to define your melody’s tone.
Major is usually referred to as happy, and minor scales are usually known to be somber. There are many other scales that have very nuanced feelings, such as the wearisome blues scale, the dream-like whole-tone scale, or the reflective Dorian scale.
Check out a few new unique scales to try on your melody and the feelings associated with them here.
Range
If you are singing the vocal track yourself, you will be well acquainted with the limitations of your own voice. Consider, though, the optimal range of the singer when choosing a scale and key for a song.
You will also want to consider where this range will sit with the vocalist. If most of the song uses their chest voice, it will be easy to record and drive forward.
Softer songs that may use a singer’s head voice or falsetto may need delicate care and attention when recording. Make sure the climax of the song is in the optimal range for the singer’s voice.
Dynamics
An often-unsung hero is dynamics, or how loud or soft you are singing at any given moment. Play with loud chest-vocals for your chorus and draw in eager ears when you are singing softly and sincerely.
It is usually a good idea to start small, gradually get louder until you hit a climactic musical moment, and then fade out dynamically.
Contour
The contour of your melody can be visually understood by tracing the notes of your melody and looking at the peak pitches of your song.
You may not want to start with too much raw vocal power right at the front end of your track, so make sure the pitches of your melody do not reach a climax for your song too soon.
Think of your melody like a mountain, except one that is slightly cocked to the right.
The peak of your vocal climax should come around the two-thirds mark of your total track time to make sure that you are saving the best vocal riffs and runs for the final stretch.
Structure
Now think of your whole song like a mountain range, a series of dynamic peaks that meet at a climactic point.
Many verse structures have an A section and a B section. Some verses rhyme in an AABA pattern or a ABACA pattern, and you can think of each of these letter lines as a small mountain top.
Contour your vocal lines dynamics and range effectively and reach a well-calculated climax that will cause a cathartic feeling for your audience.
Record Your Vocals and Master Your Mix
Now that you have constructed an effective and beautiful melody, it is time to step in the studio and claim your rights to an amazing sonic masterpiece.
Do not be afraid to delete takes that do not live up to your expectations, because fame does not come from skimming by and doing the least while expecting the most. Once you delete a take, however, it will be gone forever, and you may not be able to recreate that sound again.
Do your homework, and prepare yourself to master your track in as few takes as possible. A good cook will prepare their food well to live up to expectations, and you should do the same.
Practice makes perfect, so find the perfect melody to your song and stick to it.
Master your mix and add a few vocal effects that add to your tone and style. Reverb, compression, and EQ effects are all commonly used and contribute to the way your melody comes off.
Give your vocal melody a professional finish by mixing it masterfully and stand out to your audience.
Master Melody Making
There is no better way to learn how to make a melody than getting out there and trying it for yourself. Jot down your daily thoughts and hum the random tunes that pop into your head on a voice recording app.
There are no real master guide to making the perfect melody, so trust your gut. Experiment with a new scale. Follow your musical intuition, and do not settle for a track that you are not completely satisfied with.
Finding a catchy tune that can put your songs on the map may seem like a dream to you. Step closer to your dreams today and follow the advice in this guide to make a melody that you cannot stop buzzing around in your ears.
