Who's Online Now
8 members (VNORTH2, couchgrouch, Fdemetrio, Gary E. Andrews, Perry Neal Crawford, Sunset Poet, Guy E. Trepanier, bennash), 4,084 guests, and 265 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Register Today!
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.

By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
ShoutChat
Comment Guidelines: Do post respectful and insightful comments. Don't flame, hate, spam.
What's Going On
Does Billy Joel belong in top 10?
by Fdemetrio - 03/28/24 11:10 PM
It Is Done
by Sunset Poet - 03/28/24 07:44 PM
Music Industry Summit, Athens Ohio
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/28/24 06:14 PM
Can you save me from me
by VNORTH2 - 03/28/24 03:11 PM
As human as yo
by ckiphen - 03/28/24 09:55 AM
Fox News Reports Stunning Archeological Discovery.
by couchgrouch - 03/27/24 08:02 PM
Wasting My Time
by David Gill - 03/27/24 07:42 AM
Song available
by JAPOV - 03/26/24 03:38 PM
YELLIN AT CLOUDS
by David Gill - 03/26/24 03:20 PM
"Reliving" the great Lou Rawls!
by Brian Austin Whitney - 03/26/24 01:49 PM
::: The Best In My Life :::
by Bill Draper - 03/26/24 01:32 PM
The show must go on
by ckiphen - 03/26/24 09:06 AM
NYC Motel 1972
by rpirone - 03/26/24 12:43 AM
usic Industry Summitt
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/25/24 11:32 PM
The Rant Arena
by JAPOV - 03/25/24 07:39 PM
Song available
by Raymond Byabazaire - 03/25/24 11:55 AM
Song available
by Raymond Byabazaire - 03/25/24 11:55 AM
Lancaster Festival, Lancaster, Ohio
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/25/24 10:51 AM
Wasting my time
by Rob B. - 03/25/24 03:45 AM
Tom Waits.. What's he building
by Fdemetrio - 03/25/24 12:09 AM
Rick Beato, bad lyrics
by Fdemetrio - 03/24/24 11:23 PM
Inspirational Videos Post Them Here
by Sunset Poet - 03/24/24 11:27 AM
Used to take a Genius to Mix
by Fdemetrio - 03/23/24 11:00 AM
"Broken Places"
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/22/24 07:45 PM
All You Are Is A Lie
by Sunset Poet - 03/22/24 06:55 PM
Pour Choices
by Gavin Sinclair - 03/22/24 05:29 PM
Billy's 30 year overdue song.
by Fdemetrio - 03/22/24 01:30 PM
Make my dreams come true
by ckiphen - 03/22/24 10:51 AM
Top Posters
Calvin 19,857
Travis david 12,264
Kevin Emmrich 10,941
Jean Bullock 10,330
Kaley Willow 10,240
Two Singers 9,649
Joice Marie 9,186
Mackie H. 9,003
glynda 8,683
Mike Dunbar 8,574
Tricia Baker 8,318
couchgrouch 8,160
Colin Ward 7,911
Corey 7,357
Vicarn 6,916
Mark Kaufman 6,589
ben willis 6,114
Lynn Orloff 5,788
Louis 5,725
Linda Sings 5,608
KimberlyinNC 5,210
Fdemetrio 4,990
Neil Cotton 4,909
Derek Hines 4,893
DonnaMarilyn 4,670
Blake Hill 4,528
Bob Cushing 4,389
Roy Cooper 4,271
Bill Osofsky 4,199
Tom Shea 4,195
Cindy Miller 4,178
TamsNumber4 4,171
MFB III 4,143
Sunset Poet 4,126
nightengale 4,096
E Swartz 3,985
JAPOV 3,973
beechnut79 3,878
Caroline 3,865
Kolstad 3,845
Dan Sullivan 3,710
Dottie 3,427
joewatt 3,411
Bill Cooper 3,279
John Hoffman 3,199
Skip Johnson 3,027
Pam Hurley 3,007
Terry G 3,005
Nigel Quin 2,891
PopTodd 2,890
Harriet Ames 2,870
MidniteBob 2,761
Nelson 2,616
Tom Tracy 2,558
Jerry Jakala 2,524
Al Alvarez 2,499
Eric Thome 2,448
Hummingbird 2,401
Stan Loh 2,263
Sam Wilson 2,246
Wendy D 2,235
Judy Hollier 2,232
Erica Ellis 2,202
maccharles 2,134
TrumanCoyote 2,096
Marty Helly 2,041
DukeWill 2,002
floyd jane 1,985
Clint Anglin 1,904
cindyrella 1,888
David Wright 1,866
Clairejeanne 1,851
Cindy LaRosa 1,824
Ronald Boyt 1,675
Iggy 1,652
Noel Downs 1,633
Rick Heenan 1,608
Cal 1,574
GocartMoz 1,559
Jack Swain 1,554
Pete Larsen 1,537
Ann Tygart 1,529
Tom Breshers 1,487
RogerS 1,481
Tom Franz 1,473
Chuck Crowe 1,441
Ralph Blight 1,440
Rick Norton 1,429
Kenneth Cade 1,429
bholt 1,411
Letha Allen 1,409
in2piano 1,404
Stan Simons 1,402
Deej56 1,385
mattbanx 1,384
Jen Shaner 1,373
Charlie Wong 1,347
KevinP 1,324
Vondelle 1,316
Tom W. 1,313
Jan Petter 1,301
scottandrew 1,294
lane1777 1,280
Gerry 1,280
DakLander 1,265
IronKnee 1,262
PeteG 1,242
Ian Ferrin 1,235
Glen King 1,214
VNORTH2 1,212
IdeaGuy 1,209
AaronAuthier 1,177
summeoyo 1,174
Diane Ewing 1,162
ckiphen 1,120
joro 1,082
BobbyJoe 1,075
S.DEE 1,040
yann 1,037
9ne 1,035
David Gill 1,032
Tony A 1,016
argo 986
peaden 984
90 dB 964
Wolvman 960
Jak Kelly 912
krtinberg 890
Drifter 886
Petra 883
RJC 845
Brenda152 840
Nadia 829
ant 798
Juan 797
TKO 784
Dayson 781
frahmes 781
bennash 763
teletwang 762
Andy K 750
Andy Kemp 749
tbryson 737
Jackie444 731
Irwin 720
3daveyO3 704
Dixie 701
Joy Boy 695
Pat Hardy 692
Knute 686
Lee Arten 678
Moosesong 668
Katziis 652
R.T.MOORE 638
quality 637
CG King 622
douglas 621
R&M 614
Mel 614
NaomiSue 601
Shandy 590
Ria 587
TAMERA64 583
qbaum 570
nitepiano 566
pRISCILLA 556
Tink2 553
musica 539
deanbell 528
RobertK 527
BonzaiWag 523
Roderic 522
BB Wilbur 513
goodfolks 499
Zeek 487
Stu 486
Steve P. 481
KathyW 462
allenb 459
MaxG 458
Philjo 454
fanito 448
trush48 448
dmk 442
Rob L 439
arealrush 437
DGR 436
avweek 435
Stephen D 433
Emmy 431
marquez 422
kit 419
Softkrome 417
kyrksongs 415
RRon 408
Laura G. 407
VNORTH 407
Debra 407
eb 406
cuebald 399
EdPerrone 399
Dannyk1 395
Hobart 395
Davyboy49 393
Smile 389
GJShades 387
Alek 386
Ezt 384
tone 380
Marla 380
Ann_F 379
iggyiggy 378
coalminer 377
java 374
ddreuter 371
spidey 371
sweetsong 370
danny 367
Rob B. 364
Jim Ryan 360
papaG 353
Z - man 350
JamesDF5 348
John K 348
Jaden 344
TheBaz 340
Steggy 339
leif 339
tonedeaf 336
rickwork 334
Eddie Ray 332
Johnboy 328
Bob Lever 328
Helicon1 327
lucian 326
Muskie 321
kc 319
Z. Mulls 318
ptondreau 313
ONOFFON 312
Chris B. 310
trush 304
ed323 297
Ellen M 294
markus-ky 293
lizzorn 291
nicnac49 290
Char 286
ktunes 285
Top Likes Received
JAPOV 86
VNORTH2 45
bennash 38
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
OP Offline
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
What's your favorite melody? You, know, the one you always whistle, or the one you first play when you sit down at the piano or pick up the guitar, or strap on the Sembgambian nose flute.

If you want to post a link to a song, and specify a phrase, I'll analyze it. Now I'm not going to write the Bohemian Rhapsody out in numbers, but I'll do a four or six bar phrase smile Then give my thoughts as to what makes that melody memorable.


You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,384
Serious Contributor
Offline
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,384
I'm primiarily post punk and post eighties rock, at least with the handfull of recordings I am not trying anything else on.
But some of the melodies that stick in my mind are the ones I have the most in the back of my mind.
Many with harmony vocals.

Right now, Ambrosia's "Holding On To Yesterday", springs to mind.
A long melody with the fitting song stucture, which is not seemingly easy to pull off.

Another song that came from a Roxy Music album (Avalon) titled "While My Heart Is Still Beating".
I thought of an outline for a recording I did the first few months I was on the net with that, without copping it of course.
It was about having to wonder if I would live through the night in an urban dwelling with a freak on the loose when I was with a one night stand, and finding out she was more than that.
The song that insipred it was about life dwindinling in a famine.

But melodies and events seem to play off each other too.

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
Top 25 Poster
Offline
Top 25 Poster
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
1. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

Octaves for the first two notes! (What a great start!)

From there, because the playing field has been opened right up, it allows for musical ups and downs. AND, on the 8th note used, it even dips below the 1st note, from which there are other beautiful uses of up and down musical, flowing melodies all their own!

As magical as the film.

2. "Yesterday" Brilliant example of a brief, concise, and greatly effective melody. Great setups for the quick resolve.
No wonder this was Lennon's favorite Paul song. "Imagine" that?!
This is as close to the effectiveness as Happy Birthday as it gets, and without being corny! Try to write one in the time frame of Yesterday, and have it be as musical and structure sound? THEY all are still trying, and nothing as of yet, since it came out in the early mid 60's. That alone says what we all know, that less IS more. How much less can you get with the notes of Yesterday, YET get so much out of it? I don't get it!

I tried with 2LT and with "We Just Gotta Be Friends". Not even close! I would have chop them up a lot just to have something similar, and would be obvious that something is missing. But, with Yesterday, it sounds like there is nothing missing and a LOT in there! (I don't get it!).....If I could tell Paul one thing, it wouldn't be about the Beatle stuff or anything. It would be, "You were so thrifty with your total notes for Yesterday, that it's a good thing you didn't remember ALL the notes that where probably there in your dream when you drempt it"!

Sometimes, it's good to forget parts of dreams.


3. "Stars and Strips Forever". Just hum it and you'll hear why?



Actually a Member Since 1996 or 97 (Number One Hundred Something).
https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=1409522





Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,814
Top 100 Poster
Offline
Top 100 Poster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,814
Fairy tales, can come true, it can happen to you, if you're young at heart...


Herbie
JPF Chicago Chapter Coordinator
http://www.herbietunes.com

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
Top 500 Poster
Offline
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
Well, I don't know if I have a favorite, but some songs really play on the guitar well ( melody with chords ) and I always warm up on Stars Fell On Alabama, in G. After that I'll play a bossa nova entitled Manha De Carnaval which is a beautiful melody that one cannot forget, once you hear it. Another favorite of mine is Besame Mucho, and then the lovely Here's that Rainy Day. There are so many, though.

Ok, if you want to analyze something, try this: http://www.musicxray.com/xrays/420368

It's a jazz piece, so have fun !

Last edited by pathardy; 01/24/12 10:56 AM.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,412
R
Top 30 Poster
Offline
Top 30 Poster
R
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,412
Aw Humm,
When I pick up the Guitar I start picking RED RIVER VALLEY. Old Public Domain song as far as I know. A song that is pretty familar is DETOUR also UNDER THE DOUBLE EAGLE. Even BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN. I need to think in a different era!


Ray E. Strode
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,845
K
Top 100 Poster
Offline
Top 100 Poster
K
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,845
It's a funny one, it's and old thing called the "Scandinavian shuffle" by the Swe-Danes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csRUYiZvB70 (first song in the video). It's suited for all kinds of improvisations and variations whistle

It's not neccesarily a favourite, but for some odd reason it has conquered a spot in my memory, and I find myself using parts of this all the time when humming around at home..

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,589
Likes: 1
Top 40 Poster
Offline
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,589
Likes: 1
All my favorite melodies seem to be 1960's McCartney...he was unstoppable on melody back then--"Yesterday", "Eleanor Rigby", "For No One", "Here, There and Everywhere", "Hey Jude", "The Long and Winding Road", "Penny Lane", "Mother Nature's Son"...they all sound wonderful with or without backing music. Just plunk the notes on a piano and they still sound compelling.

I'm also a huge fan of Ray Davies' "Waterloo Sunset"...what a gorgeous melody.

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,788
Top 40 Poster
Offline
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,788
The melody the robins sing
At just the very hint of spring
For there’s no other timeless tune so sweet
The winter has it’s final thaw
The wait for spring so worth it all
No other melody can quite compete!
love


My Music at Soundclick
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=788266

~call it a blessing or call it a curse, but I see all of life in verse~

Always open to collaborations smile

God Bless Our Military!!!
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 576
Top 500 Poster
Offline
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 576
The melody to I Want To Know Your Plans by Say Anything is just...gah. I love it. I don't know if I have a favourite, but that one is a good guess.


Now writing as Orion Redgrave.

Check me out on tumblr @orionredgrave
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
Top 40 Poster
Offline
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
Well, I don't play this phrase on the guitar, but it's up there as far as memorable melodies that stay with me. The piano intro in the second half of "Layla".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw9fsAP9GkQ

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,082
Likes: 1
Top 10 Poster
Offline
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,082
Likes: 1
I like a lot of the Beatles melodies mentioned. And yes, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Couple of others: Moon River and Never My Love. And God Only Knows by the Beach Boys.

Scott

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,712
Top 30 Poster
Offline
Top 30 Poster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,712
My favorite melody is from an Italian song called "Al Di La." It was featured in the 1962 film, Rome Adventure.

Al Di La
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uv1xL2wdHI

Most romantic song ever!

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,003
Likes: 1
Top 20 Poster
Offline
Top 20 Poster
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,003
Likes: 1
"WHAT'D I SAY" RAY CHARLES

"POLK SALAD ANNIE" TONY JOE WHITE

"RAINING IN MY HEART" SLIM HARPO

"THE IN-CROWD" RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO

"LOVE IS BLUE" PAUL MAURIAT

"MATCHBOX BOOGIE" CARL PERKINS

"HARD DAY'S NIGHT" BEATLES……..

WELL………..THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY……………

Mackie

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,890
Top 100 Poster
Offline
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,890
I would love to hear you analyze the viola part from this wonderful Brian Eno/John Cale song:
"Lay My Love"

And, if that is too easy, this Slapp Happy song intrigues me, too. I do love it so:
"The Drum"


Link Copied to Clipboard
Support Just Plain Folks

We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.


Newest Members
chriscastle, yasir252, cathennashira, Samwise, HappySousa
21,470 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums117
Topics125,717
Posts1,160,950
Members21,470
Most Online37,523
Jan 25th, 2020
Just Plain Quotes
"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
Today's Birthdays
warriorgirl (2024)
Popular Topics(Views)
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5