Make up a melody for your song
Compose a short melody for your song using a keyboard, recorder, or voice, test different rhythms and scales, and record your favorite version.
Step-by-step guide to make up a melody for your song
Music Lesson: What is a Melody? - Sing! Step! Grow!
Step 1
Decide the mood of your song like happy sad or calm.
Step 2
Pick a scale to try such as major for happy minor for sad or pentatonic for simple.
Step 3
Set a steady beat with a metronome or by tapping your hand at a comfortable speed.
Step 4
Choose a starting note on your keyboard or decide the pitch you will sing first.
Step 5
Play or sing a short 4-bar melody using notes from your chosen scale.
Step 6
Make a quick recording of the first melody.
Step 7
Change the rhythm or one note and play or sing a second version of the melody.
Step 8
Record the second version.
Step 9
Try a different scale or a slightly faster or slower tempo and play or sing a third version.
Step 10
Record the third version.
Step 11
Listen to each recording and mark which one you like best on your paper.
Step 12
Practice the favorite version until it sounds smooth and confident.
Step 13
Make a final clear recording of your favorite melody.
Step 14
Give your song a fun title and write it on your paper.
Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a metronome, keyboard, or recorder?
Use a smartphone metronome app or tap your hand for the steady beat, a free piano app or toy keyboard for choosing a starting note and playing the 4-bar melody, and the phone's voice memo app to make the recordings.
Why does my 4-bar melody sound uneven or my recordings are too quiet, and how can I fix it?
If your melody sounds uneven, slow the tempo when you set a steady beat and practice the favorite version until it sounds smooth, and if recordings are too quiet move the recorder closer or record in a quieter room before making the final clear recording.
How can we adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger kids use the pentatonic scale and sing or clap a 2-bar melody, elementary kids can follow all steps with a keyboard app to make three recorded versions, and older kids or teens can experiment with major/minor choices, tempo changes, and multitrack recording when making the final clear recording.
How can we enhance or personalize the song after finishing the basic steps?
Add simple lyrics to your favorite recorded melody, layer a harmony or percussion track when you make the final clear recording, and design cover art to go with the fun title before you share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make up a melody for your song
4 Easy Songs For Beginners (Piano Tutorial)
4 Videos
4 Easy Songs For Beginners (Piano Tutorial)
Inside Out - Theme Song | Beginner Piano Tutorial | Easy Piano
The EASIEST Melody Tutorial (the ultimate melody guide)
These 4 Beginner Songs Will Impress EVERYONE
Facts about music composition for kids
🎵 A major scale (do-re-mi) uses seven notes before repeating the octave and often sounds bright and happy.
🎙️ Lots of famous song ideas started as quick voice memos — you can capture a melody on your phone in seconds!
🎹 Many keyboards have 88 keys like a piano, but small 25–49 key keyboards are great for composing simple melodies.
🎶 Melodies are built from short musical ideas called motifs — they’re tiny tune-crumbs that stick in your head!
🥁 Most pop songs use a 4/4 time signature — that’s four steady beats per bar you can clap along to.
How do I help my child compose a short melody using a keyboard, recorder, or voice?
What materials do I need to compose and record a short melody with my child?
What ages is composing a short melody suitable for?
What are the benefits of composing melodies with children?
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