Creating melody

Hi I have a question about creating a melody.

If i start creating a melody in let's say key of C, over 4 bars.

Do I need to worry about the notes at the end of each bar, like you would if say you were writting to a chord progression ( as these notes would need to harmonize with the chords in that progression)

Many Thanks

Seems that the best for you is to guide yourself by your own ear, so don't worry about anything, unless you think "sounds" bad then try to improve but, no need to establish theorical limitations so soon

Best thing to do, in my opinion, is to come up with a melody that is not subservient to harmony. That is, melodies come in all kinds of interesting and original forms. Harmonic progressions in their basic outline are often what are simplistic, so you usually don't want to limit something such as a melody with something simplistic, unless you're trying to work in this really special ingenious chord in just the right spot of a harmony, which can and usually should be done dependent of both harmony and melody, that is thinking in both terms. I've written harmonies and then melodies on top of them before, but it seems to confine the melody to where it lacks flair, originality, taste, all qualities etc. Since I believe melody is the most important thing in a piece, and most difficult to create a good one, then its always best to start writing a piece with one in mind. And then one more advice on this part is to try not to change the melody once you begin to write a harmony underneath it, say if you find a better harmony. You're 9 times out of 10 going to hear the melody better, and you want to use harmony to embellish it. If you find an alternative melody which sounds rather exciting, for instance 'first I will use the main melody, but on the second round, shock the listener with this change' then I believe this could, but doesn't have to be, more dependent on a harmonic change. An example where the melody changes but the harmony doesn't is Adam's 'Oh Holy Night.'

Hi thanks all.

Rkmajora just to clarify when you say Harmonic progressions we are talking about chord progression basically.

I think it depends on the melody, but just make sure that in general it sounds good. If it sounds good, 9 times out of 10 it's following the rules, if that's what you're interested in..... if you are NOT, then just do whatever you feel like!

Heckel

Hi thanks all.

Rkmajora just to clarify when you say Harmonic progressions we are talking about chord progression basically.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

Personally I prefer long phrases in melodies, not like those that come back to the tonic every second, is like they can not go too far from the back yard because they get lost, a few steps to the right and I come back, now a few ones to the left and I come back, now to the front and I come back again to the very same point... Come on, you can go further, walk for hours, or you think you will forget where your house is ? :P

Something like:

C, G, Am7, FM7,, Dm7, G7, Em7, A7,, Dm7, E7, FM7, G7,, Am9, FM7, Dm9, E7, only then C and the rest again.

.... Just a thought :D

The best thing to do is start with harmonic progression or the framework you want use for the composition. This does not have include harmony but it can. Schoenberg has written an excellent text on composition; I would recommend that you read that. Also, you will need a counterpoint, harmony, and orchestration texts. And read them in this order: Harmony, counterpoint, composition, and then orchestration. This may seem overwhelming but it will help you! Also, and always, listen to variety of composers.

Thanks all