stayc main image

Find the Right Manager for Your Music Career—Even If You're Just Starting Out

September 3, 2024

The idea of hiring a traditional manager might seem premature, but finding someone who can handle your online presence and help you network could be exactly what you need to take your career...

Read more
stayc main image

How to Be a Successful Songwriter When You Can’t Play an Instrument

August 26, 2024

If you’re a songwriter who can sing but can’t play an instrument, you may feel like you’ve hit a roadblock in your creative journey. You have the ideas in your head, but you’re unsure how to turn...

Read more
stayc main image

What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

Read more
stayc main image

Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

Read more
stayc main image

Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

Read more
stayc main image

Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

Read more
stayc main image

Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

Read more
stayc main image

Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

Read more
stayc main image

Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

Read more
stayc main image

Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

Read more
stayc main image

Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

Read more
stayc main image

Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

Read more

Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

stayc main image

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive or too tightly aligned with the instrumental melody. While this side of the creative process can feel unfamiliar, there are some strategies that can help you approach vocal writing with more confidence and purpose.

Let’s explore these techniques with examples of artists and songs that execute each point exceptionally well.

1. Understand the Relationship Between Vocals and Melody

One of the most important things to keep in mind when writing vocal melodies is that they don’t always need to align perfectly with the instrumental melody. Some of the most interesting vocal lines contrast with or weave through the instrumentation in unexpected ways.

  • Counterpoint and Contrast: Consider how Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" creates contrast between Thom Yorke's haunting, high-pitched vocal melody and the complex, ever-shifting instrumental arrangement. The vocal line doesn’t always follow the instrumentation, creating tension and intrigue.
  • Think Horizontally, Not Just Vertically: In Adele's "Someone Like You," the vocal melody soars over a simple piano accompaniment. The focus is on how the melody evolves emotionally throughout the song, rather than staying tied to the piano's harmonic changes. This allows the vocals to tell their own story.

2. Experiment with Phrasing and Rhythmic Variation

One of the key challenges you mentioned is finding the right phrasing—when to make changes and how to create vocal dynamics. Phrasing is all about where you place your vocal lines within the music and how you use rhythm to make the melody more interesting.

  • Syncopation: Listen to Billie Eilish's "bad guy" for a masterclass in rhythmic variation and syncopation. Billie’s vocal phrasing deliberately plays with offbeat rhythms, which contrasts with the song’s straightforward, bass-driven groove.
  • Phrase Length: In Beyoncé's "Formation," her vocal phrasing constantly shifts, with some lines delivered in quick, sharp bursts, while others are elongated and drawn out. This variation adds drama and unpredictability to the track.
  • Space and Breath: The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" makes excellent use of space between vocal phrases. The pauses in his vocal delivery give the retro, synth-driven beat time to breathe and build tension before the next vocal phrase enters.

3. Use Dynamics to Shape the Vocal Melody

Dynamics play a huge role in making your vocal melody feel alive and emotionally compelling. Think of dynamics as the volume, intensity, and emotional arc of your vocal performance.

  • Build and Release: Coldplay's "Fix You" is a great example of dynamic build and release. Chris Martin starts softly, and as the song progresses, his vocals increase in intensity, reaching an emotional crescendo during the final chorus. This dynamic shift mirrors the song’s emotional trajectory.
  • Vocal Texture: In Sia's "Chandelier," the contrast between her breathy, restrained verses and her powerful, belted chorus creates a dynamic and emotional vocal performance. This use of vocal texture keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.

4. Break Away from the Instrumental Melody

To avoid having your vocal melody sound like a copy of the instrumental line, create contrast between the two. Here are some ways to break away from the instrumental melody:

  • Use Different Intervals: Florence + The Machine's "Shake It Out" is a great example of using wide intervals in the vocal melody. Florence Welch’s vocal lines often leap across octaves, creating a sense of grandeur and drama that contrasts with the more repetitive chord structure beneath it.
  • Vocal Harmonies: In Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," the use of vocal harmonies adds depth and variation to the main melody. The harmonies help emphasize key phrases and create a richer overall sound without simply doubling the instrumental parts.
  • Melodic Movement: David Bowie's "Space Oddity" is a prime example of vocal and instrumental melodies moving in different directions. Bowie’s vocals often ascend or descend independently of the guitar and keyboard lines, which helps to create a sense of weightlessness and narrative progression in the song.

5. Use Lyrics to Shape Melody

Sometimes, the lyrics themselves can help guide the melody. The natural rhythm and cadence of the words can inspire where the melody should rise and fall. Pay attention to the emotional content of the lyrics as well—use the melody to reflect and amplify the feelings expressed in the words.

  • Emphasize Key Words: Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" uses melodic emphasis on key lyrics like "tramps like us" to create moments of intensity and focus. The melody rises and falls with the importance of the lyrics, giving the song its anthemic quality.
  • Follow the Natural Speech Patterns: Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" follows the natural speech patterns of the lyrics, allowing her to create a melody that feels conversational and deeply personal. The way she lets the melody flow with the phrasing of her words makes the song feel raw and intimate.

6. Go with the Flow, But Stay Intentional

It’s important to give yourself the freedom to experiment and go with the flow when writing vocal melodies, especially if this side of the creative process is new to you. At the same time, staying intentional about the choices you make can help you craft something truly unique.

  • Improvise First: Paul McCartney often talks about improvising melodies and lyrics together to get a natural feel, as in "Let It Be." He allows the melody to flow freely, capturing the raw emotion before refining it into something more structured.
  • Refine Later: Lorde is known for recording multiple vocal takes with different phrasing and dynamics, as in "Royals." After capturing these raw ideas, she refines them, ensuring each vocal line serves the track’s overall mood and structure.

Wrapping Up

Writing vocal melodies and phrasing is a different skill set from composing instrumental music, but with practice and experimentation, it will become more natural. Focus on creating contrast, experimenting with phrasing, using dynamics to shape your melodies, and letting the lyrics guide you. Above all, trust the process and enjoy the creative journey.

By applying these principles—like the artists mentioned above—you can craft vocal melodies that stand out and enhance your music, transforming your rough sketches into full, dynamic tracks.

Got any tips or techniques for writing vocal melodies? Let’s chat in the comments below!