noun

melody

/ˈmelədi/ · say it: MEL·uh·dee

a sequence of single notes forming a tune

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) a sequence of musical notes that form a tune or song

2. (noun) the main tune in a piece of music, as opposed to the harmony or rhythm

Examples

She hummed a beautiful melody while cooking.
The violin plays the melody while the piano provides accompaniment.

How to use melody

Melody refers to the sequential arrangement of musical notes that creates a recognizable tune, typically the most prominent or singable part of a composition. It differs from harmony (multiple notes sounding together) and rhythm (the temporal pattern). The term is used in both technical musical contexts and everyday speech when discussing songs or instrumental pieces.

Common phrases

catchy melody
haunting melody
hum a melody
memorable melody
sweet melody
melodic line

Synonyms

tune · air · song · theme · line

Opposites

harmony · rhythm

Word family

melodic · melodious · melodically · melodist

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse melody with harmony; melody is a single line of notes played in sequence, while harmony involves multiple notes sounding together.

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