melody line
Song's main tune
A melody line is the main sequence of notes that forms the recognizable tune in a piece of music—the part you'd hum or whistle.
In compositions with multiple instrumental or vocal parts, the melody line carries the primary musical idea while other parts provide harmony or rhythm: The violin takes the melody line in the second movement.
- contourBounding line of shape
- lead sheetMinimal musical notation format
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- motifRecurring thematic element
main theme · theme song · modulation · cadence · vibrato · legato · interval · lyrical · tune · staccato · ornamentation · scale · evocative · arrangement · haunting · catchy · ear worm · orchestration
- vocal scoresvocal parts, vocal ensemble, voice parts, vocal solo, bass part
- songwritinglyrics, verse, verse-chorus, refrain, song structure
- melodytune, theme, air, phrase, motif
- melody termstune, song, aria, ballad, chant
- lead sheetslead sheets, chord chart, chord symbols, lyrics, key signature
- choir termssoprano, alto, tenor, bass, baritone
musical function
melody lineaccompaniment
Supplementary support element
backing · bass line · rhythm section · background music · chord progression