Do you NEED melody in your track? It may suffice to have little repeting phrases now and again which re-inforce the theme of the song and gives a semi-melody.
Then again if it''s like a title track you''re writing and you really do need melody, here''s some things I do that melody just comes.
1. Listen to your song when walking. Hum it while you''re walking. Walking stimulates the mind, and gives your body a rhythm, try walking at multiples of the tempo of your track. The more familiar you are with the backing, the more ideas will come to you. (Also bring a pen & notepad to jot down ideas), or another form to record you humming it.
2. Play around on an instrument, guitar, keyboard.. just solo notes while the track is playing (ie JAM to it).
3. pick a similar song/theme and listen to that song''s melody, then borrow ideas from it to form your own.
4. IF you''re composing entirely on the PC/MAC then try different leads, sometimes a specific sound will trigger a melody.
Don''t be afraid of Cheese
I tend to compose anywhich way the song requires, writing in parallel (all tracks at the same time in small sections),this tends to build up the feel of the song very quickly and allows me to write melody during writing the rest of the tune. Sometimes, the melody takes over and shapes the rest of the tune, other, the rhythm/backing may shape a melody.
I have the opposite problem to you, I can create extremely catchy themes, but tend to have problems creating non-melodic music.
Hope some of this works for you!
If you really get stuck, and want some private feedback, contact me. yannis@zip.com.au
Audio Artist
www.GroovyAudio.com
