What Is Melodic Contour

To discuss what makes melodies memorable and expressive, musicians use the concept of melodic contour, which is the sequence of motions between a melody’s individual notes.

What is an example of melodic contour?

One can picture a line that goes up steeply when the melody suddenly jumps to a much higher note, or that goes down slowly when the melody gently falls. Such a line gives the contour or shape of the melodic line. … For example, you can speak of a “steeply rising melody” or of an “arch-shaped” phrase.

What are the 5 melodic contour?

… contour consists of five tones presented at different frequencies as follows: (1) 523 Hz for an ascending contour, (2) repetition of a single tone of 392 Hz for a staying the same contour, and (3) 523, 349, 330, 294, and 262 Hz for a descending contour.