Melody or Harmony? Which do you prefer?

Alright, now we all know you need both to create a wonderful song, but let's just say for a second that you had to pick between a song having a great harmonic structure, or a wonderful singing melody with a very simple and basic harmony.

Which do you choose....

I voted Melody. Harmonic structure is less important, if the melody is breathtaking

Melody ofcourse, that's the skeleton, harmony is just the muscles and fat...

I voted melody as well. Bach's harmony is said to be melodically conceived while his melody is harmonically driven bach's music was incredible the way he made both melody and harmony flow seamlessly together with his mad skillz in counter point. Chopin's most respected composer was Bach. So, and if chopin respected him, so do I

Admin Andrew wrote:I voted melody as well. Bach's harmony is said to be melodically conceived while his melody is harmonically driven bach's music was incredible the way he made both melody and harmony flow seamlessly together with his mad skillz in counter point. Chopin's most respected composer was Bach. So, and if chopin respected him, so do I

Well if you respect him, so do I!!

To be the devil's advocate here for a second. Also seeing as this is my first time on this lovely site I am going to vote harmony. Harmony is what I tend to feel most in music. I hone in on things like chord progressions and how the notes being played interact. Melody is an obvious draw for most ears, but I more love when two melodies are going simultaneously, so I can hear how they interacy. Coheed and Cambria like to sing while the guitars are picking out rhythm figures, it's really nice to hear that kind of contrapuntal ideal being perpetuated, as well as adding depth to the music. Melodies playing off of the harmonic structure or other melodies is one of my favorite things to listen for - this is where you can hear that the writers were having the most fun.
But that is just me.^_^

Dr.Avery wrote:To be the devil's advocate here for a second. Also seeing as this is my first time on this lovely site I am going to vote harmony. Harmony is what I tend to feel most in music. I hone in on things like chord progressions and how the notes being played interact. Melody is an obvious draw for most ears, but I more love when two melodies are going simultaneously, so I can hear how they interacy. Coheed and Cambria like to sing while the guitars are picking out rhythm figures, it's really nice to hear that kind of contrapuntal ideal being perpetuated, as well as adding depth to the music. Melodies playing off of the harmonic structure or other melodies is one of my favorite things to listen for - this is where you can hear that the writers were having the most fun.
But that is just me.^_^

Well its almost = on the poll So thats not just you hehe
But I see what you mean. But still, the harmony wont sound good, if it isnt a suiting melody. I think that the melody aloows the harmony so brilliate more than the other way around. Because a song can be horrible if the harmony is perfect and the melody is Bad, but the song Can sound great if the harmony "sucks" but the melody is beautyfull

Well like I always say "whatever fit you wear" When I listen to songs that have great melody and terrible harmony or no harmony than it kind of makes me sick. It is kind of like one of those saturday morning children songs."out of the box" there's just know real 'meat' as mother call it behind it. Like it's missing something...like.... HARMONY! But back to my saying again."whatever fits you wear" And then again you could have great harmony and it sound like nothing but pretty sound.that to me is when dynamics come into play.

Oh! And by the way I am a novice piano player but I am a pretty good vocalist and choral artist. soooo I may make sense sometime and sometimes I may not. JuS7 A8s7ra(7. that saids (Just abstract)

I mush prefer melody than harmony.

Dr.Avery wrote: Well like I always say "whatever fit you wear" When I listen to songs that have great melody and terrible harmony or no harmony than it kind of makes me sick. It is kind of like one of those saturday morning children songs."out of the box" there's just know real 'meat' as mother call it behind it. Like it's missing something...like.... HARMONY! But back to my saying again."whatever fits you wear" And then again you could have great harmony and it sound like nothing but pretty sound.that to me is when dynamics come into play.

You got more experience than me. So I cant argue. Im actually not sure I have heard a song oith poor harmony
Hehe

Thomandy wrote:

Dr.Avery wrote: Well like I always say "whatever fit you wear" When I listen to songs that have great melody and terrible harmony or no harmony than it kind of makes me sick. It is kind of like one of those saturday morning children songs."out of the box" there's just know real 'meat' as mother call it behind it. Like it's missing something...like.... HARMONY! But back to my saying again."whatever fits you wear" And then again you could have great harmony and it sound like nothing but pretty sound.that to me is when dynamics come into play.

You got more experience than me. So I cant argue. Im actually not sure I have heard a song oith poor harmony
Hehe

By poor harmony I mean not to it's full potential. And I am nowhere as experienced than you.

Dr.Avery wrote:

By poor harmony I mean not to it's full potential. And I am nowhere as experienced than you.

Hehe.. Well, I know what it is, but never heard any pieces that I can tell got bad harmony.. =)
I dont know if you got more or less ecperience.. But I got about (4)-6months now..

I voted for melody, since it can stand alone and be totally awesome. If the option was there, however, I would have said that the two work best in harmony (pun intended).

Depo007 wrote:I voted for melody, since it can stand alone and be totally awesome. If the option was there, however, I would have said that the two work best in harmony (pun intended).

I have heard pieces that are harmonic solid, but sounds like crap
But I have never heard melodical good pieces that I know got bad harmonic structure, so.. I kant really tell
But I voted Melody!

melody, melody, melody :-) actually this is a bit like a choice between blue and green - I love them both!! ;-) but melody existed in Western music LONG before harmony... the old guy has to win!