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4.2.10 What Is a Melody? And Why Does Chord Progression Harmony by Itself Sound Boring?
A melody is not a series of notes—it's a series of intervals, and it can stand on its own as a melody without chords. But a chord progression without a tune is just boring harmony.
A tone in isolation is just a tone. Only when two tones are sounded, either together or in sequence, does a relationship form. Your brain analyses that relationship. As each tone sounds in succession, your brain tries to anticipate the new tone that might come next in the context of the ones you’ve just heard.
If you play a progression of chords without a melody, does your brain interpret that chord progression as “music”?
No, it doesn’t.
Hardly ever, anyway. All you hear is formless harmony.
To hear music, you need a melody. Your brain demands it. You’ll see why in the discussion of harmony, chords, and chord progressions (Chapter 6).
On the other hand, if you play or sing a tune by itself, with no chords, does your brain interpret that tune as “music”?
Yes, it does. It hears a melody.
For example, most people sing national anthems without instrumental accompaniment. Great national anthems, such as those of France, Britain, America, Italy, Russia, and South Africa, have stood the test of time. These anthems have such powerful melodies that they sound beautiful with or without chords.