blink 182 does a great job of writing the most intoxicating countermelodies that get stuck in your head so easily. Wouldn’t it be great if you could write counter melodies as well as blink 182?
Well, no one said you can’t write Blink 182 counter melodies in a similar way. Follow these 7 songwriting tips on how to write killer countermelodies and you could rival Blink 182 one day.
1. Consider the frequencies if you are using two vocalists.
It’s easy to have conflicting melodies if two vocalists are used because they can use the same frequency range. However, Blink 182 vocalists Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge sing high and low. Try to pick a note range for each vocalist that stays away from the other.
2. Use chord progressions similar or the same as your main melody.
If you listen to Blink 182’s “Hold On”, you’ll notice that they wrote their melodies in the same chord progression as the song. Don’t think you need to write completely new parts to have a counter tune. Put two melodies in the same section to make that section more engaging.
3. Keep one tune longer and flowing than the other.
Writing countermelodies that have diversity is the key. Keep one of your melodies long and flowing to guide listeners’ ears through the tune.
4. Hold another stiff and faster tune.
Writing another one of your countermelodies to be stiff and fast will make your song follow the beat. This will create a lot of interest like Blink 182 songs.
5. Try to avoid playing the same notes simultaneously.
When Blink 182 writes a song, they try to keep the Delonge and Hoppus parts separate, but they’re still very engaging. He must try to do the same by giving each melody its own unique identity. He doesn’t think of his counter melodies as mere copies of another.
6. Spend as much time and effort on one tune as the other.
Neglecting one tune over another can only hurt your song. No one wants to hear a song where a bad tune ruins a good one. Put as much effort into one as the other to get the best answer.
7. Use the same singing style if possible.
Blink 182’s vocalists may have high and low voices, but their singing style is very similar. If you’re using two vocalists, try to stay together as a team. Use the strengths of each to turn your melodies into something incredibly strong.
Blink 182 may never stop writing these cool countermelodies to their songs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete. Put these 7 songwriting tips to work and create some of the most engaging countermelodies you’ll ever hear.