what is a melody

A melody is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. It is the tune of a piece of music that can be sung or hummed and recognized by someone else. Melodies are usually the most memorable aspect of a song and can be simple or intricate. They consist of a series of notes played in an order that is memorable and recognizable as a separate unit. Melodies often consist of one or more musical phrases or motifs, and are usually repeated throughout a composition in various forms. The two basic elements of music that define melody are pitch and rhythm. Melodies may also be described by their melodic motion or the pitches or the intervals between pitches, pitch range, tension and release, continuity and coherence, cadence, and shape.