what is melody

A melody, also known as a tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. It is a collection of musical tones that are grouped together as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm, while more figuratively, the term can include other musical elements such as tonal color. Melodies often consist of one or more musical phrases or motifs, and are usually repeated throughout a composition in various forms. Melodies may also be described by their melodic motion or the pitches or the intervals between pitches (predominantly conjunct or disjunct or with further restrictions), pitch range, tension and release, continuity and coherence, cadence, and shape. The melody is usually the most memorable aspect of a song, the one the listener remembers and is able to perform.