"Avoid Notes" to Keep in Mind When Writing Melodies
This time we change things up a little and learn "avoid notes", useful knowledge when writing melodies, putting chords to melodies, substituting chords and more.
First, please listen to this sample.
Somehow the chords and melody don't seem to sound good together.
This is commonly described as notes "clashing".
"Avoid notes" are generally explained together with concepts such as "natural tensions," "available note scales" and "parent scales," but here we prioritize clarity and start with practical steps to avoid the kind of "clashing" in the example above.
Let's also look at it on the score and the piano roll. The key is C major.
- Melody
The melody is certainly made of notes from the C major scale.
- Chords
The chords are also made of C major diatonic chords.
If it still sounds bad, that means the melody and chords may not be a good match.
How to Identify Avoid Notes
First, program the diatonic chords of the key of C major one bar apart, as in the image.
The example uses four-note chords, but triads give the same result, so either is fine.
Next, to the right of each chord, lay out "the notes of the C major scale" starting from each chord's root.
When that's done, compare the two and check for scale notes that are "a half step above" a chord tone.
For example, for Cmaj7 (C E G B), it's "F."
The notes circled in blue are the avoid notes for the chord on the left.
If you play each chord along with its avoid note, you can hear the notes clash.
*For IIm7, there are two exceptional ways of thinking, which we'll explain next time.
To put it more formally, an avoid note is "a note that is dissonant with the chord" or "a note that may undermine the chord's original function".
Let's try listening to a few.
- F against Cmaj7
- F against Am7
- C and F against Em
As expected, they sound bad.
*If you use an avoid note as the lowest note (bass note) of a chord, it becomes a different chord.
When checking, play it within the chord or above the chord.
(We'll explain this in detail in a later lesson as well.)
The relationship between chords and avoid notes is the same in other keys.
For example, if you want to know the case for the key of D major, select all the notes and shift them in parallel, just as with diatonic chords, to find the avoid notes.
- G against Dmaj7
Be sure to actually play and check other chords and other keys too.
In this way, when chords and melody don't sound good together, check whether you're using an avoid note (a note a half step above a chord tone).
Note that avoid notes are not "notes you must never use."
They're fine as long as you don't hold them long or use them as prominent notes.
In particular, they don't sound out of place when inserted briefly in a melody, and avoid notes on weak beats or offbeats tend to have less effect.
It also depends on how you use them, so think of them as a point to check when something clearly sounds bad or when you're substituting chords.
Next time, let's take a detailed look at how to think about IIm7 and how to deal with avoid notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is an avoid note?
It is a note a half step above a chord tone that creates a "clashing" state in which the melody and chord sound bad together. For example, F is the avoid note for Cmaj7.
Q2. Must avoid notes never be used?
No, they can be fine depending on how you use them. Inserted briefly or used on weak beats or offbeats, they sound less out of place, and there's no problem as long as you don't hold them long or use them as prominent notes.
Q3. Do avoid notes change in other keys?
No, the relationship between chords and avoid notes is the same in other keys. Just as with diatonic chords, you can find the avoid notes in a different key by shifting the notes in parallel.
Q4. What happens if I use an avoid note as the bass note?
Using an avoid note as the bass (lowest) note turns it into a different chord, so when checking, you need to play it within the chord or above the chord.
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