Melody writing concept
Fifth leaps: the 1 to 5 jump that opens a melody
A fifth leap is a larger melodic jump. In scale-degree language, the beginner-friendly version is 1 to 5. It sounds open, confident, and easy to remember.
1
to
5
Why it works
Stepwise melodies are smooth, but a leap creates a clear shape. The 1 to 5 leap is especially useful because both notes are stable, so the jump feels bold without sounding lost.
Practice idea
Write a four-note idea that starts 1, 1, 5, 5. Then change the ending to 1, 3, or 7 and listen to how the phrase changes.
Next: learn how to write a melody.