--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Melodies can be good depending on the…" description: "\"Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can have a simple melody, and if the harmony behind it is interesting, it can make a very simple mel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/donald-fagen-23315_be-good_melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-co_597126.jpg" --- # Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can… ![“Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can have a simple melody, and if the harmony behind it is interesting, it can make a very simple melody really different. You can also have a complex melody. The more complex it is, the harder it is to sing, and then sometimes it can sound…” quote by Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/donald-fagen-23315_be-good_melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-co_597126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/donald-fagen-23315_be-good_melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-co_597126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/donald-fagen-23315_be-good_melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-co_597126.jpg) > “Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can have a simple melody, and if the harmony behind it is interesting, it can make a very simple melody really different. You can also have a complex melody. The more complex it is, the harder it is to sing, and then sometimes it can sound contrived. You could write a melody that would be fine on a saxophone but if you give it to a singer, it can sound raunchy.” [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Melody’s impact depends on harmony and arrangement; complexity can hinder singability. **In simple terms:** Melody needs good harmony; too complex can sound forced. Key Takeaway Balance melody with suitable harmony. Themes music theory arrangement complexity Mood analytical creative Type educational musical insight When to use this quote - songwriting - music production - arranging - performance - education Key Concepts harmonic context vocal suitability instrumental texture Questions to Reflect On - When does complexity enhance a song? - How to adapt melodies for different instruments? A Different Perspective Complexity may alienate listeners or performers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Melodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melodies/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [At times I have a beat first and then I write. Sometimes I have a melody in my head and I pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nneka/at-times-i-have-a-beat-first-and-then-i-write-sometimes-i-have-a/) [Nneka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nneka/) > [I like to hear melodies that go from one extreme to the next- saxophone to a bell to a whistle, for instance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roscoe-mitchell/i-like-to-hear-melodies-that-go-from-one-extreme-to-the-next/) [Roscoe Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roscoe-mitchell/) > [All my music is very simple in that melody is usually clearly stated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/all-my-music-is-very-simple-in-that-melody-is-usually-clearly-stated/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [Like a Star' has a very simple melody, and when you play it, it's only about three notes for ages, and it's quite boring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/like-a-star-has-a-very-simple-melody-and-when-you-play-it-it-s-only/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-still-very-challenging-for-me-to/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [Writing a simple melody can take weeks to get it right where I want it, but I do quite enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-rabin/writing-a-simple-melody-can-take-weeks-to-get-it-right-where-i-want/) [Trevor Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-rabin/) > [Basically, country is my kind of music - the simple melody, the simple lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/basically-country-is-my-kind-of-music-the-simple-melody-the-simple/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [My style is simple. It is out and out melody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/my-style-is-simple-it-is-out-and-out-melody/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [I write a melody and then change it and change it until I get it the way I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-stoller/i-write-a-melody-and-then-change-it-and-change-it-until-i-get-it-the/) [Mike Stoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-stoller/) > [I don't have some songwriting formula that I kinda go by. Usually it just comes by way of inspiration. Sometimes I'm inspired by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-grant/i-don-t-have-some-songwriting-formula-that-i-kinda-go-by-usually-it/) [Natalie Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-grant/) > [Hunter can write a melody and stuff like that, but his forte is lyrics. He can write a serviceable melody to hang his lyrics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/hunter-can-write-a-melody-and-stuff-like-that-but-his-forte-is-lyrics/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [The most difficult thing in music is still to write a melody of several bars which can be self-sufficient. That is the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-milhaud/the-most-difficult-thing-in-music-is-still-to-write-a-melody-of/) Darius Milhaud > [Sometimes my boyfriend would write the lyrics and I would write the melody, and other times I would start from scratch. Or sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-my-boyfriend-would-write-the-lyrics-and-i-would-write-the/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Sometimes my boyfriend would write the lyrics and I would write the melody, and other times I would start from scratch. Or sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-my-boyfriend-would-write-the-lyrics-and-i-would-write-the-2/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [When I write, it is always the melody that comes first, and it just happens to be the case that the most beautiful tunes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-oise-hardy/when-i-write-it-is-always-the-melody-that-comes-first-and-it-just/) [Francoise Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-oise-hardy/) ## More by Donald Fagen > [I had trouble distinguishing art from life. I don't now, and I feel much better!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-had-trouble-distinguishing-art-from-life-i-don-t-now-and-i-feel/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [My style is a little quirky. I can't play as fast as most professional jazz players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/my-style-is-a-little-quirky-i-can-t-play-as-fast-as-most-professional/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Now why the hell would I want to increase the volume of my ejaculation ? They can already hear me in the apartment next door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/now-why-the-hell-would-i-want-to-increase-the-volume-of-my/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Randy Newman seemed like an even worse singer than me. I liked Ray Charles, Levi Stubbs, Jack Jones, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/randy-newman-seemed-like-an-even-worse-singer-than-me-i-liked-ray/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Popularity has everything to do with business and nothing to do with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/popularity-has-everything-to-do-with-business-and-nothing-to-do-with/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [As jazz fans, it was amusing for us to play jazz harmonies on these big, ugly electric guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/as-jazz-fans-it-was-amusing-for-us-to-play-jazz-harmonies-on-these/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [It's great to know that our old stuff still sounds good to our fans, just as it's wonderful to think that we've turned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/it-s-great-to-know-that-our-old-stuff-still-sounds-good-to-our-fans/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [What do you do with what you're given, and how do you transform it into something worthwhile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/what-do-you-do-with-what-you-re-given-and-how-do-you-transform-it/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [We don't think of ourselves as being perfectionists, really. To us it's more about desperately trying to have it sound more or less OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/we-don-t-think-of-ourselves-as-being-perfectionists-really-to-us-it-s/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [What a beautiful world this will be What a glorious time to be free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/what-a-beautiful-world-this-will-be-what-a-glorious-time-to-be-free/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [“I started going to jazz clubs in New York when I was twelve or thirteen, first with my older cousins Mike and Jack, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-started-going-to-jazz-clubs-in-new-york-when-i-was-twelve-or/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Anthemic rock music is inherently fascist - anything intended to move huge masses of people is politically offensive to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/anthemic-rock-music-is-inherently-fascist-anything-intended-to-move/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [I don't think you can escape the environment we live in now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-don-t-think-you-can-escape-the-environment-we-live-in-now/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [I tried to grow up. 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You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. 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