Melody going nowhere? Use call and response

If your melody goes round and round, try call and response. Write one phrase that asks a question and a second that answers it. The question usually ends high or on an unresolved note. The answer comes home, ending on the root of the key.

How to do it

1. Write a short phrase (1 or 2 bars) that ends on a high or unfinished-sounding note, like the 2nd or 5th of the key.
2. Write a second phrase of the same length that starts similarly.
3. End the second phrase on the root note.
4. Repeat the pair, and change the answer slightly the second time.
5. Try giving the answer to a different instrument.

Why it works

Our ears love tension and release. An open phrase creates a question, and the answer resolves it, which makes the melody feel like it's going somewhere.