Melodies keep clashing? Use the minor pentatonic scale

Use the minor pentatonic scale of your key. It has only five notes and no half steps between them, so almost any order you play them in sounds right over the chords. In A minor that's A, C, D, E and G. For other keys, start on the key's root and count up 3, 2, 2, 3 semitones.

How to do it

1. Find the key of your track (a key finder helps).
2. Write down the minor pentatonic: root, +3, +2, +2, +3 semitones. A minor: A C D E G.
3. Only use those five notes in your melody, in any octave.
4. End phrases on the root (A in A minor) to make them feel finished.
5. Once that works, add the missing two notes of the full scale for colour.

Why it works

Clashes usually come from two notes a half step apart. The pentatonic leaves out the two notes that cause most of them, which is why it's the go-to scale for hooks, guitar solos and vocal riffs.