How to create soulful melodies
There’s no formula to creating a melody that one might consider “soulful,” but here are some things to bear in mind when composing melodies:
Working in an appropriate key helps, in this example we’re working in a minor key which is a good start. Keeping things relatively simple is a good idea too, and for this melody we used a two-bar pattern that repeats with a small variation the second time around. Passing tones (notes that aren’t in the chord but link one chord tone to another) and leading tones (notes a half-step below or above a chord tone) can be useful for achieving a soulful sound, though here our melody plays ostinato over the chords. Likewise, chromatic (notes outside the scale) and blue notes (flattened 3rds, 5ths or 7ths) can add a soulful touch when used judiciously.
2. Compose complimentary chords
Let’s derive some chords from our melody. Our melody includes A, C, and E notes (with the occasional B), so A minor is the natural starting point. Add another MIDI track, and this time select Velvet Strings from the list of Fables presets.