Melody

A sequence of musical pitches perceived as a coherent tune, shaped by rhythm, contour, and phrasing.

Pitch (music): The perceived highness or lowness of a musical sound, corresponding to its frequency. A melody’s notes are distinguished chiefly by their pitches.
Motif (music): A short, distinctive musical idea that recurs and is developed within a composition. A motif can supply the recognizable seed from which a longer melody grows.
Theme (music): A principal musical idea that recurs and organizes a composition or movement. A theme is often a prominent melody that anchors a larger work.
Harmony: The combination of simultaneous pitches and the progressions formed by them. Harmony accompanies or supports melody, but organizes pitches vertically rather than sequentially.
Rhythm: The organization of sounds and silences in time. Rhythmic patterns give a melody its timing and characteristic pulse.
Sequence (music): The repetition of a musical pattern at a different pitch level. Sequencing extends a melodic idea while preserving its shape.
Leitmotif: A recurring musical idea associated with a character, place, object, or concept. A melody can identify a character or idea through repeated dramatic appearances.
Counterpoint: The combination of independent melodic lines into a coherent musical texture. Counterpoint makes several melodies interact instead of placing one tune above accompaniment.
Melodic contour: The pattern of rising, falling, and repeated pitches across a melody. Contour lets a tune remain recognizable even when its exact pitches change.
Ornamentation: The addition of decorative notes to a musical line. Ornaments elaborate a melody while leaving its underlying identity intact.

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