Original composition melody question.

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Fellow music composers,

Is there an app or website where you can determine if the melody of your self-written song is, in fact, original?

Obviously I don't want to inadvertently steal someone else's creativity. So, how can I tell if the melody line to my song is actually from my brain, as opposed to being something that I subconsciously heard and remembered from some other artist/composer before?

With all the A.I. technology that's out there that can identify a song and artist on the radio by merely "listening to it" (i.e, Shazam, SoundHound, etc.), there must be something that can hear just a simple recorded melody line and tell a composer if it's been used before.
 
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Gee, I don't know...

But my first thought was that if any website got a hold of your melody, they would take/use it as their own. *

Old No7

* ps: I am not a pessimist, just an optimist with a lot of experience!
 

happyrat1

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Three are only 12 musical notes and at least 100 million songs in the world.

There was a project started a few years ago to copyright every possible permutation for public domain but I can't find the link any longer.

I wouldn't worry about it unless Milli Vanilli sends you a cease and desist order.
 
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But my first thought was that if any website got a hold of your melody, they would take/use it as their own.
Yep, that was one of my first thoughts as well. But I still want to find a way of confidently feeling that my melodies are my own rather re-doing something that I might've heard elsewhere. Kinda like coming up with an idea for a fantastic invention, and then thinking this is such a great idea that someone else must've also thought of it.
 

Rayblewit

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I created a melody of about 10 bars to begin with piano sound at around the third octave.
I added some chords at various parts and played it in key of G. This became my verse.
But it sounded familiar to a well known tune.
Anyway I added some more bars moving up and down between the 3rd and 4th octave.
that became my chorus. This part of my tune sounds nothing like anything I know.

Intrigued as to figure out what tune my verse sounded like, and it suddenly dawned on me.
ii sounds like Andrew Lloyd Webbers - "no matter what"
Unbelievable!
I searched for his score to compare and noticed his is in a different key and uses different chords.
But what an amazing coincidence that they sound the same.
Makes me think that little old humble me could have been a famous composer ha ha ha!
Ray
 
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But what an amazing coincidence that they sound the same.
Makes me think that little old humble me could have been a famous composer ha ha ha!
Ray
But, how do you know that it was a coincidence that your composition and Andrew Lloyd Weber's were so independently close in content . . . . or did you compose your piece based upon what you already had in your head from previously hearing Weber's song?

But, one can't help but wonder how Weber knew that his song was truly original when he wrote it. Which begs the question, how do all of these popular/successful songwriters confirm that their compositions are really original at the time of writing them?

I guess it's just hit and miss as you wait for a copyright lawsuit from some other composer who claims their idea came first. Oh, well . . . .
 

Rayblewit

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, how do you know that it was a coincidence that your composition and Andrew Lloyd Weber's were so independently close in content . . . . or did you compose your piece based upon what you already had in your head from previously hearing Weber's song?
That is a good point.
However, that song was made famous by Boyzone. To tell the truth, I am no fan of boybands. That song was never on my play list.
Subconsciously, my brain may have heard it one day and remembered the melody perhaps? But I doubt it. Coincidence still prevails in my mind.

But, one can't help but wonder how Weber knew that his song was truly original when he wrote it. Which begs the question, how do all of these popular/successful songwriters confirm that their compositions are really original at the time of writing them?
Another good point Steve. But he is a genius composer. Always inventive with chord progressions and clasy melodys. He is peerless. But I can see where you are coming from. Subconscious brain waves of memory are probably lurking within everyone.

Ray's BS
Cheers
 
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I can already tell you your melody has been used before. Before I've even heard it. Worse still is if it goes to court, those bodies almost invariably decide in favour of the biggest star. Or at least the party that shows them the most respect by throwing the largest amount of money at the case.

Best approach is write your song how you feel it and if someone tells you it sounds like song X, work out why that is and whether your song can still sound good without the plagiarism.

It can be as simple as moving the hooks around.
 

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