A good shape for a musical melody would be an arch. An arch-shaped melody has a gradual rise and fall in pitch, creating a sense of tension and release. This shape allows for a dynamic and expressive contour in the melody, making it more interesting and engaging for listeners. To determine the shape of a melody, you can examine the pitch patterns and note durations throughout the piece. Visualization tools, such as musical notation software or graphing software, can also be helpful in visualizing the shape and contour of the melody.
