A *melody* is a tonal sound that has a short, rhythmic succession of singular pitches. Simple and succinct melodies can be repeated in a UI with minimal distraction.

* DO: Create melodies that are simple, intuitive, and don’t distract from an interaction.
* CAUTION: Use unresolved melodies with caution as it can make things sound ambiguous.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Tonal sounds

Material Design Documentation

Simple melodies

A motif is a melody that is repeated, making it a recognizable pattern. Common motifs can quickly and effectively communicate simple emotional and informational cues. They often follow these patterns:

* Upward motion commonly indicates starting, openness, positivity, or assurance.
* Downward motion commonly indicates ending or closedness.
* Repetition commonly indicates thinking, waiting, or lack of progress

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