In composing music, it's often helpful to stick to a certain melodic phrase or motif. This can help create a sense of unity and flow in your music, while also helping to convey a particular feeling or emotion.

In jazz and blues, a melody often involves arpeggios or chord progressions built around a simple, repeated motif. As the melody progresses, different instruments take on different roles, creating a wonderfully complex and expressiveural whole.

Always be aware of your melody - if it's not giving you the results you want, it may be time to tweak it a bit.