Originally Posted by: Philip CharlesWhat is meant by melody in music?[/quote]

Great question!

Melody is the essential characteristic of music. Melody is a rhythmic succession of musical notes (pitch-specific, properly intonated tones) constructed in such a manner as to be perceivable as a self contained unit.

As you mentioned about lyrics, the melody of a song is the notes that are sung to convey the words (lyrics).

So if I type or say these words:

Mary had a little lamb

Little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb

Fleece was white as snow

That's not a song or a melody. It's a poem. When I sing the poem with the traditional tune I'm using the melody. That is using the melody to convey the words. I can play the tune on guitar (or even whistle it!) without using words & it is still the melody of the song.

I cover the concept of melody in this lesson.

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=30711&s_id=495

[quote=Philip Charles]But what is meant by melody songs, what does it refer to?

I'm not familiar with that term. Where did you hear or read it?

I'm guessing it could be a way of referring to an instrumental song, meaning a song in which the melody is not sung but instead played by an instrument.

Hope that helps!