The Rule of the Octave ① ④ ⑤ ①

By Ian Campbell

Welcome to Try This! Your weekly exploration of musical patterns and partimenti rules.

Romantic Bassline Project

Is there a harmonic moment that you love in Chopin, either of the Schumann’s Brahms, or Mahler. I’m in the process of analyzing all sorts of romantic period repertoire and creating basslines from that repertoire to explore, improvise with, and learn from!

I know and am exploring the repertoire that I love, but I’d like to hear from you what romantic repertoire you love. What moments, phrases, sections or pieces should I look at from the romantic repertoire?

Share as many excerpts as you want. Here’s a form that will make it easy.

If you know anyone who you might like Try This!, please forward this email to them. They can sign up to receive it here.

Ok, {{contact.first_name}}, grab your instrument and let’s try it!

The RO ① ④ ⑤ ①

Play ① ④ ⑤ ① in G major.
Add the intervals shown above each note.
Now try this one
Try creating a melody in whole notes above the bassline using these intervals, you’ll have one upper voice note against the bassline. Now try stringing two notes (half notes) above bass note.
Let’s add one more set of intervals above the bassline.
Now explore all of the possibilities! Try whole notes against the bass and half notes too. Make as many version as you can!

Are you up for a challenge?

Let’s check out how Beethoven and Corelli uisng the ① ④ ⑤ ①!

Until then happy practicing, keep it your music making creative!

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The Partimenti Workshop is a safe place that welcomes people of all races, religions, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and body types. We respect, celebrate, encourage, and nurture the unique musical and creative possibilities of each individual.

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