Let’s play with the ① ④ ⑤ ①?

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

Let’s Play!

This week we are going to play with two basslines using the ① ④ ⑤ ①. Here’s the process both of these basslines:

1. What key are we in? What’s the first note? What key does the final ⑤ ① point to?
2. What scale degrees are in the bassline?
3. What intervals go above ①? What intervals go above ④? What intervals go above ⑤? If you need help, check out my post from two weeks ago here.
4. Apply those intervals to these basslines!
5. {{contact.first_name}}, grab your instrument and let’s try it!
6. Create a melody above the bassline! Try copying the rhythm from the bass
7. Or, as you’re creating your melody, try creating a melody with even quarter notes.
8. To those even quarter notes maybe you add one pair of eighth notes per bar.
9. Or maybe you hear your line wanting some rest and you add a half note.
10. Most importantly have fun, listen hard, and explore!

Bassline 1

Bassline 2

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Next week

I’ll send you some basslines where you can play with these elements yourself!