Composing classical music
Alberti Bass
An Alberti Bass line consists of playing the notes of a triad (a three note chord) individually to create a broken chord pattern:
- start with the lowest note
- then play the highest note
- then the middle note
- the play the highest note again
This is a very simple bass line which works well with the melodies added on top of it.
Cadences
A cadence is formed by two chords at the end of a passage of music.
Two types of cadences are:
- Perfect cadences sound as though the music has come to an end. They are formed by the chords V - I.
- Imperfect cadences appear unfinished. They sound as though they should carry on to complete the music properly. An imperfect cadence ends on chord V.
Other useful concepts
Useful things to consider when developing ideas for classical music include:
- repetition and imitation of melodic and rhythmic ideas
- pedal - a sustained or repeated note in the bass part
- ornaments - try adding some decorations, such as trills, to the melody