BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
5466 / 18210 · Workshop 37 — “St. Thomas”: Calypso Groove, Anticipation, Rhythmic Independence, and Making Simple Harmony Feel Sophisticated← prev⊞ allnext →

37.95Mini-composition exercise

Write a 16-bar piece in C with only:

C, F, G7

and perhaps D7 once.

Requirements:

  • one two-bar LH ostinato
  • one anticipated chord change
  • one two-bar melodic motif
  • one 3+3+2 rhythmic passage
  • one call-and-response section
  • one bar of bass only
  • one repeated rhythmic ending tag

If it sounds sophisticated, you have proved that sophistication does not require sophisticated harmony.