BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
10630 / 18210 · Workshop 87 — Harmonic Rhythm as Narrative: Accelerating, Decelerating, Delaying, and Reframing Chord Changes to Shape Form← prev⊞ allnext →

87.115Apply it to “Mack the Knife”

Early chorus:

two-beat feel with relatively slow harmonic rhythm.

Later:

walking bass and more frequent passing dominants.

Modulation turnaround:

harmonic acceleration.

Final chorus:

do not keep maximum change rate throughout.

At the peak:

hold one dominant longer.

Then resolve.

This prevents the last chorus from feeling merely busier.