Piano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
6.11 Hear the question-answer shape
174 / 18210 · Module 6 — Cadences, Phrase Structure, Harmonic Rhythm, and Hearing Musical “Punctuation”← prev⊞ allnext →

6.11Hear the question-answer shape

Play:

Phrase A

C | F | C | G7

Phrase A — open, ends on V

Stop.

Phrase B

C | F | G7 | C

Phrase B — closed, ends on I

Stop.

A feels open.

B feels closed.

Together they make a coherent 8-bar period.

This is more important than memorizing the term “period.” The important thing is hearing:

open ending → closed ending