LEARN SHEET: BASS LINES & IMPROVISATION (9.1 Part 2)

Vocabulary you need to know:

Rhythm & Tempo terms

Syncopation An ‘off-beat’ or jazzy rhythm

Triplet 3 notes played in the time of 2

Irregular An ‘off-beat’/unpredictable rhythm

Regular A predictable, simple rhythm

Lento/Largo Slow

Moderato Medium speed

Allegretto Quite fast

Allegro Fast

Melody & Texture terms

Riff A repeating pattern or phrase

Phrasing Divisions of melody, like a comma/ full stop in a sentence

Conjunct Stepwise movement

Disjunct Movement using leaps and jumps

Triadic Movement using notes of the chord

Melodic Fill Decoration between main melody

Improvisation Making music up on the spot Melody with accompaniment

A clear melody with simple parts accompanying beneath

Harmony

Tonic Number 1 of the scale or key

Dominant Number 5 of the scale or key

Perfect cadence

2 chords (5-I); sound finished

Imperfect cadence

2 chords (x-5); provide link to next section

Transpose Move a melody/piece to a new key

12 Bar Blues A standard chord progression used in Jazz, Blues and Rock and Roll

A Riff is a repeating pattern or phrase. A successful riff is memorable. It uses a narrow range and can be easily sung back. A good riff has an even balance of simplicity and interest.

The Blues Scale is a combination of notes used to improvise in Jazz and Blues music. As well as the normal scale notes it also has the flattened 3rd, 5th and 7th.

Chords - A chord is 2 or more notes played at the same time used to create harmony. Reggae chords are simple; they are a combination of major and minor:

I iii IV V vi

C Em F G Am

Bob Marley (1945 – 1981) Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer-songwriter, musician and guitarist who blended reggae, ska and rocksteady in his compositions. He forged a distinctive song writing and vocal style with The Wailers a vocal group that later resonated with audiences worldwide.

Features of Reggae Music Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s.

Reggae music was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues.

Typical features include accents on the off beats 2 & 4, simple chord sequences, riffs, political themes in lyrics and a relaxed/carefree rhythms

Typical instruments include , guitar, bass guitar, piano/organ, horns and drums There is an association with the Rastafarian movement (A religious movement worshipping Haile

Selassie)