Sound, Time, & Creativity - S.F.

4 4 œ > œ
/ ‰ j
œ
3
œ œ œ > œ > œ
3
¿ ¿ œ
3
œ œ œ
3 > 3
œ œ œ œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ œ
œ ‰ œ >
3
œ œ
œ
¿
œ ‰ ¿ ‰ j > 3
œ
œ œ œ
Shifting the departure point makes the four-measure phrase
sound and feel completely different. Each example has a total of
sixteen departure points to choose from: four beats per measure
times four measures equals sixteen points. This “circular fours”
approach allows you to come up with new solo phrases based on
the original example.
Now try playing four-bar phrase number 2 starting on beat
one of measure three, and then start on beat one of measure
four. Then incorporate the hi-hat ostinatos.
The next step is to combine examples. Here is four-bar
phrase number 1, measures one and two, combined with fourbar
phrase number 3, measures three and four.
/4 4 ¿ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ¿ œ œ œ ‰ œ >
/ œ œ
3
œ œ ‰ œ œ ‰ œ
3
œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ
You can expand each note value within the four-measure
phrase. For example, written quarter notes would become half
notes; eighth notes would become quarter notes; eighth-note
triplets would become quarter-note triplets. By expanding each
note value, the four-measure phrase becomes an eight-measure
phrase. Here is four-bar phrase number 3 after being expanded.
/4 4 œ œ Œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
3
/ œ œ
œ œ Œ œ œ Œ œ
3 3
œ œ
œ œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ
3
œ œ œ
In addition to expanding the phrase, you can also compress
the phrase. Quarter notes become eighth notes, eighth notes become
sixteenths, and so on. Compressing each note value converts
a four-measure phrase into a two-measure phrase. Here is
four-bar phrase number 1 after being compressed.
/4 4 ¿ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ¿ œ œ œ ≈ œ >
/
6
œ œ œ œ œœ
6
6
>
œ œ œ œ œ œœ
œ œ
œ >
6
œ œ œœ ¿ >
œ
œ œ œ
PERCUSSIVE NOTES 21 FEBRUARY 2000