Forward Motion
Everything is a pickup. - Miles Davis
This quote reinforces the all-important concept of musical tension and release. Music is not static, it wants to go somewhere. The concept of Forward Motion is based on the following:
This challenges the common approach of thinking of beat one as the first beat of the measure.
Your playing will be strengthened if you conceive of beat one as the last beat of the measure!
Most improvisers make pitch choices after a chord is introduced. Playing pickup notes and phrases outlining the harmony before the chord is played by the rhythm section makes more musical sense. Ending your phrase on beat 1, or a ½ beat before 1 (harmonic anticipation), is rhythmically and harmonically strong.
This does not mean you should never begin your ideas after the chord is introduced; it just means, in general, have your phrases go towards the harmony as opposed to away from the harmony. To learn more, and for a deeper understanding and explanation, I highly recommend Hal Galper’s excellent book Forward Motion.
- Beat one is the strongest rhythmic beat of the measure.
- Rhythmic resolution works best when phrases end on the strongest beat.
- To further strengthen tension and release and enforce musical logic, end phrases on a chord tone on beat one.
This challenges the common approach of thinking of beat one as the first beat of the measure.
Your playing will be strengthened if you conceive of beat one as the last beat of the measure!
Most improvisers make pitch choices after a chord is introduced. Playing pickup notes and phrases outlining the harmony before the chord is played by the rhythm section makes more musical sense. Ending your phrase on beat 1, or a ½ beat before 1 (harmonic anticipation), is rhythmically and harmonically strong.
This does not mean you should never begin your ideas after the chord is introduced; it just means, in general, have your phrases go towards the harmony as opposed to away from the harmony. To learn more, and for a deeper understanding and explanation, I highly recommend Hal Galper’s excellent book Forward Motion.