Creating Variety in Lines

Lucien LaMotte

Phrase Lengths – vary the phrase lengths. Half of a measure, one measure, two measures, four
measures. Be aware of the beginnings and endings of phrases. Do they start or end on the beat
or off the beat? Create variety by varying the length and starting position in the bar.

Target tones – What note in the chord or key are you beginning on or ending the phrase.
Create multiple phrases with varying tension through which notes the phrases end on. One
phrase could be unstable and the next phrase could be more stable.

Rhythm - What is the internal rhythm? All 16th notes, 8th notes, triplets. Create a variety of
rhythms to create contrast in the phrases.

Tendency tones –

1 b3 3 5 1
b2 2 4 #4/b5 b6 6 b7 7

#1 resolves to 2
b2 & 2 resolve to 1
2 can also move up to b3 or 3
#2 resolves up to 3
4 resolves down to 3
#4/b5 resolves up to 5 (b5 can also move down to 4 and then resolve to 3)
#5/b6/6 resolves down to 5 (#5 can move up to 6 and then resolve down to 5)
b7 moves down to 6 which resolves down to 5 (b7 can also resolve up to 1)
7 resolves up to 1

Inside and outside playing – Create phrases that superimpose other chords on top of the given
harmony. Shift lines up or down a half step to create tension.

Chord – 3 or 4 notes in the chord (Arpeggio)

Scale - 7 notes in the scale that fill around the chord tones.
Chromatic - 5 notes outside the key/scale/chord (Pentatonic)