Get into the Groove: Base a song or musical idea on a groove or ostinato.
A groove or ostinato can be a rhythmic pattern, a bass line, a chord progression, or all those things put together. Check out these detailed definitions on Wikipedia for more info on groove and ostinato.
How to Respond
Let rhythm and repetition be the driving force and inspiration for an original song or musical idea. Post your work below using SoundCloud or video. Don’t worry if your song is short, this is just an exercise!
- Using an ostinato or groove without a break can create tension. How can you use tension to create a moment of “arrival” in your song? How does that moment relate to your lyrics?
- Is there a way to make your song go from “stable” to “unstable” by varying the groove?
- What rhythmic elements can you incorporate to make a repeated chord progression sound different?
- How can you use repetition in your melody to create a song structure?
- If you get stuck, try tapping out a rhythm, then use that rhythm on one note to create a groove.
- Try to figure out another songwriter’s ostinato by ear and try writing your own melody over it.
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