BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
6904 / 18210 · Workshop 51 — “A Night in Tunisia”: Pedal Bass, Phrygian-Dominant Color, Afro-Latin Ostinato, Bebop Contrast, and Switching Musical Worlds Without Losing the Form← prev⊞ allnext →

51.89A powerful arranging checklist

When you want a new section or style, ask:

1. What is the pulse?

2. How is it subdivided?

3. What does the bass do?

4. How quickly does harmony change?

5. Is harmony modal or functional?

6. What is the RH texture?

7. How are phrases articulated?

8. What remains from the previous section?

If you can answer those eight questions, you can design transitions rather than guess.