BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
10771 / 18210 · Workshop 89 — Independent Clocks at the Piano: Separating Bass Time, Chord Time, Melody Time, and Phrase Time Without Losing the Groove← prev⊞ allnext →

89.21Melody is not “the top note of the chord”

This is a huge conceptual shift.

Yes, vertically it may be part of harmony.

Rhythmically, melody is its own musician.

It can:

  • attack before chord
  • after chord
  • through chord
  • across barline
  • during silence