Noodle Challenge Day 21
Make space
“Music is the silence between the notes.”
Noodle Info
Are your noodlings getting a bit busy? Probably because you are exploring all the possibilities.
It’s tempting to make our improvisations busy like the world around us.
Today, take Debussy’s lead and make space for silence or at least longer durations.
Sometimes, less is more.
Notice how you can still read the “21” in the graphic above even though all the borders are unclear. This is using negative space.
Negative space is a term used in art to describe the space surrounding a subject. It is typically empty and lacks details to simplify an image. Learn more here.
In honor of the French composer, here's your invitation to borrow one of his most gorgeous three-chord progressions and explore the “negative” space between each chord.
Can you guess what piece I swiped it from?
Psst…get out your recording app!
Your Challenge
Play the three chords in root position, hands alone, and hands together.
Explore ways to rearrange the chord tones so there is more space between the chord tones. This is called open voicing.
Block each chord (play all pitches together in their new spacing) and linger on each one before moving to the next.
Loop the three chords until you land on the voicing you like.
Explore what pitches to add between the chords, but remember that LESS is MORE.
EXTRAS:
Arpeggiate your open-voiced chords.
Transpose to a new key.
Add new chords following Debussy’s lead.
Ab is in all three chords—what other chord uses an Ab?
Fb is enharmonic to E major. Thinking in the key of E, what chord could follow?
Always ask yourself: What if I?
Did you stumble upon something amazing today?
Make sure to share it on Facebook or Instagram and tag me @leilaviss.
Use hashtag #30daynoodlechallenge.
Got burning theory questions? I default to this site quite often.
