At your risk.
Feynman on Scientific Method
Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Principle of Least Change in Music
At your risk.
At 1:50 of Don't You Want Me - The Human League, extended dance remix
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Pedal Bass
At your risk.
You don't Fool Me - Queen
Bass stays the same while chords change.
The above example is very interesting as it is one of the very few compositions in history where the bass stays the same for a very long time.
Bass E, harmony E G B (E minor)
Bass E, harmony D #F A (D major)
Bass, harmony C E A (A minor)
It sounds very nice. A fine example of The Principle of Least Change in music.
Pedal Bass is one way of doing least change.
Other examples of Pedal Bass:
Us and Them - Pink Floyd
Against All Odds - Phil Collins at 1:02
Prelude in C minor - Chopin at beginning of chorus 0:40
Tocatta and Fugue in D minor - J. S. Bach at 0:26 to 0:38, 1:18 to 1:31, 6:49 to 7:04
One day we had a nice conversation with songwriter Mimis Plessas. He explained that pedal bass can be generalized to a constant melody while other parts are changing.
For example from the beginning, Just an Illusion - Imagination
We are not here to save the world
At your risk.
By Lambros.
But if we can make it a bit better let be it.
One day there was a book on sale. Opening in random it said do everyday a little thing that makes the environment better. I did not buy the book but I strongly remember just this one thing so everyday if I see something that I do not like, for example a foreign object in the forest it is removed.
Shakespeare in a play says something like, do less harm.
In the play Merchant of Venice:
"And I beseech you, / Wrest once the law to your authority. / To do a great right, do a little wrong..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)