Make Endless Piano Melodies From Just 3 Notes: Subdivisions (Part 1)
By dividing each beat into smaller units (subdivisions) and moving notes earlier (anticipation) or later (delay) onto those units, you can turn a simple three-note melody like D E F E into many different, rhythmically interesting phrases while the left hand keeps a steady pulse.
Key points
- Subdivisions split each beat into 2, 3 or 4 parts, giving 8, 12 or 16 slots in a bar of 4/4.
- A simple four-note melody, D E F E, changes character when notes are moved onto off-beats.
- Anticipation moves a note earlier to the previous 'and'. A delay moves it later to its own 'and'.
- Keep a steady left-hand pulse on the root, here D, to stay in time.
- Clap and count each rhythm first, then try the same rhythms with other notes.
This lesson by Jason Zac shows how much variety you can get from only three notes, D, E and F, once you understand subdivisions. It suits newer pianists and musicians on any instrument, because the idea is about rhythm rather than piano technique. Part 1 explains subdivisions and works through the eighth-note grid. Triplets and sixteenth notes follow in Part 2.
The Basic Melody and Left-Hand Pulse
The starting melody is four notes, one on each beat of a bar of 4/4: D, E, F, E. Played on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4, it is simple and a little plain.
While the right hand plays the melody, the left hand holds the pulse. It repeats the root of the key, here D, on the beat. This steady pulse tells you exactly where each beat and subdivision falls. Jason Zac stresses that you should keep the pulse going in the left hand and avoid playing piano with one hand only, because two-handed playing builds better habits.
What Are Subdivisions?
A beat is a fixed container of time. At 120 BPM each beat lasts half a second, and at 60 BPM it lasts one second, like a ticking clock. You can place as much musical information inside that container as you like by dividing it into smaller units. Think of a measuring tape: a room is not just 10 feet but perhaps 10 feet and 3 inches. Subdivisions are the inches inside the beat.
- Divide by 2 (quavers or eighth notes): count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. A bar of 4/4 now has 8 slots.
- Divide by 3 (triplets): count 1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a. A bar now has 12 slots.
- Divide by 4 (semiquavers or sixteenth notes): count 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a. A bar now has 16 slots.
You do not have to fill every slot. The point is that you still play only four notes, but you now have many more places to put them. Without subdivisions you have only four choices. With them, the same notes can land in many different spots.
The Eighth-Note Melody Grid
Using the eighth-note count, you reshape D E F E by moving single notes off the beat.
Anticipations: moving a note earlier
- Anticipate beat 4: play the fourth note on the and of 3 instead of on 4.
- Anticipate beat 3: play the third note on the and of 2.
- Anticipate beat 2: play the second note on the and of 1.
Delays: moving a note later
- Delay beat 1: nothing sounds on 1. The first note lands on the and of 1.
- Delay beat 2: the second note moves to the and of 2. The other notes stay where they are.
- Delay beat 3: the third note moves to the and of 3.
- Delay beat 4: the fourth note moves to the and of 4.
Each change gives a noticeably different melody, even though the notes never change.
Combining anticipations and delays
The lesson then shows five eighth-note combinations that mix both ideas. In some, one beat moves. In others, two beats move earlier or later. One pattern includes a rest, which you can observe or let the note ring through. Another clusters the notes closely together.
How to Practise
- Count out loud in eighth notes (1 and 2 and) and keep the count steady.
- Clap each rhythm before you play it.
- Keep the left-hand D pulse going under every pattern.
- When you are comfortable, keep the same rhythm but try other notes you know.
- Improvise your own anticipations and delays on the eighth-note grid before moving on to triplets and sixteenths.
Questions about this lesson
What is a subdivision in music?
A subdivision is a division of one beat into smaller equal parts. Dividing by two gives eighth notes (1 and 2 and), by three gives triplets (1 and a), and by four gives sixteenth notes (1 e and a).
How can three notes make many different melodies?
Keep the same notes, such as D E F E, but change where they fall inside the beat. Moving notes onto off-beat subdivisions creates new rhythms, so the same pitches sound like different melodies.
What is the difference between anticipating and delaying a note?
Anticipating moves a note earlier, for example playing beat 4 on the 'and' of 3. Delaying moves it later, for example playing beat 1 on the 'and' of 1, so nothing sounds on the beat itself.
What should the left hand do during these exercises?
The left hand keeps a steady pulse on the root of the key, which is D in this lesson. This keeps your timing accurate and builds the habit of playing with both hands.
Practise it
- Rhythm TeacherBuild accent patterns, divide beats and explore odd metres and polyrhythms.
- Rhythm ArithmeticBuild a phrase from sounds and silences, see it become staff notation, and loop it for practice.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
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