June 2026 – Bill

[Bill]

Hey there AM’rs! Been busy so just improvised a bit here today. Kind of came up with a theme to go back to.

Figured it would be fun to challenge myself within the limitations of two chords by doing a less familiar time signature and working in a minor key.

The opening sequence is the same 2 chords (A minor and E7, with extensions, which begs the questions, what even is a chord anyway??) in a series of inversions in rubato time.

I look forward to seeing the creativity of the community on display!

• This topic was modified 5 hours, 22 minutes ago by Bill.

[Michael Krailo]

Wow, that was very unique. That was really good and the time signature is something I wasn’t familiar with and had to look it up. The results are notated below. I’m still not sure I understand it.

Rubato (short for tempo rubato, meaning “robbed time”) is an expressive performance practice where a musician slightly speeds up or slows down the tempo of a piece while maintaining the underlying time signature and beat structure. Unlike free time or ad libitum sections, which lack a fixed meter, rubato relies on a steady pulse where time “stolen” from one note or phrase is “repaid” by accelerating in another to preserve the overall duration.

Because rubato involves flexible timing, it is typically notated within a standard time signature (such as 4/4 or 3/4) using expressive markings like ritardando, accelerando, or simply the word rubato. In music notation software like Finale, this can be simulated by suspending the time signature for a specific measure (e.g., setting a measure to 15/4 while displaying 4/4) or by using human playback plugins to apply random tempo fluctuations, as the actual performance deviates from strict metronomic precision.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[Bill]

Hey Michael, yeah, rubato loosely means to just play something out of time. Good for doing some sort of intro to a tune where you might play the last few chords and hint at the melody.
Plus if you tell the band “I’m gonna play a Rubato intro”, you can ask for more money after the gig 😅

[Dieter]

Wow, that sounds wonderful. Excellent jazzy playing with so many great ideas and chord variations.

Dieter

[JoeD1]

That was really cool and the tremolo effect was nice.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Tremelow]

That sounded very nice, Bill. I too had to look up robato time. That is a very useful stylish element. Again, the sound of your composition is very pleasing.

[sunjamr]

I am enlightened (I think)! Your submission has caused me to question the very nature of chords, timing, life, the universe, and everything. After much reflection and deep Zen meditation, I have concluded that the answer is: 49.

Sunjamr Steve

[AndréM]

Nice playing this latin vibe.

AndréM

AndréM

[Author]

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