ground bass
"Ground bass" is a fundamental technique in music, particularly prominent in Baroque compositions, where a repeating bass line forms the foundation for variations above it.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Music Composition
(technical, academic)A repeating bass line that forms the structural foundation of a piece, allowing for variations in the upper parts.
Example
- The composer used a ground bass to give the piece a stable harmonic foundation.
- In Baroque music, ground bass was often employed to create intricate variations above a steady bass line.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "ground bass":