Experimenting with the cycle of 5ths
Look at the excerpt below from J S Bach’s work: version 1 is the original
In this original version, consider how Bach inverts the outline of the figures in the lower part compared to the ones in the upper part.
Experiment on a keyboard or ask a partner to play the upper part for you as you improvise a lower part. Try to create a part that fits the upper part e.g. imitation, moving bass line etc.
The next two excerpts suggest answers that gradually become more complicated.
In this version, the lower part is plain with a crotchet rhythm on the root note of each chord.
In this last version, the lower part is more florid and uses arpeggios on the chord.