intro
LEXIS
Introductory prelude to a modern piece of music, corresponding to the prelude or the overture in classical works, which should lead to the main part. The intro prepares listeners and musicians for the essential characteristics of the piece such as melody, rhythm, tempo and key. Often it is two, four or eight bars long.
Often it has the following elements:
Ostinato
Ostinato
An ostinato is a (possibly shortened) motif or a rhythm, which repeats again and again in the main part and characterizes the piece as a whole.
Harmonic ostinato
When certain chord progressions are repeated, this is called harmonious ostinato. Especially popular are 1625 (I-vi-ii-V7) and 1645 (I-vi-IV-V7), but 3625 (iii-VI7-ii-V7) or 6225 (vi-II7-ii-V7) will also work. The chords may e.g. be played as arpeggio, each chord lasting for a whole bar.
1625
1645
3625
6225
Riff
A riff is a short melodic phrase (often in two bars) which is presented in the intro and occurs again and again in the piece („leitmotif“).
Bar repetition
Bar repetition
First bar
The first bar of the main part can be presented in the intro; the melody must however be adapted to the harmony.
Final phrase
In general, a piece of music ends on the root chord. It therefore makes sense to play the complete final phrase (for example the last 2, 4 or 8 bars) of a piece as an intro. As a variation, it makes sense to play this phrase in reverse (of course, adapted to the rhythm of the piece).