View source for Accompaniment

{{short description|Part of a musical composition}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2018}}
[[File:Accompainment Waltz.png|thumb|right|200px|A [[waltz]] melody, which is usually in triple meter, is often supported by an "oom-pah-pah"-style accompaniment, which consists of a bass note in beat one followed by a chord that is played twice in beats two and three. {{audio|Accompaniment Walzer.mid|Play}}]]
[[File:Walking bass.PNG|thumb|right|250px|"[[Walking bass]]lines", so-named because they rise and fall in a regular pattern, are a widely used style of accompaniment [[bassline]] in [[jazz]], [[blues]] and [[rockabilly]]. {{audio|Walking bass quarter notes in C.mid|Play}}]]
[[File:Gitarre continuo.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A [[guitar]]ist playing the [[basso continuo]] accompaniment part for [[Baroque music]] composer [[Antonio Vivaldi]]'s Cello concerto in 2008.]]
'''Accompaniment''' is the [[part (music)|musical part]] which provides the [[rhythm]]ic and/or [[harmony (music)|harmonic]] support for the [[melody]] or main themes of a [[song]] or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in different genres and styles of music. In [[homophony|homophonic music]], the main accompaniment approach used in [[popular music]], a clear vocal melody is supported by subordinate [[chord (music)|chord]]s. In [[popular music]] and [[traditional music]], the accompaniment parts typically provide the "beat" for the music and outline the [[chord progression]] of the song or instrumental piece.

The accompaniment for a vocal melody or instrumental solo can be played by a single musician playing an instrument such as [[piano]], [[pipe organ]], or [[guitar]]. While any instrument can in theory be used as an accompaniment instrument, keyboard and guitar-family instruments tend to be used if there is only a single instrument, as these instruments can play chords and [[bassline]]s simultaneously (chords and a bassline are easier to play simultaneously on keyboard instruments, but a [[fingerpicking]] guitarist can play chords and a bassline simultaneously on guitar). A solo singer can accompany themself by playing guitar or piano while they sing, and in some rare cases, a solo singer can even accompany themself just using their voice and body (e.g., [[Bobby McFerrin]]).

Alternatively, the accompaniment to a vocal melody or instrumental solo can be provided by a [[musical ensemble]], ranging in size from a [[Musical duo|duo]] (e.g., cello and piano; guitar and double bass; [[synthesizer]] and percussion); a trio (e.g., a rock [[power trio]] of [[electric guitar]], [[electric bass]] and [[drum kit]]; an [[organ trio]]); a quartet (e.g., a [[string quartet]] in [[Classical music]] can accompany a solo [[singer]]; a [[rock band]] or [[rhythm section]] in rock and pop; a [[jazz quartet]] in jazz); all the way to larger ensembles, such as [[concert band]]s, [[Big Band]]s (in jazz), [[pit orchestra]]s in [[musical theatre]]; and [[orchestra]]s, which, in addition to playing [[symphony|symphonies]], can also provide accompaniment to a [[concerto]] solo instrumentalist or to solo singers in [[opera]]. With [[choral music]], the accompaniment to a vocal solo can be provided by other singers in the [[choir]], who sing [[harmony part]]s or [[countermelody|countermelodies]].

Accompaniment parts range from so simple that a beginner can play them (e.g., simple three-note [[triad (music)|triad]] chords in a traditional folk song) to so complex that only an advanced player or singer can perform them (e.g., the piano parts in [[Schubert]]'s [[Lieder]] [[art song]]s from the 19th century or vocal parts from a [[Renaissance music]] [[motet]]).

==Definition==<!--[[Accompanist]] redirects directly here-->
[[Image:Mozart k545 opening.svg|thumb|290px|Mozart's ''[[Piano Sonata No. 16 (Mozart)|Piano Sonata, K 545]]'' opening. The right hand plays the melody, which is in the top stave. The left hand plays the accompaniment part, which is in the lower stave. In the first bar of the accompaniment part, the pianist plays a C Major chord in the left hand; this chord is [[arpeggio|arpeggiated]] (i.e., a chord in which the notes are played one after the other, rather than simultaneously). {{audio|Mozart k545 opening.mid|Play}}]]
An '''accompanist''' is a musician who plays an accompaniment part. Accompanists often play [[keyboard instrument]]s (e.g., [[piano]], [[pipe organ]], [[synthesizer]]) or, in folk music and traditional styles, a [[guitar]]. While [[sight-reading]] (the ability to play a notated piece of music without preparing it) is important for many types of musicians, it is essential for professional accompanists. In auditions for musical theater and orchestras, an accompanist will often have to sight read music.

A number of [[European classical music|classical]] [[pianist]]s have found success as accompanists rather than soloists; arguably the best known example is [[Gerald Moore]], well known as a [[Lied]]er accompanist. In some American schools, the term [[collaborative piano]] is used, and hence, the title "collaborative pianist" (or collaborative artist) is replacing the title accompanist, because in many [[art song]]s and [[contemporary classical music]] songs, the piano part is complex and demands an advanced level of musicianship and technique. The term ''accompanist'' also refers to a musician (typically a pianist) who plays for singers, dancers, and other performers at an [[audition]] or [[rehearsal]]—but who does not necessarily participate in the ensemble that plays for the final performance (which might be an [[orchestra]] or a [[big band]]).

===Accompaniment figure===<!--[[Accompaniment figure]] redirects directly here-->
An '''accompaniment figure''' is a musical gesture used repeatedly in an accompaniment, such as:
* [[Alberti bass]] and other [[arpeggio]] figures
* [[ostinato|Ostinati]] figures (repeated lines) or, in popular music, [[riff]]s

Notated accompaniment may be indicated [[obbligato]] (obliged) or [[ad libitum]] (at one's pleasure).

===Dialogue accompaniment===<!--[[Dialogue accompaniment]] redirects directly here-->
'''Dialogue accompaniment''' is a form of [[call and response (music)|call and response]] in which the lead and accompaniment alternate, the accompaniment playing during the [[Rest (music)|rests]] of the lead and providing a [[drone (music)|drone]] or silence during the main melody or [[vocal]].<ref>[[Peter van der Merwe (musicologist)|van der Merwe, Peter]] (1989). ''Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth-Century Popular Music'', p.320. Oxford: Clarendon Press. {{ISBN|0-19-316121-4}}.</ref>

==Notation and improvisation==
The accompaniment instrumentalists and/or singers can be provided with a fully notated accompaniment part written or printed on [[sheet music]]. This is the norm in [[Classical music]] and in most large ensemble writing (e.g., [[orchestra]], [[pit orchestra]], [[choir]]). In [[popular music]] and [[traditional music]], the accompaniment instrumentalists often [[Music improvisation|improvise]] their accompaniment, either based on a [[lead sheet]] or chord chart which indicates the [[chord (music)|chord]]s used in the [[song]] or piece (e.g., C Major, d minor, G7, or [[Nashville Number System|Nashville Numbers]] or Roman numerals, such as I, ii, V7, etc.) or by "[[playing by ear]]". To achieve a stylistic correct sound the accompaniment pattern should remind or imitate the original version using similar rhythms and patterns.

Chord-playing musicians (e.g., those playing [[guitar]], [[piano]], [[Hammond organ]], etc.) can improvise chords, [[fill (music)|"fill-in" melodic lines]] and solos from the chord chart. It is rare for chords to be fully written out in music notation in pop and traditional music. Some guitarists, bassists and other stringed instrumentalists read accompaniment parts using [[tabulature]] (or "tab"), a notation system which shows the musician where on the instrument to play the notes. Drummers can play accompaniment by following the lead sheet, a sheet music part in music notation, or by playing by ear.

In pop and traditional music, bass players, which may be [[upright bass]] or [[electric bass]], or another instrument, such as [[bass synth]], depending on the style of music, are usually expected to be able to improvise a [[bassline]] from a chord chart or learn the song from a recording. In some cases, an [[arranger]] or [[composer]] may give a bassist a bass part that is fully written out in [[music notation]]. In. some arranged music parts, there is a mix of written-out accompaniment and improvisation. For example, in a [[big band]] bass part, the introduction and melody ("head") to a tune may have a fully notated bassline, but then for the improvised solos, the arranger may just write out chord symbols (e.g., Bb G7/c min F7), with the expectation that the bassist improvise her own [[walking bass]] part.

==See also==
* [[Accordion]] left hand
* [[Comping (jazz)]]
* [[Counter-melody]]
* [[Figure (music)]]
* [[Figured bass]] (Basso continuo)
* [[Guitar picking]]
* [[Hauptstimme]]
* [[Strum]]

==References==
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{{Harmony}}

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[[Category:Rhythm section]]