Alberti bass

Alberti bass is a particular kind of accompaniment in music, often used in the Classical era, and sometimes the Romantic era. It was named after Domenico Alberti (1710–1740), who used it extensively, although he was not the first to use it.^[1]

Alberti bass is a kind of broken chord or arpeggiated accompaniment, where the notes of the chord are presented in the order lowest, highest, middle, highest. This pattern is then repeated.^[1] The broken chord pattern helps to create a smooth, sustained, flowing sound on the piano.

Alberti bass is usually found in the left hand of pieces for keyboard instruments, especially for Mozart's Piano Pieces. However, it is also found in pieces for other instruments. For example Béla Bartók uses it towards the end of his String Quartet No. 5.

A well known example of Alberti bass is found at the beginning of Mozart's Piano Sonata, K 545:^[2]

	K545, movement 1 - Allegro Converted from Mutopia public domain MIDI
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References