Have you ever heard of Domenico Alberti? Probably not. Yet many of us enjoyed to play Classical Sonatas, starting at early age. Have you noticed the distinguish Sonata style, that is so different from any other Piano work? One can truly say: “ I’ve just heard this beautiful Sonata, and want to learn to play it “. You can never be mistaken with recognition of the Classical Piano Sonata genre. So, what makes it being so very different from any other musical work?
The Left Hand (in the Base Clef) piano accompaniment in Classical Sonatas based upon arpeggiated broken chords, which falls into kind of formulated pattern. So, instead of using simple solid chords by just playing 1st , 3rd and 5th of the triad, the pattern brakes into: 1st-5th, 3rd-5th of the triad.
The creator of this very pattern was Domenico Alberti - Italian Musician (c. 1710-1740), born in Venice , who was singer, harpsichordist and composer whose works bridge the Baroque and Classical periods. Alberti’s Dozens of Harpsichord Sonatas were all written with the use of broken chords pattern, mentioned above. His musical works considered to be more in the amateur side, and were forgotten after his death. Mozart's first violin sonatas, written at the age of seven, were modeled on Alberti’s accompaniment in spite of their superior cleverness. Thus, the term of ALBERTI BASS was born , finding it’s prominent way in works of Great Viennese Masters : Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. That is why, after hearing Alberti Bass being played, usually in fast repetitive rhythmic pattern, we can never be mistaken with the Classical Sonata genre. The notes vary as the chords change, but the rhythmic pattern of Alberti Bass in the Left Hand pattern remains the same:

Great Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven immortalized Alberti Bass accompaniment , using this pattern not only in easy to very advanced Keyboard , or Violin Sonatas, but in their Symphonies as well.
Alberti Bass is still popular today, and can be found (who could ever guess) in some of the Heavy Rock music. The famous groups such as Deep Purple, or Led Zeppelin happily employed Alberti Bass in their works. The recent group Coldplay used Alberti Bass in their most famous song “Clocks”. This song was dominating the charts for 9 weeks around the Globe.


1 . Have you ever noticed the similarity between Sonatas, that makes you wonder about the style of this genre?
2. Look at your pieces you play now, or used to play in previous years. Can you circle a few Alberti Bass spots?
3. Did you ever tried Alberti Bass pattern in your own music, created by YOU?