Stable and Unstable
Feel which notes settle and which want to move
🎯 Practice it: Which Feels Settled? →The Gravity Test
Play each note below against the background chord. Which notes feel 'settled'? Which feel like they want to move somewhere?
Sort the notes in your mind: Settled vs. Restless.
Train your ear with these drills
▸ Read the full lesson as text
The Gravity Test
Play each note below against the background chord. Which notes feel 'settled'? Which feel like they want to move somewhere?
Sort the notes in your mind: Settled vs. Restless.
Three Levels of Stability
Stable (1, 3, 5) — These are the notes of the home chord. They blend in perfectly.
Less Stable (2, 4, 6) — These create gentle motion. They want to move, but not urgently.
Unstable (7) — Maximum tension. This note desperately wants to go to 1.
Tension and Release
Create a melody that:
- Starts stable (1, 3, or 5)
- Moves to unstable (7)
- Resolves back to stable (1)
Feel the journey from rest to tension to rest.
The Stability Test
Can you hear the difference? Stable notes end phrases. Unstable notes continue them.