Composing devices: developing a motif

Great composers do not need endless new ideas. They take one small idea and develop it in clever ways.

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Pitch devices

Take the motif C D E G:
Repetition: play it again exactly.
Sequence: repeat it starting on a different note, for example D E F A.
Inversion: turn it upside down, so every step up becomes a step down by the same number of scale steps (keeping to the key): C B A F.
Retrograde: play it backwards: G E D C.
Imitation: one part copies another a little later, like a round. Strict imitation all the way through is a canon.

Rhythm devices

Augmentation: make the note values longer (often doubled): crotchets become minims.
Diminution: make the note values shorter (often halved): crotchets become quavers.
Syncopation, dotted rhythms and triplets can also transform a motif.
Changing the dynamics, instrument or harmony under a motif also develops it.

Building a piece

Ostinato: a repeated pattern, used to build layers.
Pedal note: a long held or repeated note, usually in the bass, while the harmony above changes. It can create tension.
Drone: two or more notes held throughout (often the 1st and 5th notes of the scale).
Contrast: a new section with a different key, tempo, texture or mood.
A good composition balances unity (repetition, so it hangs together) and variety (contrast, so it stays interesting).
Worked example

A motif has four crotchets: C D E G. Augment it. How many beats does it now last?

  1. Augmentation doubles the note values, so each crotchet (1 beat) becomes a minim (2 beats).
  2. The notes stay the same: C D E G.
  3. 4 notes × 2 beats = 8 beats, instead of 4.

Answer: C D E G as four minims: 8 beats.

Key idea

Develop a motif with repetition, sequence, inversion (upside down), retrograde (backwards), imitation, augmentation (longer notes) and diminution (shorter notes). Use ostinatos, pedal notes and drones, and balance unity with variety.

Key words
Motif
A short musical idea that can be repeated and developed.
Sequence
A motif repeated starting on a higher or lower note.
Inversion
Turning a motif upside down, so steps up become steps down.
Retrograde
Playing a motif backwards.
Imitation
When one part copies a phrase played by another part a little later.
Diminution
Making the note values of a motif shorter, often halving them.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. A motif C E G played in retrograde becomes...

    1. G E C
    2. C E G
    3. C A F
    4. C G E
    Show the answer

    Answer: G E C

    Retrograde reverses the order.

  2. A motif goes up a step then up a third. Inverted, what does it do?

    1. Goes down a step then down a third
    2. Goes up a step then up a third
    3. Plays the notes backwards
    4. Uses longer notes
    Show the answer

    Answer: Goes down a step then down a third

    Inversion flips the direction.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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