Approximating ritardando using tempo changes
If you have a series of crotchets (quarter notes), and you want to effect an approximate ritardando by using tempo markings, which of the following would sound more natural:
Arithmetic Progression: decrease tempo by a fixed value for successive crotchets, e.g. 100, 90, 80, 70; or
Geometric Progression: either decrease tempo by a applying a fixed ratio of the previous tempo for successtive crotchet, .e.g 100, 90, 81, 73; or alternatively decrease tempo by a fixed value for a geometrically increase duration, e.g. for crotchets 1,2,4,8, use tempo 100, 90, 80, 70?
NB: For context, this is used as a workaround to achieve a rit effect during playback for some sequencers.
(2)2 Comments
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I sometimes use 100-90-80-70 ... *1)
but mind this is not arithmetical because this is actually -1/10 ...-1/9...-1/8...-1/7 ...
1*) well, just because I am to lazy to try out other BPM ;)
I would say neither would sound more “natural”, music is subjective, one might sound better or worse to you. If I am reading a piece I’m not looking for numerical patterns in tempo changes so I would opt for 100 90 80 etc. for simplicity. If you played the sequence for others both ways I would guess 95% of them wouldn’t notice a difference so sequence it the way it sounds good to you but keep it simple for sight readers.
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