An ostinato can appear in the bass, inner voices, or accompaniment figures.
In guitar music, it often supports variation, sequence, and layered texture.
Ostinato practice helps develop rhythmic steadiness and dynamic control because repeated figures must remain stable while other voices move.
In arranging and performance, listen for:
- consistency of pulse across repetitions
- tonal balance between repeated pattern and melody
- subtle phrasing changes that prevent the pattern from sounding mechanical