Category: Harmony
-
Embellishing Tones
Non-harmonic tones – don’t fit in chord structures To analyze, circle and identify embellishment. Embellishing tones are classified by their approach, resolution, and melodic direction. They can also be described by their metric placement as accented or unaccented. Passing Tone (PT) Approach: Step Resolution: Step Direction: Same Neighbor Tone (NT) Approach: Step Resolution: Step Direction:…
//
-
Cadences
Cadence – Relative resting point. Can be harmonic or rhythmic. Cadences correspond to the structure of spoken language. They deliver one of two messages: “This is the END!” “This pause is only momentary.” In the Common Practice Period, cadences followed standard formulas. Authentic Cadence Most common Very strong resolution: Leading tone to tonic Most direct…
//
-
Dominant Seventh Chords
Pythagoras 6th century B.C. Fable of the Blacksmith Hammers Harmony of the Spheres Relation of the proportion of heavenly bodies Planet “hums” based on orbital rotation Overtones Fundamental – Base sounding tone Overtone – sympathetic vibrations Harmonics – overtones whose frequencies are whole number ratios with the fundamental The presence or absence of certain overtones…
//
-
Functional Harmony
Potential Energy of Harmony Classical western harmony is very rarely stagnant. It is built upon building tension, then releasing that tension. The circle of fourths shows this momentum. Each chord is the dominant of the next tonic when you travel clockwise around the circle: This also works diatonically (within a given key): A progression releases harmonic…
//
-
Figured Bass
Inversions Inversions occur when a tone other than the root is the lowest sounding voice in a chord. Figured Bass Shorthand dating back to the Baroque era. Performers were expected to improvise a harmony above a written figured bass note. The notation describes diatonic (or chromatic) intervals above a given bass note. “Realizing” A Figured…
//
-
Roman Numeral Analysis
Roman Numeral Analysis (RNA) is very efficient as it shows many things at once in your analysis: Chord quality Chord function Scale degree RNA is written under the staff The following would be a more common progression: Chord Functions The same chord can often be analyzed in multiple keys. Its true function will depend on…
//
-
Triads
Three pitches can be arranged to form a root, 3rd, and 5th. Tertian Harmony – harmony based on 3rds Possible Combinations of Major and Minor Thirds Parallel Triads Triads in Major Major triads in major are called Primary Triads Primary triads can be used to harmonize any diatonic melody. Lead Sheet Symbols Notated above the melodic…
//
-
Modulation Basics
Modulation is the process by which a new tonal center is created. There is a bit of a grey area between secondary chord function, tonicization, and modulation. Tonicization tends to be a temporary twisting of the ear toward a tonic, but in a modulation the tonicization is often more well-established by persistent accidentals or through…
//
-
Closely Related Keys
Closely related keys can be found by looking at the circle of fourths. The three adjacent keys and their relative minors are the keys with the most in common, and modulated to most often because of this. Common Chords Among Closely Related Keys The following charts show the relationships of common chords among closely related…
//
-
Secondary Function
Secondary Leading Tone The most unique triad in the major key is the diminished leading tone triad. Since it is the only diminished triad in major and because it contains the tritone, it is the chord that most effectively allows you to hear the tonic. By constructing a leading tone triad before any major or…
//
Search
Categories
- Analysis (8)
- Charts (4)
- Diagrams (3)
- Featured (5)
- Harmony (19)
- Head Charts (4)
- Intervals (3)
- Jazz (7)
- Listening (1)
- Music Theory 103 (21)
- Music Theory 104 (12)
- Scales (8)
- Seventh Chords (6)
- Theory (35)
- Uncategorized (3)
Tags
There’s no content to show here yet.