Questions tagged [harmony]
For questions about the "vertical" aspects of music and how to build and study them.
925
questions
5
votes
2answers
120 views
What is a Diatonic tendency tone?
"In the four-part writing of diatonic seventh chords the fifth may be omitted, in which case the doubled note in a four-part texture should not be a tendency tone. The most common doubling is the root....
3
votes
1answer
28 views
Is there a particular reason why the progression I - II4/2 - V6/5 - I was such a popular opening progression for Baroque keyboard preludes?
I'm currently reading John Mortensen's wonderful book on keyboard improvisation. (See this link here.)
In the chapter on figuration preludes he states that the progression I - II4/2 - V6/5 - I was a ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Melody using a different scale than the bassline - what is it called?
Since I only know some very rudimentary terms in music theory, I don't know what
it's called when one does the following to create a sort-of interesting sound.
Suppose I'm playing the piano, using my ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How to negatively harmonize a major key into different modes other than Aeolian (minor) mode? (T7i inversion)
The T7i inversion transforms a major key into its parallel minor (Aeolian mode).
How do I transform a major key into other modes?
Are there inversions other than T7i?
5
votes
3answers
654 views
Is there a rational method to find out which minor scale sounds best in a given situation?
By rational I mean a method that doesn't entirely depend on one's subjective aesthetics, but rather one that has some kind of system behind it.
The obvious rule that you should use the ascending ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
B major to D major modulation ideas
I am new into jazz and I need some advice. I have a simple chord progression (triads) B major to D major. I want to write a nice "solo" over it.
I need some harmonic help in order to play some ...
9
votes
3answers
672 views
Jazz piano: chords and melody in right hand. How?
Aiming for being capable of playing solo and in ensemble, a jazz pianist is exposed to the following:
Bass player is playing the root tones, hence the pianist can play rootless
When playing alone or ...
1
vote
3answers
76 views
Question about playing over chord changes, go to next chord
In music theory there is a process for going to the next chord that involves playing a note just before the next chord that resolves to a chord tone of the upcoming chord.
However this messes up my ...
4
votes
4answers
226 views
Why aren't those consecutive fifth?
Here below is a sequence of chords C-G-C-E -> G-G-B-D in which, following the teacher who wrote it, there is no consecutive fifths.
(source)
Why aren't C-G -> G-D, respectively present in those ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Rewriting slash chords with chromatic descending bass
I am trying to transcribe a chord progression that appears here (timestamp 0:44).
I'm having trouble naming some of the chords below. I think the last two are correct, and function as the ii-V of B ...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
Blues harmony: readings to learn more [closed]
Reading from similar posts in this site I understood that the standard harmony tools can't explain the typical blues sound made by dominant 7
-chords progressions. But it's clear that these ...
1
vote
4answers
97 views
Jazz piano: problem remembering harmony, melody is fine
In my quest to become a general jazz pianist I practice jazz standards. Having several years experience with violin, a melody instrument, I have no trouble learning and remembering melodies but the ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
“Maybe tomorrow - Stereophonics”, is my analysis right?
I'm an amateur, self tought, musician whos's struggling to learn music theory without knowing solfĆØge.
I'm trying to make harmonic analysis of easy pop tunes to practice and learn.
This song in ...
5
votes
5answers
476 views
Is it possible to state whether someone is singing in tune?
I have a recording of a vocalist accompanied by guitar. The vocalist claims not to have a good voice but swears he is "singing in tune". Is there anyway to determine if this is true and, if in this ...
1
vote
3answers
105 views
Question about Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Take Five
Iām trying to decode "Take Five" and so far I have (for my version) it in the key of F with one flat (B-Flat) and the initial phrase (A Section) is based on a D minor which is the natural minor 6th of ...
3
votes
4answers
115 views
Why do you think many people are drawn to a tonal center?
so im trying to answer this question for my music teacher and i'm trying to do research of it, but she hasn't been very specific with the question...any help?
3
votes
2answers
72 views
What makes Beethovenās False Picardy Third so convincing?
So, thereās one aspect of Beethovenās style that I personally, havenāt been able to write convincing examples of. That would be the False Picardy Third. To clarify, this is what I mean by False ...
1
vote
5answers
141 views
Does there exist a way of notating ones own harmonic language?
It's quite clear to most that certain artists have a distinct sound. While a lot of it may be down to production elements and instrument choice, there can really be no denying that their personal ...
-2
votes
2answers
56 views
Isn't more comfortable to play Cmaj7 chord's root position 1245 instead of 1235 fingers on piano?
As I saw in Youtube and in various websites that Cmaj7 root fingering should be 1235, but for me it would look like more logical to play 1245. Because when I play on RH 1235, my wrist goes to left. ...
4
votes
0answers
22 views
How to complete a scale harmonization using Quantz' Versuch
In Quantz, Versuch einer Anweisung die Flƶte traversiere zu spielen several harmonic/melodic skeletons are presented as the basis of melodic embellishment. Here are four which cover significant ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
How to know if I sing in tune? [duplicate]
I try to sing and to hear my records but I don't know if I sing almost in tune or completely out of tune? How would I know? I will show you several records, can you give me points to improve on?
...
2
votes
4answers
77 views
Help naming/analyzing sus chord and possible secondary dominant
I'm having trouble figuring out how to name the chord in the third measure below. I initially guessed G7sus2 which would make a recognizable IV-V-I cadence, but then I am unsure how to analyze the ...
21
votes
8answers
2k views
Making Sense of Blues Soloing; differentiating major/minor pentatonics
Quarantine has allowed ample time for musical exploration. I'm a classically trained pianist studying music in college, and I'm using this extra time to be immersed in and learn how to play the blues.
...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Writing down chord names and understanding their function in an example
I've been trying to learn more about music theory by transcribing songs. I am not bad at writing down the notes, but have a lot of trouble understanding the chords/harmony.
Below is a sketch of one ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Minor Harmony doubts [duplicate]
I've tried written a little chorale in four parts using minor harmony (Bb minor).
Established that for sure I have done several harmonic errors in terms of parts motion in the sense of traditional ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Little minor parts motion exercise (Exercise 1 from chapter 4 Piston)
Iām studying some minor harmony and Iāve done this little exercise with all chords in root position
My question is: since In a minor setting you have multiple choices about triads (whether you are ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Adding tension to V7 chord
I understand that the V7 chord contains two tendency tones (^4 and ^7), which for a tritone in major keys. The ^4 forms a dissonance with the bass and the ^7 tends strongly to move to ^8. For these ...
2
votes
2answers
105 views
Help with understanding the theory behind this chord progression - James Blunt
I cannot find an answer to some of the chord relations that are present in this song, so any assistance would be great! Particularly in reference to the harmony and theory behind the progression.
The ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Counterpoint with more than 4 parts
In Rachmaninoff Prelude in B Minor Op. 32 No. 10 I've noticed that not all voices are 4 parts. In fact I've noticed that in 19th century and 20th century music there's more than 4 parts in a harmony. ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Harmony analysis of Bach's first prelude?
I am currently trying to analyze the harmony in Bach's first prelude from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier. To do this, I identify the chords, the inversions, borrowed chords, the melody, ...
5
votes
5answers
359 views
Can an Augmented triad be called a Quartal chord?
Since a Quartal chord can be defined as diminished, perfect or augmented fourths, can an augmented triad be analysed as a quartal chord with stacked diminished fourths enharmonically?
Also is the ...
1
vote
0answers
51 views
Stepwise bass movement/intermediate (passing) harmony technique
A song I like adds great motion to an otherwise simple progression by adding passing tones in the bass line, leaving the other harmonies unaltered. Please see the following transcription:
I am ...
5
votes
1answer
195 views
Is this cross relationship of the seventh degree in minor key harmony OK for 18th century style?
Some background. The following is from Gjerdingen, Music in the Galant Style, it's a kind of harmonic sequence called a monte. I'm using it for a model...
...to make a piano drill using full octave ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Harmony of the Jazz Pianist Chris Anderson [closed]
Chris Anderson is a jazz pianist that I came across recently and has caught my attention. His sense of harmony when voicing a tune is really extraordinary. I have found very little information on how ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
How did counterpoint, harmonic rhythm, and thoroughbass interact in the late-Baroque instrumental fugal style?
It may be considered common knowledge that frequent root changes, i.e., a fast harmonic rhythm, usually cause a piece to be perceived as being more purely "harmonic" and less polyphonic in nature. (...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
is fourth to fifth in parallel motion permittable in satb?
I am currently working out some SATB composition and I am wondering a bit about the alto-tenor part. There is fourth to fifth in parallel motion in the first measure. Is this permitted in strict SATB?...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
How does reharm work in jazz
Ive heard a lot about reharminzation however i am kinda confused now because it appears as though you can basically reharmonize any note with a chord as long as the chord fits that note. Which i ...
2
votes
4answers
112 views
The initial phrase in Mozart's Alla Turca
In the initial phrase, if I just saw the melody, I would have been sure that, in the third full measure, the melody switches to (V). Yet the accompaniment stays firmly in (i) and it sounds great. Does ...
1
vote
3answers
75 views
Chromatic parallel six-three chords
I am trying to follow Aldwell and Schachterās analysis of Chopinās Impromptu, Op. 29. I wanted to learn about chromatic voice leading techniques, but I ended up getting stuck simply with their ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
How exactly do the rules of traditional voice leading apply to broken chords?
In Gore Ouseley's Treatise on Harmony (p. 194 of the 1868 edition), the author states:
When chords are broken, care must be taken, first, that every note requiring any fixed progression or ...
3
votes
2answers
169 views
Advice for a budding musician trying to understand composition and music theory
So I have been producing music for around 2 years now, and am an avid listener to many genres of music. I have never been taught music or music theory, but used youtube to get a fundamental albeit ...
23
votes
9answers
7k views
Why does Bach sometimes end with flat 7ths?
I've been studying the Bach inventions, and I see a common patterns in the first 3 inventions: They tend to include the flat 7ths in the very end. Examples:
C major:
D major:
E♭ major:
From a ...
2
votes
2answers
68 views
Has harmony/melody technique regressed in popular music? [closed]
Whenever I watch videos of producers creating songs it just doesnāt seem like much thought is put into the chord progression and melody. It pretty much seems like everyone does the basic pick a scale -...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Why does this chord sound like a very tense C minor when it isn't spelt like C minor at all?
So I have listened to Gustav Holst's The Planets before, especially the first movement, Mars. And in Mars I hear an outright rhythmic and harmonic war. And at the ending I hear a lot of tense C chords ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Is functional harmony considered homophonic?
Sorry if this is an obvious question, but I just want to clear this up. As far as I understand about voice leading, there are essentially two main types. Homophony and polyphony. Functional harmony ...
3
votes
2answers
98 views
Why is the false relation of the tritone objectionable in V-IV but less so in IV-V?
In strict counterpoint, it is forbidden to have a B in one voice and then, in the very next chord, an F in another voice, or vice versa. This is called the false relation of the tritone.
George John ...
1
vote
3answers
79 views
What determines the function of a chord?
Iāve been trying to learn about functional harmony and I keep asking myself the above question. Each chord seems to have a general function (with exceptions) within scales, but why is that so? Were ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Associating modulations with emotions
I once read a book (pdf) from imslp or forgottenbooks that was about composition (or harmony), and it had a list of every possible modulation and its emotional association. For example, Up a perfect ...
1
vote
2answers
123 views
What is wrong with this homemade modes chart?
What may you see right or wrong with this homemade modes chart? This chart is supposedly read vertically. There are definitely some parts I donāt understand Iām just wondering about if itās Accuracy.
4
votes
1answer
240 views
Help with non-diatonic chords in All the Things You Are
The harmony for All the Things You Are seems mostly straightforward, but I'm stuck on a few bars struggling to see where the following non diatonic chords come from. The chords are: C+7 in bar 24, Dā...
