Questions tagged [harmony]
For questions about the "vertical" aspects of music and how to build and study them.
1,344
questions
55
votes
4
answers
40k
views
What are some chord substitutions for a I-IV-V blues progression?
I was watching a video of SRV and one of the things that really stood out was the fact that he seemed to have a different iteration of the I-IV-V turnaround - and made it look/sound effortless. Any ...
JustnBeaver
43
votes
12
answers
30k
views
Why do many songs in major keys use a bVII chord?
Based on my understanding of chord theory, the chords used in most modern popular songs are comprised of notes that occur in the scale of the tonic key for that song. The I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and ...
- 27.3k
35
votes
8
answers
19k
views
Understanding minor key harmony
A comment discussion under this question from me, clued me in to the fact that I don't really understand how minor keys work very well. So here is what I think I know
The natural minor comes from the ...
- 665
32
votes
11
answers
44k
views
How is counterpoint different from harmony?
Harmony is a kind of second sound you hear. Counterpoint is also the second sound you hear.
Aside from technical differentiation, how can you by ear differentiate these two concepts. Is it possible ...
- 2,273
32
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Why is bass note so important in harmonic analysis of music?
In any type of harmonic analysis the bass plays a big part in determining the function of the harmony. There are even special ways to describe what note of the chord is in the bass (known as ...
Dom♦
- 47.8k
29
votes
9
answers
29k
views
How to dramatically change the feeling of a song while keeping the melody largely the same?
How to dramatically change the feeling of a song while keeping the melody largely the same? Let's say we have a happy, upbeat pop song and we want to turn it into a sad song (or vice versa). Is it ...
- 945
28
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How to create Chord progressions that make sense
I've been reading over Walter Piston's Harmony book, and it has been an eye-opener to say the least. I understand concepts like tension and release, voice leading and so forth, but I still don't ...
- 841
27
votes
4
answers
11k
views
How do I become better at "playing outside"?
One can spend an enormous amount of time playing melodies "in" the tonic. For example if you are in A major, you might favor A major or A lydian. However, there is a term called "...
- 1,867
26
votes
8
answers
21k
views
Is F Lydian mode in the "key" of C Major?
In most cases (if not all), a piece of music without sharps or flats in the key signature, would be considered in the key of C major or A minor. This question assumes the context of Western Music ...
- 27.3k
26
votes
9
answers
7k
views
How to modulate very smoothly and stealthily from major to minor?
I would like to modulate from G major to c minor in such a way that it would be almost unnoticeable to the listener. I'm composing a piece in a style that's very Arvo-Pärtesque minimalist-sounding, so ...
- 2,347
25
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Why does G# sound right when my melody is in C major?
I composed the following melody using notes from the C major scale. In the third bar a G# (Ab) seemed a natural choice to complete the loop, but I don’t understand why.
G# is not in C major nor its ...
- 379
25
votes
6
answers
10k
views
Do capable harmony singers sing in just intonation or tempered tuning?
I understand that the mathematical frequency ratios between certain intervals will correlate with the overtones that are present when a note sounds in a fundamental frequency. Certain predictable ...
- 27.3k
25
votes
11
answers
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 ...
- 353
25
votes
5
answers
30k
views
F# major vs Gb major?
I was looking at Dvorak's Humoresque (op 101 n 7) : it's mostly in G♭ major, in the middle it changes to F♯ minor. This would have looked more natural for me if F♯ major instead of G♭ major were used. ...
- 1,232
23
votes
6
answers
71k
views
What is a secondary dominant chord?
What is a secondary dominant chord? What's the theory behind them? How are they used in composition?
- 16.3k