The term dominant refers to the fifth scale degree of a diatonic scale.
There is a difference between tonic and tonic function or dominant and dominant function, and so on. Tonic FamilyĪllow me to make a clear distinction. The 7 chords formed by harmonizing a scale can be ascribed to three-chord functions or families. Now, we’ll see how these chords are categorized into three families based on chord functions and tendencies.
#Harmonic music how to
So far, we understand the music theory related to a key (tonal center) and how to form diatonic chords within a key. Plus, understanding how to harmonize a scale is the cornerstone of composition. It will enable you to harmonize any scale with triads of four-note chords.
#Harmonic music series
It’s important to learn this concept rather than memorize a diatonic series of chords or numerals. Here, C is our diatonic tonal center and the others are the triads built on the remaining scale degrees. You can continue to use this process to find the triad for every scale degree and you will end up with Cmaj, Dm, Em, Fmaj, Gmaj, Am, and Bdim. Read up on our illustrated guide to the types of triads to learn more. Once we get the three notes (chord spelling), we can determine if the triad is major, minor, diminished, or augmented. If you look at the table above, we are just picking alternating notes: C-E-G, D-F-A, E-G-B, and so on. the third of D in this scale is F, and the third of F is A so that gives us the Dm triad (D F A). To find the other chords, we will stack diatonic thirds i.e. We know that the first chord is a C major triad (C E G). Let’s write down the C major with roman numerals: C I will harmonize the C major scale but you can apply the same concept to other scales and even derive four-note chords (such as maj7 or m7). How Do You Harmonize A Scale With Chords?ĭo you remember how to find out the chord harmony of any parent scale in a diatonic situation? Just stack diatonic thirds! Thus, it defines the “chord quality” in relation to a tonal center and helps you approach it as a dynamic force of creative expression and storytelling. Each vibe becomes a category or family of chords because of the way they make you (and your audience) feel. If I strip it of all the music theory jargon, I would say chord function is an interplay of three “vibes” – unstable, tense, restful. It is understood through a categorization of diatonic chords into three functions or families – Tonic (T), Subdominant/Predominant (S), and Dominant (D). Harmonic function is the tendency of chords to rest or progress to other chords. What Role Do Chords Play in Music Theory? Understanding harmonic function will improve your listening, anticipation, and composition. If you do it intuitively, that purpose still exists but is totally haphazard. The tonic refers to the primary note or first scale degree of any diatonic scale (C in C major).Ī tonic triad is stable and the primary focus of the melody and harmony.Īll the chords in the key have a purpose based on when/where/how you place them. I say diatonic because it only applies to tonal music – the stuff with a home key (which is a majority of the music). They have what we call “harmonic function” or “diatonic function” in tonal music. Harmonic Function: The Purpose of ChordsĮvery musical element has a “function” which describes the role of that element in the larger context of a piece of music. In this article, we’ll look at harmonic functions and learn how you can use them to improve your improvisation and songwriting skills. I don’t mean to sound like that shady guy on late-night adverts, but learning about harmonic functions changed my life! Well, at least my musical life. In turn, these chords create movement, restfulness, or instability to convey the creative aspirations of the musician. Good composers select and place chords with a specific intention. Composers build chord progression for a piece of music with a solid understanding of these functions. Chord progressions are formed on a solid foundation of diatonic harmony rather than intuition.
Over time, I realized that chords are neither indiscriminate nor random. You gotta learn the rules to break ‘em, right? It also made it impossible for me to grasp chromatic harmony.
I would get stuck, confused, and frustrated. That’s all dandy, but I was the only one paying the price for it. I made it sound like a good thing by calling it “intuition” and wore it as some facetious self-taught badge of honor.
#Harmonic music trial
I would play a chord and then stumble into the next chord by trial and error.
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