Summary
In class today I made a tune for the purpose of better understanding harmony.
Lesson Harmony
https://onlinesequencer.net/293014
It was challenging to find notes that worked together right in a chord.
Lesson Harmony – C Major Chords
https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/alicia-keys/fallin
The chord progression of this song is 1, 5- or tonic to dominant.
The key of the song is in em, which makes the tonic chord em, and the dominant chord bm7.
I like the harmony of this song because it’s very layered and it’s powerful because of that.
My Harmony
https://onlinesequencer.net/875172
I started on C and ended up on C chord. I used many triads to make chords. I payed close attention to my chord progression.
On the first measure I start with only one note which is C. And then on the second measure I do G, E, and D notes. I use more triads and leaps as the progression progresses.
The tonic chord is C and the tension chords are some of the other ones in the C scale.
Harmony Composition Terms
Drone – A continuous note that you can play over
Harmonics – “hidden” notes that help to create higherarchy in chords
Triad – 3 notes that come together and create a chord
Polyphony – many “voices”
Progression – a certain series of chords or notes that “work together” and sound good
Tonic – the first note of a scale “home”
Dominant – the fifth note of a scale that raises tension
Passimezzo Antico – A chord progression that’s a variation of a double tonic. It was popular during the Italian Renaissance
Passimezzo Moderno – “Modern half step” A chord progression that’s a variation of Passimezzo Antico. It divides the section in two and often uses a contrasting progression or section known as ripresi
Dischord – deliberate collision of notes that are meant not to sound “pretty”
Dissonance – lack of harmony between notes “a clash”
Passing Notes – notes that don’t sound “pretty” but they are used a small amount of times like they are just “passing through”
Suspended Notes – dissonant notes being held for as long as possible and then finally moving at the last second
7th Chords – A regular triad chord plus the note seven steps above the first note
Diminished Chords – A regular triad chord with the bottom note being moved up a step
Augmented Chords – A regular triad chord with the last note being moved up a step
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
During this project, I got to learn more about harmony, how harmonies work and more about chords. I mostly used random notes in triads that I thought sounded good but I went back and revised to make them sound better.