Split Chords
As it may happen with polychords, split chords may also imply polytonality. This type of chord is usually a chord built in thirds to which a change is made to one of its chord members and added to it. Those… Read More »Split Chords
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Drop Chord Voicings
“Drop” is a name that describes how a chord was derived from another chord. These chords are usually, but not limited to, seventh chords that are built by dropping the second highest note of that chord one octave down –… Read More »Drop Chord Voicings
Harmonic Minor Scale and Modes
Before we dive in, it is important to understand how this scale can be built. The harmonic minor scale stems from a need to have a leading tone in a minor scale that naturally doesn’t exist. In essence, the… Read More »Harmonic Minor Scale and Modes
Two-Octave Scales
These scales can be built either with the repetition of the tonic as the root for the second octave, or not. The easiest way of building such scales is by combining two different scales, like so: There are many harmonic… Read More »Two-Octave Scales
Tonality
Simply put, tonality is a system of musical organization using the same set of notes and chords in which there are perceived relationships with the pitches or chords from within the same group of notes – stabilities, attractions and… Read More »Tonality
The Diatonic Modes
Throughout the post, I’ll be explaining what are modes and how you can use them; how you can make chords to emphasize that mode; and compare how they sound differently from each other – the different shades of major… Read More »The Diatonic Modes
Functional Harmony
The term applies to music that works within a tonal framework and uses chords that have specific functions in that tonality. The functionality of a given chord is based on where the chord “wants” to go next because a harmonic… Read More »Functional Harmony
Microform as a Low Level Organizational Structure
To lower-level organizational structures I call them Microform and these decisions are related to materials inside a given section or how to prepare to go to the next section. At this point, I am referring to rhythmic parts, melodies, harmony… Read More »Microform as a Low Level Organizational Structure
Form – Common Structures and Macroform
A commonly accepted definition is that music is organized sound and to do so, we use the musical elements. Any of the presented materials, thus far, would not make much sense if they were not combined and organized in such… Read More »Form – Common Structures and Macroform
Chord Voicing and the Perceived Quality of Dissonance and Consonance
In this post I will be giving you some tips about chord voicing. In a previous article, I have tackled this subject but, as a refresher, it refers to how the notes of a chord are distributed or placed.… Read More »Chord Voicing and the Perceived Quality of Dissonance and Consonance
Chord Voicings
It is related to the way the notes of the chord are distributed or spaced. A chord may be executed in close position (the most compact voicing), or in open position (wider spacing): We are always referring to the same… Read More »Chord Voicings
Matching Scales to Chords
Chords are made from scale materials or pitch sets, meaning that any scale that contains the notes of a particular chord that is being used is a potential candidate to be used over it. But something to always be… Read More »Matching Scales to Chords
The Pentatonic Major and Minor Scales
When I mentioned the overtone series and that the pentatonic scale is one of the most used and recognized scales in the world, you probably noticed that there were some scale degrees missing. Probably, the most commonly used pentatonic scale… Read More »The Pentatonic Major and Minor Scales
The Diatonic Major and Minor Scales
The first diatonic scales we will be looking at are the natural major and minor. Scales can be classified as being major or minor, depending on the third interval between the tonic and the mediant – a major third is… Read More »The Diatonic Major and Minor Scales
Texture
It can be related to how many instruments are playing at a given time and it can be thick or dense (lots of instruments); light or sparse (fewer instruments). But it is also related to other elements of music, such… Read More »Texture
Chord Formations – Triads and Tetrads
Chords by Thirds The first chord constructions we will be looking at are the chords stacked by thirds. These chord formations must be one of the most commonly used and, in their simplest form, they are called triads. A triad… Read More »Chord Formations – Triads and Tetrads
Dynamics
Dynamics refers to how loud or soft a musician needs to play a particular musical passage. Being one the expressive elements of music, using dynamics in a piece of music may help sustain the interest, avoid boredom by adding variety… Read More »Dynamics
What is Harmony?
Harmony is a term used to describe two or more notes sounding together. When we looked at chords, you probably noticed that they are built from the bottom up just like the overtone series, forming a “vertical” structure. But harmony… Read More »What is Harmony?
Symmetric Scales
A symmetrical scale is basically one that results from the equal division of an octave. I will only be approaching the most common but there are many other ways to divide the octave. This symmetry is also usually present even… Read More »Symmetric Scales
Composing with Pentatonic Material
In this post I will show you some ways of being creative with pentatonic scales. In the end you can hear the music track I composed by taking the most from intervals and chord relationships that you can derive while… Read More »Composing with Pentatonic Material