Chord formation; types of chords; chord extensions; triads; clusters; chord by fourths; chords by seconds
Chord transformations occur when a chord voicing is altered and transforms that chord into a different one. For example, if you have a C major chord and the move the tonic half-step down, you will get the inverted Em chord… Read More »Chord Transformations
Another good way of thickening the melodic line, or to create a harmonic melody, is to use block chords. These are usually played in rhythmic unison with the melody, or very close to it. The name of this harmonic device… Read More »How to Use Block Chords in Your Music
These chords either lead to or act like secondary dominant chords that, in effect, resolve to the dominant chord before the tonicized chord (*see note). For that reason, they are also referred to as pre-dominant chords. If we consider the… Read More »Augmented Sixth Chords
A cluster is a chord built by at least three adjacent tones of a scale. In this form they are similar to chords by seconds as the adjacent tones usually correspond to second intervals as clusters can be based on… Read More »Clusters
Polychords may be built with materials from different tonalities, modes, synthetic scales, etc; and then such materials are explored according to musical context and intentions of the composer. But the provenance of materials for polychordal and polyharmonic technique is not… Read More »Polychords and the Harmonic Series
A polychord consists of two or more chords played together and such chords may be originated from the same or different tonalities – usually the latter is applied. Generally, the used chord in the polychord structures must be perceived independently,… Read More »Polychords
As we have chords by thirds (or 6th), chords by fourths (or fifths), we also have chords built by stacking seconds (or sevenths). Mind you that the fact that a chord by thirds or fourths has seconds in it, doesn’t… Read More »Chords by Seconds
Also referred to as quartal or quintal harmony when the chords are built by stacking fourths or fifths, respectively. These chords don’t need to have these intervals exclusively, as long as fourths or fifths predominate, they are still considered as… Read More »Chords by Fourths and Fifths
Learning how to harmonize a scale is a procedure that will allow you to figure out the possible chord formations as a consequence of using the notes from that tonality. In order to do so you just… Read More »How to Harmonize Scales
Chords aren’t always played in their root position, like a C major with the notes C E and G in this order. While remaining the same, the notes of the chord may change places for practical reasons that may relate… Read More »Chord Inversions
In this post I will be showing you how to make chords with extensions and how to read them. You will also find a table with examples of common chord extensions, that you are likely to come across, together… Read More »Chord Extensions
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
“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
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
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
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
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
A chord is a group of three or more notes played simultaneously that form the basis for harmony. Such notes come from the scale material we are using, or to which the chord notes relate to. In order to form… Read More »Chords
In music, an interval is the relative distance between two notes that can be measured in tones or steps and, in the equal temperament system that uses twelve notes, the smallest measurable unit is a half-step or a half-tone. The… Read More »Intervals
A Neapolitan chord is a major chord built on the flattened second scale degree (the super-tonic) of a major or minor scale. For example, the Neapolitan chord in the key of C major, or minor, would be a Db major chord. These chords often resolve… Read More »Neapolitan Chords
