Read 

• Accompanimental Textures (Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st Century Classroom)

• Continued work from Lesson 2-1: 

  • • Voice Leading Paradigms for Harmony in Music Composition (Berklee Online) 

    • Jazz Voicings (Megan Lavengood, OMT)

Explore

Check out some of the sample accompanimental patterns in the attachment below, then try creating your own. If you open the file in your notation program, you'll be able to listen to the examples and edit to create your own. 

• PDF

• MuseScore

• Music XML (File, Sibelius, Note Flight)

Activities

• Billy Joel, "New York State of Mind":  Write a chordal accompaniment to Joel's song "New York State of Mind" with a 4-note chord voicing in MuseScore. Resolve your 7ths down to the 3rd of the next chord where possible. Keep your extensions toward the top, above the 7th. 

  • • Here's the material you'll need: 

      • • Lead sheet notation 

        • Youtube Link

        • Voice leading set up in MuseScore or as a PDF.

    • Play your accompaniment in MuseScore as you work and sing along with the melody. Use your ears to catch any errors you hear or any strange voicing that doesn't seem to work. Adjust as you go.

    • Finally, take a look at the chord progression and discuss the following: 

      • • There are a few places in mm. 9–12 where Joel uses inverted (or "slash") chords. Why do you think he chose to invert these chords? 

        • What is the effect of the extended chords (the 7ths and 9ths) in the song? Listen to a simplified accompaniment with only triads. Why do you think Joel chose to add extensions to the chords? Consider the song topic and lyrics. 

        • Take a look at the final chord. If you had to describe this chord with a Roman numeral, how would you describe it? How do you hear it? How does it seem to function? This is a common chord in popular music. You'll look more in-depth at this chord in the next Unit.