Harmony

Harmony in music is the simultaneous sounding of two or more different pitches to create a pleasing or interesting combination of sounds. It plays a crucial role in shaping the overall sound and emotional character of a musical composition. 

Music consists of three main elements—melody, rhythm, and harmony. While the first two are typically accountable for making a piece of music memorable—think of the opening motif of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, or Timbaland’s synth lick on the Jay-Z song “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”—it’s the third element, harmony, that can elevate a piece from common and predictable to challenging and sophisticated.

Think of an orchestra: the flute player may be playing one note, the violinist plays a different note, and the trombonist plays yet a different note. But when their individual parts are heard together, harmony is created.

To understand the harmonic strcuture of a piece you may choose to some or all of the following things: 

1. Listen Actively  Start by listening to the song attentively. Pay close attention to the chords played by the instruments and the overall feeling of the harmony.

2. Identify the Key Determine the key of the song. The key will give you a sense of the central note (the tonic) and the scale used for the melody and chords. This is crucial because most pop songs revolve around a specific key.

3. Transcribe the Chords Write down the chords as you hear them. Listen for changes in the harmony, and note when chord transitions occur. You can use chord symbols (e.g., C, G, Am) or roman numerals (e.g., I, IV, V) to represent the chords in relation to the key.

4. Analyze Chord Progressions Look for patterns in the chord progressions. Common progressions in pop music include I-IV-V, I-V-vi-IV, and ii-V-I, but there are many possibilities. Analyze how these progressions create tension and release.

5. Pay Attention to Borrowed Chords Some pop songs may use borrowed chords from outside the key to add complexity and interest. These borrowed chords are often labeled with lowercase roman numerals (e.g., bVII or ♭III).

6. Determine the Form Analyze the song's form, including verses, choruses, bridges, and any instrumental sections. Note how the harmonic structure changes between these sections. Many pop songs follow a typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure.

7. Listen for Modulations Check if the song modulates or changes key during different sections. Modulations can have a significant impact on the emotional tone of a song.

8. Consider Melodic Harmony Analyze how the melody interacts with the harmony. Look for moments where the melody highlights chord tones or adds tensions.

9. Explore Rhythmic Patterns Pay attention to the rhythm of chord changes. The timing and syncopation of chord changes can influence the song's groove and feel.

10. Listen to Instrumentation Consider how different instruments or voices contribute to the harmony. Sometimes, specific instruments or vocal harmonies create unique harmonic textures.

11. Evaluate Harmonic Function Determine the function of each chord in the progression. Chords can serve as tonic (home), dominant (leading to tension), or subdominant (providing stability), among other roles.

12. Analyze Cadences Identify the types of cadences used at the end of sections. Common cadences include authentic (V-I), plagal (IV-I), and deceptive (V-vi).

13. Consider Dynamics and Arrangement Note how dynamics and arrangement choices influence the perception of the harmony. For example, a simple progression played softly can create a different mood than the same chords played loudly with added instrumentation.

14. Compare to Other Songs Compare the harmonic structure of the song to other pop songs. This can help you identify common harmonic patterns and unique elements that set the song apart.

15. Write a Summary Summarize your analysis, highlighting key chord progressions, modulations, and any notable harmonic features. This summary can be a valuable reference when discussing or performing the song.

Vocab

Chord A group of three or more notes played or sung simultaneously, forming a harmonic unit. Chords are typically built from the notes of a scale and are classified as major, minor, diminished, augmented, and more, depending on their specific intervals.

Consonance A stable and pleasing combination of notes or chords that create a sense of resolution or rest. Basically - chords that sound 'noce' or pleasing to the ear. 

Dissonance A tense and unstable combination of notes or chords that create a sense of tension or unrest. Often 'jarring' to the ear e.g. chopsicks.

Harmonic Progression The sequence of chords in a musical composition, which often follows a specific pattern or structure. The movement of chords over time. Chord progressions are sequences of chords that create a sense of musical motion and structure within a piece. Common progressions, like the I-IV-V in Western music, are the basis for many songs.

Tonic The first degree of a diatonic scale, often serving as the central and stable point of reference in a harmonic context. Can be referred to as 'home'.

Dominant The fifth degree of a diatonic scale, which has a strong tendency to resolve to the tonic, creating tension and release.

Subdominant The fourth degree of a diatonic scale, providing some stability and often used as a transitional chord.

Root The lowest note of a chord, which determines the chord's name and function

Harmonic Analysis The process of identifying and labeling chords and their functions within a musical composition.

Modulation A change in key or tonal center within a piece of music, often achieved through a well-planned harmonic progression.

Cadence A sequence of chords that concludes a musical phrase, section, or composition, often providing a sense of closure.

Harmonic Colour The unique quality or timbre of a chord or harmonic progression due to its particular arrangement of notes and inversions.

Altered Chord A chord that includes notes that are not part of the diatonic scale of the key, often used to create tension and interest.

Harmonic Rhythm The rate or frequency at which chords change within a musical composition.

Harmonic Suspension A technique where a note from the previous chord is held or sustained into the next chord, creating dissonance and then resolving it.

An Example of Harmony in POP Music

Another common way for composers to express harmony is to declare a particular chord progression and then allow players to craft their own parts to fit that progression.

In the song “Down on the Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival:

• The song is written in the key of C major.

• It uses a common progression of chords for that particular key, mostly fluctuating between a C major triad and a G major triad, with F major triads thrown in at key points.

• As such, instrumentalists are expected to use the C major scale to write parts that fit the chord progression.

During the song’s intro section, Stu Cook lays down a bass line that’s mostly single notes, rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty punches out 5-note and 6-note chords, and lead guitarist John Fogerty plucks a melody based on the C major scale. They are accompanied on drums by Doug Clifford. Everyone is playing in harmony, following both the chord progression and the overall key of C major.