Unit 12

Harmonizing a Melody

This unit discusses the process of creating a suitable chord progression to harmonize a given melody. We have done this before, with primary triads, but upon adding secondary triads and inversions, the options can become much more overwhelming! The video will demonstrate the five steps you can use to make this process a bit more tangible.

Five Steps

1. Determine the key
2. Identify cadence points (usually halfway through and at the end of piece)
3. Work backwards from the cadence points to assign chords that progress strongly towards the cadences.
4. Assign chords, which strongly establish the key, to the first part of each phrase.
5. Compose a bass line and add the inner parts.