Harmony and Form

Piano Accompaniment - Harmony

Frequently, the left hand will play chords in harmony as the right hand plays the melody. Here's an example of a beginning "chord progression" played n the key of C (no flats or sharps). The left hand accompaniment is written in the bass clef (or F clef) rather than the treble clef. The C chord below is played as a triad (3 notes, each a 3rd apart) with C on the bottom, providing the "root" of the chord. The G7 and F chords are not played in triad form, but are inverted in the example below. This means that the bottom tone is not the root of the chord. Inverting the tones, or placing a note other than the root on the bottom makes the chord progression easier to play because the hand can stay in one position rather than moving to a different root tone. This C chord progression is in the "key of C" with no flats or sharps. See the chords Powerpoint presentation, as well as the Circle of 5ths presentation on major scales. This progression includes the pictures of the guitar chords (tablature) that match the piano chords in traditional music notation. These indicate on which fret your fingers must be placed on the neck of the guitar in order for the correct tones to sound.

Inversions of the C chord and the G7 chord (G major triad plus the 7th note above the G).

Guitar Chords are frequently notated by tablature which gives you a picture of the 6 strings and frets that divide each string. You can play many songs with just 2-3 chords. The two chords below - D and A7 can be used to play songs like "Hush Little Baby," He's Got the Whole World," and "Tom Dooley." Adding the G chord will give you many more possibilities - like "This Land is Your Land" or "Bingo." See additional chord charts, go through the chord progressions Powerpoint, and try the guitar lessons online.

Glossary - Harmony

Arpeggio - See broken chord.

Broken chord - (arpeggio) Sounding of the individual tones of a chord in sequence rather than simultaneously.

Cadence - (1) Resting place at the end of a phrase in a melody. (2) Progression giving a sense of conclusion, often from the dominant chord to the tonic chord.

Chord - Combination of three or more tones sounded at once.

Chromatic harmony - Use of chords containing tones not found in the prevailing major or minor scale but included in the chromatic scale (which has twelve tones); often found in romantic music.

Complete cadence - Definite resting place, giving a sense of finality, at the end of a phrase in a melody.

Consonance - Tone combination that is stable and restful.

Dissonance - Tone combination that is unstable and tense.

Dominant chord - Triad built on the fifth note of the scale, which sets up tension that is resolved by the tonic chord.

Guitar - Plucked string instrument with six strings stretched along a fretted fingerboard.

Harmony - How chords are constructed and how they follow each other.

Incomplete cadence - Inconclusive resting point at the end of a phrase which sets up expectations for phrases to follow.

Progression - Series of chords.

Resolution - Progression from a dissonance to a consonance.

Tonic - See keynote.

Tonic chord - Triad built on the first, or tonic, note of the scale, serving as the main chord of a piece and usually beginning and ending it.

Triad - Most basic of chords, consisting of three alternate tones of the scale, such as do, mi, sol.

Form

A B form - See two-part form.

A B A form - See three-part form.

Contrast - Striking differences of pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and tempo that provide variety and change of mood.

Form - Organization of musical ideas in time.

Prelude - (1) Short piece usually serving to introduce a fugue or other composition; a short piece for piano. (2) See overture.

Repetition - Reiteration of a phrase, section, or entire movement, often used to create a sense of unity.

Three-part form - (A B A) Form that can be represented as statement (A); contrast (B); return of statement (A).

Two-part form - (A B) Form that can be represented as statement (A) and counterstatement (B).

Variation - Changing some features of a musical idea while retaining others.

Musical Style - Characteristic way of using melody, rhythm, tone, color, dynamics, harmony, texture, and form in music.

Guitar Tablature

• Guitar Tablature Explained - http://www.endprod.com/tab/

• Beginning Guitar Lesson Archive - http://www.guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm

Websites for Harmony

• Musical Harmonies - http://www.pbs.org/harmony/index.html

• PBS Music Guide - http://www.pbs.org/harmony/teachersguide/index.html

• Elements of Music - http://www.rubycliff.com/TheoryManual/TableOfContents.html

• The Music Tech Teacher - https://www.musictechteacher.com/index.htm