Musical harmony
"Harmony is the resulting mixture of tones played simultaneously. If melody gives you the idea of the song, then harmony deepens the feel of the song. It breathes life into a song. It colors the song."
~Adam Long
Basics of harmony
- Harmony is the simultaneous ringing of multiple notes played together in music: a melody and the notes that go with it.
- Harmonies are based on the root note of the chord.
- Creating harmony in music is based on the relationship between intervals.
- Harmony is the simultaneous ringing of multiple notes played together in music.
- Using harmonies can bring your songwriting to life.
Play the example below and listen to the difference in harmonies
In the first we have a melodic perfect 5th following by a resolving harmonized major 3rd. Very clean, very tidy, right?
In the second one we have a melodic major 7th followed by a resolving harmonized major 3rd. There's quite a difference in the way that major third resolves the Perfect 5th and the way it resolves the Major 7th.
This is the point. I want you to find out how these reactions differ or are alike.
How intervals affect harmony (turn up the volume)
| unison: | emptiness or loneliness, solitude | |
| minor second: | slow moving, creepy, misery | |
| major second: | kind, partnership, smooth, calm | |
| minor third: | melancholy, think of a requiem (a composition for the deceased), a calm sadness | |
| major third: | joyous in an innocent way, delightful, happy, sunny | |
| perfect fourth: | majestic, powerful, strong, brave, like you're making a loud and clear statement | |
| tritone: | misery, unrest, mystery, enchantment | |
| perfect fifth: | speed, strength, beginning, space, a shout but more like a victory shout than like the fourth's declarative feeling | |
| minor sixth: | Spanish, unrest, hopelessness | |
| major sixth: | upbeat, chipper, in a bounce on your toes sense, unlike the happiness of the major 3rd, which is more of a profound happiness , can also be enchantment | |
| minor seventh: | (this one's tough) unfinished business, funk, waiting | |
| major seventh: | a blue mood, a rainy day, leaving the party, quiet resolution | |
| octave: | powerful leap, power not unlike that of the fourth, falling, climbing |
You should play all of the intervals yourself and make a list of descriptors for each. Just like I have done. Use it as a reference for when you are writing tunes, motives, phrases or whatever to boost your creativity.