Reharmonization & Chord Substitution - Start Here

Summary

The video script delves into the art of reharmonization in music, illustrating how to vary the chords supporting a melody to create distinct musical expressions. It begins with basic harmonization using the C major scale and progresses to more complex reharmonization techniques, such as substituting chords with their relative minors or experimenting with chord qualities. The script emphasizes the importance of shared notes in chord substitutions and the role of diatonic music in creating harmonies. It also touches on the use of non-diatonic chords and parallel substitutions, providing practical examples to demonstrate the concepts. The goal is to expand creative possibilities in accompanying harmony while ensuring the melody remains connected to the chords.

Takeaways

• 🎼 Harmonization is the process of accompanying a melody with chords, creating a fundamental relationship in music.
• 🔄 Reharmonization involves changing the chords under a melody to create variation, nuance, and a new expressive context.
• 🎹 Major and minor melodies can often work in both their major key and relative minor key, providing flexibility in harmonization.
• 🛠️ Starting with diatonic music, which is based on the major and natural minor scales, provides a solid foundation for reharmonization.
• 🔑 Chord substitution can be done by replacing chords with those that share the most notes, making them functionally similar and fitting the melody.
• 🔄 Reharmonization can also involve changing chord quality, such as using parallel substitutions to introduce new tonalities.
• 📊 The relationship between relative major and minor tonics is especially useful for key changes, offering different moods to a melody.
• 🎶 Awareness of shared notes between chords is crucial for successful reharmonization, as it ensures the melody is naturally supported.
• 🚫 Some notes within a scale, like the fourth degree, can create dissonance over certain chords and should be used carefully.
• 🎵 Experimenting with non-diatonic chords and more complex reharmonization techniques can lead to unique and interesting musical arrangements.
• 👂 Developing an ear for how chord substitutions interact with melody notes is essential for making musically pleasing reharmonization choices.

Q & A

What is the fundamental relationship in music discussed in the script?

The fundamental relationship discussed is between the melody, whether vocal or instrumental, and the harmony that accompanies it, which is the addition of tones typically in the form of chords.

What is harmonization in music?

Harmonization is the process of accompanying a melodic line with additional tones, usually in the form of chords.

What is reharmonization and what is its main goal?

Reharmonization is the process of changing the chords used under a given melodic line. Its main goal is to create musical variation, nuance, and a reinterpretation of the melody that changes its expressive context.

Why is reharmonization used in songs?

Reharmonization is used to facilitate a distinction between different sections of a song, such as the verse, bridge, and chorus, and to add variety and depth to the musical arrangement.

Can you give an example of a simple reharmonization process?

A simple reharmonization process involves taking a basic melody and harmonizing it with a simple two-chord sequence, such as C major and F major, and then experimenting with different chord substitutions for variation.

What is the concept of diatonic music in the context of reharmonization?

Diatonic music refers to the harmonization of the major and natural minor scales. It forms the basis of countless major and minor key compositions and provides a starting point for reharmonization with chords that share the most notes with the original melody.

How can the relative major and minor keys be used for reharmonization?

The relative major and minor keys can be used for reharmonization by understanding that most major key melodies will also work in their relative minor key, allowing for key changes and different moods.

What is a common method for chord substitution in diatonic music?

A common method for chord substitution in diatonic music is to use chords that share the most notes with the original chord, making them functionally similar and likely to fit the original melody.

Why is the fourth degree note considered an avoid note in certain chords?

The fourth degree note is considered an avoid note because it creates dissonance when played over certain chords, such as the third, sixth, and minor sixth degree chords in the harmonized scale, and should be avoided for resting or prolonged notes.

What is a parallel substitution in reharmonization?

A parallel substitution in reharmonization is changing the chord quality by raising or lowering one tone within the diatonic chord, such as changing a major chord to its parallel minor or dominant seventh chord.

How can one determine if a parallel substitution is compatible with a melody?

One can determine if a parallel substitution is compatible with a melody by listening for dissonance, especially with resting or prolonged notes, and ensuring that the melody notes fit well with the new chord.