Why ALL Musicians Should Know Music Harmony Theory

Harmony is the concurrent sounding of three or more complimentary notes at one time.  When playing music, this is called a chord.  There are major, minor and diminished chords, which are arranged to create harmonies.

Harmonies sound pleasing to the ear because of a similarity in frequency.  However, not all good music is harmonic.  Dissonance can have beauty too, and tastes in this area are largely cultural.

There are seven main scale degrees used in western music.  They all have their own unique melodic inclination, which gives a sense of resolution or needing to go to another note.  

1°- Tonic scale: This scale degree has a strong sense of resolution.  Most known music ends on tonic, and all other scales are given their number based on their position to the tonic.

2°- Supertonic scale: This scale degree tends to resolve down to the tonic or move to the fifth degree in a progression.

3°- Mediant: The mediant scale degree has a weak feel of resolution, so wants to move to another scale degree.

4°- Subdominant scale: The fourth scale degree wants to resolve up to the fifth degree or down to the third degree.

5°- Dominant: Depending on its harmonization, this scale degree has a weak feel of resolution or an inclination to resolve to the first degree.

6°- Submediant: This scale degree tends to want to resolve to the fifth degree.

7°- Leading Tone: The leading tone wants to resolve to the tonic scale degree.

Each scale degree can be played in a different chord type. Sometimes this determines how a scale degree resolves. The chord type helps convey the emotion of a piece of music. In general, major chords are happy or upbeat, and minor chords are low and sad. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Here are some popular chord types:

Major 7th- Major seventh chords sound contemplative and soft, and are often used in jazz.

Minor 7th- These chords are moodier and more brooding than major seventh chords.

Dominant 7th- Dominant seventh chords are robust, commanding, and daring.

Major 6th- Major sixth chords are entertaining and spirited.

Minor 6th-  These chords sound dark and furtive.

Suspended 4th- Suspended fourth chords sound almost regal and dignified.

9th- Ninth chords are very animated and bouncy.

Diminished- These chords sound dark and edgy.

Augmented- Augmented chords give a sense of suspense and involve a lot of movement.

Based on the scale degrees, each chord has a logical progression that will help you create pleasing music.  This why learning about music theory harmony rules or taking music harmony lessons is so beneficial.  Without harmony, you’ll be playing melodies, not music.