4-1 Harmony Explained

Key Concepts

Harmony in music refers to the combination of simultaneous musical notes to create a pleasing or interesting effect. Key concepts related to 4-1 Harmony include:

• Chord Progressions: The sequence of chords used in a piece of music.
• Root Position: The arrangement of a chord where the root note is the lowest.
• Inversion: The rearrangement of a chord's notes so that a note other than the root is the lowest.
• Harmonic Function: The role a chord plays in the overall harmonic structure of a piece.

Chord Progressions

Chord progressions are the backbone of harmonic structure in music. They provide a sense of movement and resolution. Common chord progressions include the I-IV-V (tonic, subdominant, dominant) progression, which is fundamental in many genres of music.

Example: In the key of C major, the I chord is C major (C-E-G), the IV chord is F major (F-A-C), and the V chord is G major (G-B-D).

Root Position

Root position refers to the arrangement of a chord where the root note is the lowest note. This is the most basic and stable form of a chord. For example, in a C major chord (C-E-G), the root note is C, and it is the lowest note in the root position.

Inversion

Inversion involves rearranging the notes of a chord so that a note other than the root is the lowest. There are three inversions for a triad (three-note chord): first inversion (where the third of the chord is the lowest note), second inversion (where the fifth of the chord is the lowest note), and root position (where the root is the lowest note).

Example: For a C major chord, the first inversion would be E-G-C, and the second inversion would be G-C-E.

Harmonic Function

Harmonic function refers to the role a chord plays in the overall harmonic structure of a piece. Chords can function as tonic (providing a sense of stability), dominant (creating tension), or subdominant (providing a transitional function between tonic and dominant).

Example: In a piece in C major, the C major chord typically functions as the tonic, the G major chord as the dominant, and the F major chord as the subdominant.

Analogies

Think of chord progressions as a journey with different stops. Each chord is like a different location that provides a unique experience. Root position is like the starting point of the journey, while inversions are like different routes to the same destination. Harmonic function is like the purpose of each stop, whether it's to rest, explore, or prepare for the next leg of the journey.

Another analogy is a recipe. Chord progressions are like the sequence of ingredients and steps, root position is like the basic recipe, inversions are like variations of the recipe, and harmonic function is like the role each ingredient plays in the overall flavor and texture of the dish.