The Open Road:
Harmonic Studies In Composition
Having command of the language of harmony facilitates taking your audience on a journey. Understanding harmony is a powerful device in any writer’s tool box. Giving your songs more tone color, contrasting moods between sections, and stronger bass line construction all stem from having a firm footing in how harmony works. Everything from chord voicings, to building chord sequences, or reharmomization. We will look at the works of a variety of composers in jazz, blues, pop/rock, latin, R&B, and more. We will cover ways to add richer tonal colour to your music as well as taking cover tunes and putting a different harmonic mood to them.
Format: Online 1 On 1
Lesson Length: 30 min, 45min, 60min
Lesson Price: Starting from $27 USD
Topics Covered in this Course:
PART ONE
- Building diatonic chord sequences in major keys
- Building diatonic chord sequences in minor keys
- Blending Major and minor chord changes
- Functional harmony basics
- Cadences
- Deceptive cadences
- Diatonic substitution
- Popular song chord analysis
- Bass line construction
PART TWO
- Modal harmony
- Modulations
- blues chord changes
- Gospel chord sequences
- Basic jazz tune chord sequences
- Chord extensions & hybrid chords
- Chord sequences with chromaticism
- Non functional chord sequence concepts
FAQs
Who is this course for?
Songwriters in particular will benefit from this course. Whether that’s Pop, Rock, Metal, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Reggae, or Grunge, these are all styles that benefit from being able to craft chord sequences that provide motion and a mature sense of melodicism. Part one (8 weeks) starts with the basics of harmony that are universal to all styles. In part two (8 weeks) we take those foundation principles and examine how they are uniquely applied to specific genres.
Do I need to know theory for this course?
For part one, a basic understanding of the circle of 5ths, key signatures, intervals, and chord construction are helpful. We will go over those concepts in the lessons though if you are a bit rusty. Part two is for folks who already know those things and we can therefore spend more time playing and writing tunes in specific genres.
Does it matter if I play electric or acoustic?
Not at all, use the type of guitar you play with most.
What type of music will we be focusing on?
For level one, we will go through mostly mainly the basic mechanics of building cohesive chord sequences… for intros, verses, choruses,etc. We will primarily look at popular music over the last few decades particularly in Pop, R&B, Soul, Blues, Country, Rock, Praise & Worship, etc.
For Level 2, we will look at some jazz, gospel, and soul music, but I will taylor the lessons to applying these concepts to the genre you associate with most.
Can I record the lessons?
Yes, but I ask that you keep them for your own private viewing.
Can we play together during the lesson?
It is possible, but only if you have an account with JamKazam (https://jamkazam.com/), a direct Ethernet cable to your router, talkback mic, and appropriate digital I/O. Jamkazm will run an automated test on your setup and let you know of any signal speed bottlenecks.
What do I technical things do I need for this lesson?
All lessons are done through zoom. A reasonably fast, clear internet connection, a webcam (preferrably external if you use a laptop), and your guitar are the basic requirements. If you wear headphones, make sure there is an onboard microphone to pickup the sound of your guitar. If you have an audio interface, that’s even better to separate your guitar signal and your headphone signal. A big monitor is also helpful to clearly see me, my guitar, and any written material I display on the screen
What music materials do I need for this course?
I will supply any written materials and tune charts in the lessons.
Will we be doing any performing in this class?
Absolutely, any example I use or tune you suggest, it’s beneficial to play through and hear these concepts in action and get them under your fingers.
Cancelled Lessons Policy
Students can cancel one lesson of the course provided there is 24hrs notification… in which case I will reschedule that lesson for you. Additional absences will not be refunded or rescheduled.