Practical Harmony – Chords and Progressions lesson 2

Practical Harmony – Chords and Progressions

Welcome!

What did we do last week?

• C major scale

• Roman numerals

• 7th chords

What shall we do today?

• Go over the assignment brief

• Roman numerals refresh

• Cadences

• 9th chords

• Start to create some progressions

Your mission…• To create two contrasting 16 bar progressions, using three extended

chords. One will be a major progression and one harmonic minor progression. The progression will be annotated clearly using roman numerals and will use the composition techniques we have studied in class. You will also give a brief presentation in groups on how to construct all extended chords from the C major scale.

• Step 1: Create a 16 bar chord progression in C major using only roman numerals making sure you can play it on your chosen instrument.

• Step 2: Analyse the chord sequence.• Step 3: Add extended chords.• Step 4: Finalize progression.

Good luck!!!

Roman numerals

• So far we have looked at the roman numerals up to and including the 7th note of the scale

• Lets remind ourselves once more of what they were…

III = I =VII =VI =IV =II =V =

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Cadences!

• A cadence is a chord progression that gives the feeling of resolution/conclusion

• Cadences are used at the end of phrases

Cadences!

• 4 types of cadence• Perfect cadence• Half cadence• Plagal cadence• Interrupted cadence

Perfect cadence

• A perfect cadence is a progression from chord V to chord I

• In C major it goes G - C

Half cadence

• The weakest of the cadences as it doesn’t sound conclusive i.e. sounds as though the sequence should continue

• Any chord followed by the V chord

• In C major it can be Dm – G / Am – G / C – G

Plagal cadence

• Known as the “Amen cadence” as it was the cadence used in many church songs when the congregation sings the word “Amen”

• It goes from chord IV to I

• In C major it goes F – C

Interrupted cadence

• Another weak cadence…

• It goes from chord V to any other chord apart from I

Match those cards!

• Match the Progression with the cadence

• Identify what chord is

• Try playing them on your instrument…vocalists and drummers, either play it on piano or sing it!

9th chords

• 4 main types of 9 chord

• Dominant

• Major

• Minor

• 6/9

Dominant 9th

• This is a dominant 7th chord with a 9th on top

• Uses the intervals – 1st, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th + 9th

• Sounds nice as the V chord in a perfect cadence (V – I)

Major 9th

• This is a major 7th chord with a 9th on top

• Uses the intervals – 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th + 9th

• Brilliant way to give your compositions a jazzy feel

• Works nicely in consecutive motion

6/9 chord

• This is a chord with both the 6th and 9th present with no 7th

• Uses the intervals – 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th + 9th

• It works as a substitute for a I chord

Ears at the ready!

• Similar to the test last week, listen to the chords on the piano and circle whether they are a dominant 9th, major 9th or 6/9 chord…

• Answers to follow…

Answers…

• Dominant 9th

• Major 9th

• 6/9• Major 9th

• Dominant 9th

• Major 9th

• 6/9• Dominant 9th

Group work

• Get into groups and discuss each of the types of 9 chords and cadences we have looked at and give a brief presentation to the class explaining what intervals are used and try writing the chord out as notation…use C major as a home key

Composing a chord sequence

• To finish up, we are going to create a “random” chord sequence.

• This will show you that chord sequences need to be structured and thought about

• Get your chairs into a circle facing eachother

Homework

• Come up with a 16 bar chord sequence in the key of C ONLY using basic triads (no extended chords)

• Write it down in roman numerals and letters

• Try and use at least 2 cadences in the composition

Use this format to write down your chord sequence

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Cadences in these bars!

1 or 2 chords per bar please!!

Start with chord 1

End with chord 1