A Beginner's Guide to Four-Part Harmony - Music Theory
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Date: 2022-03-28
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Comments and reviews: 10
Wildon
This is exactly what I have been searching for. I've been tasked (self-tasked, actually) to write the vocal arrangements for my Country Rock band. I don't read music but have a good ear. I can always figure out the melody and first harmony easily, but the 2nd harmony is sometimes a challenge, and a 3rd harmony? Well that's no man's land to a guy with limited musical acumen. Heck, I may actually start to learn to read music and play some basic piano; two things that are on my bucket list. Thanks so much.
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This is exactly what I have been searching for. I've been tasked (self-tasked, actually) to write the vocal arrangements for my Country Rock band. I don't read music but have a good ear. I can always figure out the melody and first harmony easily, but the 2nd harmony is sometimes a challenge, and a 3rd harmony? Well that's no man's land to a guy with limited musical acumen. Heck, I may actually start to learn to read music and play some basic piano; two things that are on my bucket list. Thanks so much.
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Mater
Very helpful. May I suggest including a phrase ending imperfect also so students see what you mean, though you explain well by playing on keyboard. Or display temporarily some written imperfect cadences, one of each I-V II-V IV-V. Also, for demonstration purposes, an interrupted cadence could have been used in bar 2. Other than that, really helpful. Going to use to help students who come to me for help. Many thanks.
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Very helpful. May I suggest including a phrase ending imperfect also so students see what you mean, though you explain well by playing on keyboard. Or display temporarily some written imperfect cadences, one of each I-V II-V IV-V. Also, for demonstration purposes, an interrupted cadence could have been used in bar 2. Other than that, really helpful. Going to use to help students who come to me for help. Many thanks.
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Ilovetosingem
Hi Gareth. I haven't had any knowledge of inversions apart from where they start 3rd or 5th and follow on in the ascending order. In C 1st inversion E-G-C, this is what I concluded but not learned. So I wasn't aware that one can put the 3rd in the bass and then arrange the others in any order one likes. Never stop learning! That's why I'm here. Thanks again.
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Hi Gareth. I haven't had any knowledge of inversions apart from where they start 3rd or 5th and follow on in the ascending order. In C 1st inversion E-G-C, this is what I concluded but not learned. So I wasn't aware that one can put the 3rd in the bass and then arrange the others in any order one likes. Never stop learning! That's why I'm here. Thanks again.
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Dan
I-ve been an untrained songwriter and musician arranging harmonies by ear and brute force since the -80s, but I got halfway smart a few years ago and started learning theory; I can-t believe it-s taken this long to stumble across a harmony primer as clearly, succinctly and elegantly presented as this. Thank you so much.
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I-ve been an untrained songwriter and musician arranging harmonies by ear and brute force since the -80s, but I got halfway smart a few years ago and started learning theory; I can-t believe it-s taken this long to stumble across a harmony primer as clearly, succinctly and elegantly presented as this. Thank you so much.
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Hiranya
This is such a brilliant video, thank you. You cover so much, so simply, in such a short space of time. I did grade 5 theory, but it-s only years later, watching this video, that things have clicked! I love it and have super thanked you, as I-m sure I will return to this video. :)
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This is such a brilliant video, thank you. You cover so much, so simply, in such a short space of time. I did grade 5 theory, but it-s only years later, watching this video, that things have clicked! I love it and have super thanked you, as I-m sure I will return to this video. :)
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Ilovetosingem
Hi Gareth. When I first heard you play the plagal cadence (IV) to the (I) I thought of Amen at the end of a hymn. I just read that this is sometimes called an Amen Cadence. I don't remember you mentioning it, but is that correct? Thanks in advance.
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Hi Gareth. When I first heard you play the plagal cadence (IV) to the (I) I thought of Amen at the end of a hymn. I just read that this is sometimes called an Amen Cadence. I don't remember you mentioning it, but is that correct? Thanks in advance.
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Dave2002
Very good and very clear explanation. Excellent - as usual. The only note which doesn't get harmonised is a B!
B does not occur in the melody - I guess that's dealt with in another video.
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Very good and very clear explanation. Excellent - as usual. The only note which doesn't get harmonised is a B!
B does not occur in the melody - I guess that's dealt with in another video.
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Arman
Instead of actually thinking about chords first could another approach have been to maybe write a bassline against your initial melody and thereafter fill in the 2 other voices?
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Instead of actually thinking about chords first could another approach have been to maybe write a bassline against your initial melody and thereafter fill in the 2 other voices?
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Ilovetosingem
I didn't realize you can place the F in the root position and have to other notes in any order, I thought it would be F-A-C, well never stop learning.
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I didn't realize you can place the F in the root position and have to other notes in any order, I thought it would be F-A-C, well never stop learning.
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David
I really like that: perfect and plagal cadences as a full stop. Imperfect cadences as a comma. And interrupted cadences as a question mark.
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I really like that: perfect and plagal cadences as a full stop. Imperfect cadences as a comma. And interrupted cadences as a question mark.
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