How to use simple harmonies including triads and seventh chords in songwriting.
Triads and seventh chords are fundamental building blocks in songwriting. They can add depth and complexity to your music, and understanding how to use them effectively can greatly enhance your songwriting skills 1 2 3 4.
Triads are three-note chords that can be used to create a variety of moods and feelings in your music 1. They can be major, minor, diminished, or augmented, and each has its own unique sound. You can use triads to create chord progressions, which are the backbone of most songs 1.
Seventh Chords are four-note chords that add an extra layer of complexity to your music 2. They are built by adding a fourth note to a triad, which is a seventh above the root 2. Seventh chords can be major, minor, dominant, half-diminished, or diminished, and each has its own unique sound 2. You can use seventh chords to create tension and resolution in your music, which can make your songs more interesting and dynamic 2.
Here are some ways you can use these chords in your songwriting:
Chord Progressions: You can use triads and seventh chords to create chord progressions, which are sequences of chords that form the harmonic foundation of a song 12. For example, a common chord progression in pop music is the I-IV-V progression, which could be C major, F major, and G major in the key of C 12.
Melody Writing: You can use the notes in triads and seventh chords to write melodies. For example, if you’re writing a song in the key of C major, you could use the notes in the C major triad (C, E, G) or the C major seventh chord (C, E, G, B) to create a melody 12.
Harmonization: You can use triads and seventh chords to harmonize a melody. This means adding chords underneath a melody to support it and add depth to the music 12.
Creating Tension and Resolution: Seventh chords, in particular, are great for creating tension and resolution in your music. The dissonance created by the seventh interval needs to resolve, which can create a sense of forward motion in your music 2.
You can learn more about these concepts and see them in action in these videos:
and these articles:
These resources provide a wealth of information and practical examples to help you understand and apply these concepts. Happy songwriting! 🎵
Learn more
1. blog.landr.com 2. producerhive.com 3. musictheoryacademy.com 4. iastate.pressbooks.pub 5. youtube.com 6. youtube.com 7. youtube.com 8. blog.landr.com 9. producerhive.com 10. musictheoryacademy.com 11. iastate.pressbooks.pub 12. secretsofsongwriting.com
Complex harmonies, including extended tertian and chromatically altered chords, play a significant role in songwriting. They are used to create a rich, diverse, and expressive musical language 1 2. Here’s how:
Extended Tertian Chords: These are chords that extend beyond the typical triad (root, third, fifth) and seventh chords. They include the ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords. These chords add color, tension, and depth to the music. They can evoke complex emotions and moods that simpler chords may not be able to express 1 2.
Chromatically Altered Chords: These are chords where one or more notes have been raised or lowered by a half-step. This chromatic alteration can create tension, surprise, or intrigue, as the listener’s ear might not expect the altered note. It can also be used to smooth the transition between two chords, or to add color and interest to a chord progression 1 2.
In songwriting, these complex harmonies can be used to:
Enhance Emotional Impact: The use of complex harmonies can intensify the emotional impact of a song. For instance, an extended chord might be used at a climactic moment to heighten the sense of drama 1 2.
Create Variety: They can provide variety and keep the listener’s interest. Using the same three or four chords throughout a song can become monotonous; introducing more complex harmonies can make the music more engaging 1 2.
Express Sophistication: Complex harmonies are often associated with more sophisticated or advanced musical styles. They can give a song a more ‘professional’ or ‘polished’ sound 1 2.
Remember, the use of complex harmonies should serve the song. If they enhance the mood, emotion, or narrative of the song, then they are likely a good choice. If they distract or detract from these elements, it might be best to stick with simpler chords. It’s all about finding the right balance for the song you’re writing 1 2 3.
Learn more 1. icmp-elevate.com 2. musical-u.com 3. splice.com
What are harmonic progressions, including modal substitutions and alternate chords in songwriting?
Harmonic Progressions: Harmonic progressions are sequences of chords that structure the harmony of a piece of music 1. They are a goal-directed succession of chords 2. Composers often favor certain strong harmonic progressions, such as the root of the chord moving down a fifth (or up a fourth), especially dominant (V) to tonic (I or i) 2. Harmonic progressions can be simple or complex, and they can greatly influence the mood and feel of a song 3. They can either pull progressions momentarily out of a strong sense of key, or provide interesting color to an otherwise mundane progression 4.
Modal Substitutions: Modal substitutions involve using harmonic progressions that imply modes other than major/minor 5. A modal schema may be used without the entire song being strictly within that mode 5. Modes are a type of scale with distinct melodic characteristics. The seven modes, Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian, come from the earliest forms of western music 6. Today, modal music refers to pieces of music where modes are used structurally and harmonically in place of traditional functional harmony 6.
Alternate Chords: Alternate chords, also known as altered chords, are chords that don’t naturally exist in your chosen key 4. For example, if your song is in C major, the chords that naturally exist are: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim 4. Any other chord is considered to be an altered chord4. Altered chords can help add a bit of creativity to an otherwise mundane progression 4. They can be used to pull progressions momentarily out of a strong sense of key, or to provide interesting color to an otherwise mundane progression 4.
These techniques can be used to create more interesting and varied compositions. They can help to break away from the standard major and minor scales and introduce new melodic and harmonic possibilities into your songwriting 6 5 4.
Learn more
1. recording-history.org 2. learnmusictheory.net 3. online.berklee.edu 4. secretsofsongwriting.com
5. viva.pressbooks.pub 6. blog.landr.com 7. viva.pressbooks.pub 8. theoryandsound.com 9. beyondmusictheory.org 10. jeffreypepperrodgers.com 11. fachords.com 12. schoolofcomposition.com 13. songpad.co