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How to harmonize melodies.?


raggety

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Posted

how do i learn to do this.? say if the first three notes of the melody are

 

D (on the fifth string)

then

F#

then

A

 

for the D i could go to the F# on the 6th string and so on, but it sounds kind of empty with just two notes.

 

 

is most harmonizing just down to our 'ear'

:confused:

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Posted

If you have the patience you could learn a little about counterpoint. I've been studying some in classical music. I got a great book called "Counterpoint" by Walter Piston. Wikipedia is also helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpoint

 

He might want to start with Walters book called "Harmony" first ;)

 

A lot of times harmonies are just build from the same notes of your basic triads. They can be placed either above or below the melody note. And, in doing so each note movement can end up being nothing more than triad moving through Inversions.

 

Take your D, F#, and A since all create a D major chord you could use just those notes to create the harmony in 3rds and 5ths like (play each column as one chord/triad):

 

D F# A

F# A D

A D F#

 

More common harmonies in rock and blues are 3rds, 5ths, and 7's. But places above or below the melody notes also creates different harmony notes like 6ths that a very popular.

 

Mainly just try and stay in Key for each chord unless you run into a chord that's not in Key, then just adjust for that chord or set of chord.

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Posted
He might want to start with Walters book called "Harmony" first
;)

A lot of times harmonies are just build from the same notes of your basic triads. They can be placed either above or below the melody note. And, in doing so each note movement can end up being nothing more than triad moving through Inversions.


Take your D, F#, and A since all create a D major chord you could use just those notes to create the harmony in 3rds and 5ths like (play each column as one chord/triad):


D F# A

F# A D

A D F#


More common harmonies in rock and blues are 3rds, 5ths, and 7's. But places above or below the melody notes also creates different harmony notes like 6ths that a very popular.


Mainly just try and stay in Key for each chord unless you run into a chord that's not in Key, then just adjust for that chord or set of chord.



thanks this makes good sense :thu::thu:

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Posted
how do i learn to do this.? say if the first three notes of the melody are


D (on the fifth string)

then

F#

then

A


for the D i could go to the F# on the 6th string and so on, but it sounds kind of empty with just two notes.



is most harmonizing just down to our 'ear'

:confused:



What's the chord progression behind the melody? Harmonization is done relative to a melody in a particular harmonic setting. There are very easy ways to do this once you write down the melody and the harmony (at least as chord symbols).

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