Understanding Harmony and Chord Progression in Music Composition

The speaker introduces the topic of music composition, highlighting that most songs are composed based on harmonic progressions in major or minor keys. They mention the use of different harmonic functions and chords derived from scales. The speaker aims to explain the concepts comprehensively in the most complete harmony and composition video on the internet.

The discussion delves into musical notes, explaining that there are 12 sounds available for creating music. The speaker clarifies that these 12 sounds are specific to Western classical harmony and exclude other music systems. Additionally, the speaker mentions that while notes are the primary sounds used in music composition, there are other sounds that can be utilized for musical purposes.

The speaker explains the naming of musical notes, starting with the note 'A' vibrating at 440 hertz. They elaborate on how frequencies correspond to different notes and how notes are named in various languages. The speaker mentions the Latin-based naming convention for notes like 'do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si' and the anglophone naming using letters 'A-G.' They also discuss the naming of sharp and flat notes in relation to the piano keys.

Musical scales are arrangements of notes that create different types of sounds in compositions. For example, the major scale consists of seven of the twelve notes, such as C, D, E, F, G, A, B in the key of C major. The structure of a major scale is defined by the intervals between the third and fourth notes and the seventh and first notes.

To create different major scales, one must ensure there are no notes between the third and fourth notes and the seventh and first notes. For example, in the key of G major, there is no note between B and C, but there is a note between F and G, which is F#. Each major scale must include all seven unique note names without repetition.

Constructing the F major scale involves using the notes F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E. The scale follows the structure of a major scale but requires adjusting the notes to maintain the correct intervals. In this case, the note Bb replaces B to adhere to the scale's pattern.

Certain notes in scales may have dual names, such as F# or Gb, depending on the scale being constructed. This dual naming allows for flexibility in creating different scales that require sharps or flats to maintain the correct intervals.

Musical scales serve as the foundation for composing melodies. By using the notes of a specific scale, composers can create harmonious and structured melodies that follow a particular tonal framework. Scales provide a framework for both solo melodies and accompanying harmonies.

Harmony is the study of the interaction between different musical notes. It involves notes sounding simultaneously, creating chords, which are blocks of notes played together. Melody, on the other hand, consists of notes played sequentially.

Chords are constructed using scales, such as the G major scale. A chord is formed by taking the first note (tonic) of the scale as the fundamental, then adding the third and fifth notes of the scale to create a chord. This process applies to all scales, resulting in various chords.

The quality of a chord (major or minor) is determined by the relationship between the fundamental and the third note. If there are three notes between them, it's a major chord; if there are two notes, it's a minor chord. This distinction applies to different chords in a scale.

An ear trained in music can distinguish between major and minor chords by listening to the sound of the third note in the chord. Major chords have a distinct sound with three notes between the fundamental and the third, while minor chords have a different sound with two notes between them.

Tonalities are formed by a series of notes and chords, with each tonality offering a unique set of chords organized by their harmonic functions. In the key of G major, for example, the major chords are G major, C major, and D major, while the minor chords are A minor, B minor, and E minor. These chords play specific roles within the tonality, such as tonic, subdominant, and dominant.

Chords within a tonality have specific harmonic functions. The first, fourth, and fifth degrees typically represent the tonic, subdominant, and dominant functions, respectively. In G major, these are G major, C major, and D major chords. These chords create a sense of resolution (tonic), tension (dominant), and stability (subdominant) when played in sequence.

To enhance tension in music, dominant chords are used. These chords typically include a seventh note to introduce dissonance, creating a more pronounced sense of anticipation and leading to resolution. In G major, the dominant chord is D major, which adds tension before resolving back to the tonic chord of G major.

Minor chords in a tonality complement the major chords by fulfilling different harmonic functions. The second degree, for example, serves as a subdominant chord, while the third and sixth degrees can temporarily replace the tonic chord's function. The seventh degree, with its characteristic dissonance, can substitute for the dominant chord, adding variety to harmonic progressions.

Minor tonalities introduce a different musical landscape where the tonic chord is typically minor, creating a distinct sound and emotional quality. The structure of minor scales differs from major scales due to the use of altered notes, leading to unique chord progressions and harmonic textures. Understanding minor tonalities adds depth and complexity to musical compositions.

The speaker introduces the topic of minor keys, stating that they will not delve into all types of minor scales to avoid making the video excessively long. They mention plans to cover musical notation in a future video using tablets. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the channel for more content on music theory, harmony analysis, and composition.

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The speaker explains how minor keys are formed by using the notes of their relative major keys but starting from a different note. They give examples of forming minor scales like E minor from G major, A minor from C major, and D minor from F major. The speaker discusses how chords in minor keys differ from those in major keys, with the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords being minor in minor keys.

The speaker addresses the modification of chords in minor keys, particularly the fifth degree chord which traditionally has a dominant sound. In minor keys, this chord needs to be modified to have a major third, requiring the introduction of non-diatonic notes. The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining the quality of the chords by adjusting specific notes to achieve the desired tonality.

The symbol being used instead of 're' in the musical notation is a different one that can be called 're sostenido' or 'mi bemol' depending on the context. In this context, it will still be referred to as 're'. When adding the seventh, it becomes a dominant chord. By using a dominant fifth, the main chord can be placed at the beginning and end of a chord sequence, with subdominant and dominant chords in between to increase tension before resolving back to the tonic.

The organization of both major and minor tonalities was discussed. To make musical compositions more interesting, additional harmonic degrees beyond the first, fourth, and fifth were explored. Various chord progressions in major and minor tonalities were examined to understand how harmonic degrees interact and their different functions.

Viewers were encouraged to like the video if they found it enjoyable and to comment on which concepts mentioned were new to them. Concepts such as scales, chords, tonality, harmonic degrees, and relative scales were highlighted. Engagement through likes and comments helps the video reach a wider audience, supporting the channel's growth and content creation.

Different types of cadences in music were explained, such as the 'cadencia pla gal' where the fourth degree resolves to the first degree in a major tonality. Another classic cadence is the 'cadencia auténtica' where the fifth degree resolves to the first degree. These cadences can be combined successively or in a 'cadencia compuesta' where the fourth degree moves to the fifth before resolving to the first degree.

In a minor tonality, cadences like 'cadencia pla gal' and 'cadencia auténtica' follow similar patterns to major keys. The 'cadencia compuesta' in a minor key involves the fourth degree following the fifth before resolving to the tonic. It's important to note that in minor keys, the first and fourth degrees are minor chords, while the fifth degree is modified to create a dominant chord.

In major keys, it is common to use the second degree as a subdominant chord instead of the fourth, or the sixth degree as a temporary replacement for the tonic. These substitutions can be used in various ways, such as replacing the fourth with the second in a compound cadence to create a harmonic sequence of second-fifth-first.

In minor keys, there are typical chord sequences like the Phrygian half cadence and the same broken cadence seen in major keys. The Phrygian half cadence involves a descending melody from the tonic to the dominant without resolving to the tonic, following the structure of the Phrygian mode scale.

In minor keys, the sixth degree can replace the tonic, breaking the cadence by resolving to a major chord instead of the minor tonic. This creates a significant departure from the expected resolution, adding an interesting sound to the chord progression.

Modal interchange involves using chords from a different mode within a chord progression. For example, temporarily using a minor chord in a major key sequence can enrich the harmony. By borrowing chords from related modes, such as using a minor fourth degree in a major key, a unique and complex harmonic texture can be achieved.

Secondary dominants are used to introduce non-diatonic chords into a progression by finding the dominant of any chord in the key and placing it before that chord. For instance, using the dominant of the sixth degree in a minor key progression can add richness and complexity to the harmony.

In music theory, modulation refers to changing from one key or tonality to another within a piece of music. This can be achieved by using the dominant chord of the new key. For example, transitioning from G major to C major can be done smoothly by introducing the dominant chord of C major, which is G7. This technique allows for a seamless shift in tonality and opens up new harmonic possibilities.

Apart from using the dominant chord for modulation, another technique is modulation by pivot chord. This involves using a chord that belongs to both the current key and the target key. For instance, transitioning from C major to G major can be achieved by using a chord like A minor, which exists in both keys. This method provides a subtle yet effective way to modulate between keys.

Once a new tonality is established through modulation, musicians have the freedom to explore various harmonic progressions and cadences within that key. This exploration can involve creating different cadences such as plagal cadences, interrupted cadences, authentic cadences, and more. By experimenting with these harmonic structures, composers can add depth and complexity to their musical compositions.

The demonstration of modulation and tonal exploration serves as an educational exercise to showcase various composition techniques. While the presented musical sequence may sound unconventional when combined, it offers valuable insights into the creative process of composing music. Composers are encouraged to adapt and utilize these techniques selectively in their own compositions to enhance musical expression.

As the musical demonstration concludes, it emphasizes the diverse topics covered in the video related to music composition. The presenter, Martín, highlights the importance of experimentation and selective application of composition techniques. Viewers are encouraged to explore the channel's content further for more insights into music theory and composition. The video serves as a comprehensive overview of key concepts discussed in the online music workshop.