Here are the free resources for this lesson.
There, you’ll find the tabs, the ground rules and the analysis of the discussed melody Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
How To Harmonize A Melody With Triads
To harmonize a melody with triads, you broadly need just two steps:
1. Identify the note name.
2. Find a triad that contains this note and check if it sounds right.
However, it’s not quite that simple—there’s more to understand. To make this process
easier and help you progress more quickly, here are five additional steps to simplify the
entire approach:
Step 1: Identify the Key
Start by determining the key of the melody:
• Write down the melody’s notes.
• Look for accidentals as hints to the correct key.
• Be prepared for exceptions because some melodies change key.
Tonality is not static and may shift briefly. For instance, in Hark! The
Herald Angels Sing, you find a G minor cadence and a C major
cadence that cannot be harmonized solely with the chords from F
major. (Check out the analysis!)
Knowing the key narrows down which triads are available for harmonization.
Step 2: Prioritize the I, IV, and V Chords
The I, IV, and V chords often form the backbone of harmonization, especially
in simpler melodies. These three chords can often harmonize entire songs.
• In minor keys, the V chord is usually major, while the i and iv chords
remain minor.
Step 3: Consider Other Chords as Well
Use other chords in the key to add variation and interest:
• Experiment with the ii, iii, vi, and vii chords.
• Switch between these triads to discover different harmonization
possibilities.
Step 4: Recognize Chord Relationships
When you explore other chords, keep their relationships in mind. Chords
within a key are related via thirds:
• Two triads that share two notes forming a third differ by just one note.
For example:
◦ The I chord is related to the vi chord.
◦ The ii chord is related to the IV chord.
◦ The iii chord is related to the V chord.
◦ The V chord is related to the vii chord.
Understanding these relationships can make harmonization a bit easier.
Step 5: Start Practicing and Apply the Seven Ground Rules
With the foundational knowledge from the previous steps, just start
harmonizing.
If you need additional help, try to apply these ground rules.
1. Songs usually start on the one chord.
2. Songs often end on the one chord.
3. The five chord resolves to the one chord.
4. The third of the five chord leads to the one chord root.
5. The five chord is major in minor keys.
6. Melodic climaxes (The highest note) often land on the four chord.
7. Harmonies change at the start or middle of a bar.
To see how and when the rules apply, refer to the analysis of melodies where.
Be patient. This is a rather advanced topic…
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Analysis
Tabs
