| Many different elements comprise music. The | | | | ninths, 11ths or 13ths. These intervals can be hard |
| basic rhythm and time signature make up one | | | | to keep in tune when performed by vocalists, as |
| part, while the melody and chord structure make | | | | the span between notes is great. Great vocal |
| up another. Harmony is just one more of the | | | | groups often use harmony to create chords with |
| important elements of musical compositions. But | | | | their voices. |
| what is it and how is it used? | | | | One argument about harmony versus dissonance |
| Music harmony can be described in several ways. | | | | lies in the perspective of the listener. An |
| For a basic definition, harmony is simply two or | | | | extremely dissonant group of notes may sound |
| more pitches played simultaneously. This is how | | | | absolutely beautiful to one set of ears, while |
| basic chords are built. By combining multiple | | | | sounding completely terrible to another. A lot of |
| pitches, usually at least three, a chord is formed. | | | | non-Western and avant-garde music uses the |
| There are a thousand different types of chord, | | | | concept of dissonance to great effect. For |
| even though many of these don't appear in | | | | example, a melody that begins with the C note |
| Western music. | | | | may have C# an octave above it added. To |
| Harmony is also defined as the counterpart to | | | | certain listeners, this sounds absolutely frightful, |
| melody. For example, by adding a melodic line a | | | | while others sing its praises. Harmony is in the eye |
| major or minor third above the melody, a | | | | of the beholder. |
| harmony is created. Whether the third is major or | | | | Different harmonic ideas can be presented by |
| minor depends entirely on the scale used in the | | | | using inversions. Inversions involve taking the |
| melody and chord progression. Using the wrong | | | | lowest tone of a chord and transposing it up an |
| kind of third results in a musical clash, or | | | | octave. For example, a C major chord consists of |
| dissonance. | | | | the notes C, E and G. Taking the lowest tone, the |
| Different kinds of harmonic structure result from | | | | C, and moving it up an octave creates the same |
| using different intervals. The fifth is a commonly | | | | chord with the notes E, G and C. This gives a |
| used harmonic device. This results from adding a | | | | different harmonic feel to the chord, allowing |
| note a fifth above the melody and is very | | | | different notes to stick out more than others. |
| universal. Most scales tones can be separated by | | | | This technique is very useful when devising |
| a fifth, so there aren't as many odd notes using | | | | harmonic movements. |
| this type of harmonic theory. | | | | Musical harmony is a simple concept, yet it |
| More complex harmonic structures require a | | | | contains so many variations that it is inexhaustible. |
| greater knowledge of musical theory. Using the | | | | With these simple rules, anyone can learn the |
| seventh is common to give the melody more of | | | | basics of harmonization and be on their way to |
| a blues or jazz feel. Jazz harmonies can often be | | | | composing the next great song. |
| quite complex, spanning the octaves to add | | | | |