September 1998: Introduction To Chords - Unit 3

Patterning The Chords You Use To Harmonize A Melody

Following is a CHORD PROGRESSION (a series of chords) in the key of F major that might be used to harmonize a simple melody such as Amazing Grace:

The line after the C indicates that the chord should be extended somehow, though the melody might stop.

POSSIBILITIES FOR PATTERNING THE CHORDS:

1. You can simply play a triad with your left hand and attach it to melody notes wherever you wish.

2. Maybe play one or two of the chord notes, not all of them at once. In that way you might play F for the first F chord and C or A for the second time it occurs.

3. You can ARPEGGIATE the triads (play the notes in sequence from bottom to top or top to bottom) so the rhythm might feel like "8th - 8th - Quarter".

4. You might play the notes of a chord in a different order.

For example: Instead of F A C play A C F or A F C

4. Another idea might be to extend the length of the last note of each melodic set and extend the arpeggiation of the triad so it uses two hands and moves quickly upward:

This would be a great way to extend that "C---" chord. It's called a HAND-OVER-HAND-ARPEGGIO.

5. Experiment with long arpeggi and playing patterns of chord notes in all sorts of creative ways.

If you are tired of Amazing Grace by now choose a very simple melody. Finger it and learn it really well with your right hand!!!! Choose a harmony you like and write down the chord names. Then experiment with ways the chords might fit well and pattern against the melody.

See you next month.

Stephanie

Site designed by Duncan Watt for Kanuba. E-mail to: kanuba@comcast.net